Cost of Living Comparison Between Gimhae and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Gimhae and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,553 in Gimhae versus $1,089 in Jeju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,449 in Gimhae versus $1,883 in Jeju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,345 in Gimhae versus $2,677 in Jeju.

Living in Gimhae is roughly 43% more expensive than in Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Gimhae is 13% above, Jeju is 20% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.29 ₩10.1K

$7.39 ₩10.2K

-1.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.20 ₩66.8K

$51.7 ₩71.7K

-6.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 ₩9,419

$5.46 ₩7,563

24.54%

Cappuccino

$3.63 ₩5,031

$5.72 ₩7,932

-36.54%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 ₩2,455

$2.18 ₩3,024

-18.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₩1,922

$1.91 ₩2,650

-27.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.76 ₩5,217

$3.39 ₩4,692

10.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₩5,987

$3.05 ₩4,223

41.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 ₩3,265

$2.25 ₩3,113

4.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 ₩4,459

$2.25 ₩3,124

43.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 ₩4,435

$2.19 ₩3,038

46.12%

Eggs

$2.62 ₩3,629

$2.66 ₩3,684

-1.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.17 ₩15.5K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.39 ₩14.4K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.99 ₩34.6K

Apples (1kg)

$11.31 ₩15.7K

Banana (1kg)

$3.53 ₩4,886

$2.12 ₩2,933

66.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.05 ₩11.2K

Tomato (1kg)

$5.74 ₩7,949

Potato (1kg)

$5.91 ₩8,197

$2.99 ₩4,142

97.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 ₩4,660

$1.90 ₩2,629

76.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.71 ₩3,755

$2.19 ₩3,033

23.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ₩1,854

$0.43 ₩595

211.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₩4,657

Wine (Bottle)

$18.27 ₩25.3K

$10.95 ₩15.2K

66.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,266

$1.91 ₩2,647

23.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₩4,667

$1.69 ₩2,340

99.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 ₩1,561

$0.95 ₩1,315

18.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.66 ₩5,070

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 ₩993

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.44 ₩22.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₩1,727

$1.27 ₩1,764

-1.57%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.9K ₩40.0M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.9K ₩47.0M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$198 ₩274.1K

$208 ₩288.1K

-4.87%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$36.53 ₩50.6K

$54.4 ₩75.4K

-32.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.49 ₩36.7K

$19.80 ₩27.4K

33.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.7 ₩78.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₩16.3K

Cinema Ticket

$12.10 ₩16.8K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$624 ₩864.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩30.5M

$24.6K ₩34.0M

-10.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 ₩141.5K

$52.1 ₩72.2K

95.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.0 ₩91.5K

$29.94 ₩41.5K

120.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.4 ₩128.1K

$65.0 ₩90.1K

42.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 ₩173.6K

$90.8 ₩125.8K

37.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$438 ₩606.4K

$466 ₩646.3K

-6.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$353 ₩489.4K

$375 ₩519.7K

-5.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,145 ₩1.6M

$1,331 ₩1.8M

-13.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 ₩992.9K

$1,172 ₩1.6M

-38.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,061 ₩9.8M

$10.3K ₩14.2M

-31.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,458 ₩7.6M

$6,750 ₩9.4M

-19.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,525 ₩3.5M

$1,854 ₩2.6M

36.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Gimhae: September 12, 2026

Last update for Jeju: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $438 in Gimhae and $466 in Jeju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gimhae pays 36% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $48.00 in Gimhae vs $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries flip the comparison at $484 vs $139, with Jeju cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Gimhae vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jeju wins on cost – living expenses run 43% lower than in Gimhae. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jeju the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 36% higher in Gimhae, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $438 in Gimhae versus $466 in Jeju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,553 per month in Gimhae versus $1,089 in Jeju – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 250% higher in Gimhae. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,089 in Jeju versus $1,553 in Gimhae, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jeju but tight or insufficient in Gimhae. The gap between the two cities makes Jeju the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Gimhae and Jeju are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Jeju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Gimhae. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.