Cost of Living Comparison Between Gongju and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Gongju and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,538 per month in Gongju vs $1,089 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,401 per month in Gongju vs $1,883 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,265 per month in Gongju vs $2,677 in Jeju, rent included.

Gongju costs about 41% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Gongju sits 12% above the global median, while Jeju is 20% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.30 ₩10.1K

$7.39 ₩10.2K

-1.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.27 ₩66.9K

$51.7 ₩71.7K

-6.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 ₩9,325

$5.46 ₩7,563

23.26%

Cappuccino

$3.57 ₩4,942

$5.72 ₩7,932

-37.59%

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

$1.87 ₩2,587

$2.18 ₩3,024

-14.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₩1,923

$1.91 ₩2,650

-27.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,201

$3.39 ₩4,692

10.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 ₩5,891

$3.05 ₩4,223

39.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 ₩3,244

$2.25 ₩3,113

4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.13 ₩4,345

$2.25 ₩3,124

39.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.16 ₩4,381

$2.19 ₩3,038

44.29%

Eggs

$2.68 ₩3,715

$2.66 ₩3,684

0.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.02 ₩15.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 ₩14.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.59 ₩34.1K

Apples (1kg)

$11.08 ₩15.4K

Banana (1kg)

$3.61 ₩5,002

$2.12 ₩2,933

70.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.05 ₩11.1K

Tomato (1kg)

$5.95 ₩8,247

Potato (1kg)

$6.06 ₩8,399

$2.99 ₩4,142

102.68%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 ₩4,460

$1.90 ₩2,629

69.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 ₩3,827

$2.19 ₩3,033

26.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₩1,821

$0.43 ₩595

204.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₩4,593

Wine (Bottle)

$18.36 ₩25.5K

$10.95 ₩15.2K

67.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 ₩3,403

$1.91 ₩2,647

28.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 ₩4,735

$1.69 ₩2,340

102.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 ₩1,566

$0.95 ₩1,315

18.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 ₩5,004

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₩1,007

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.69 ₩23.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ₩1,869

$1.27 ₩1,764

6.30%

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

$28.8K ₩39.9M

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

$33.0K ₩45.7M

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

$203 ₩280.9K

$208 ₩288.1K

-2.49%

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

$36.61 ₩50.7K

$54.4 ₩75.4K

-32.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.85 ₩37.2K

$19.80 ₩27.4K

35.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 ₩77.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.70 ₩16.2K

Cinema Ticket

$11.70 ₩16.2K

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

$633 ₩877.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K ₩30.2M

$24.6K ₩34.0M

-11.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₩143.7K

$52.1 ₩72.2K

98.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.0 ₩88.7K

$29.94 ₩41.5K

113.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.1 ₩126.2K

$65.0 ₩90.1K

40.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ₩177.5K

$90.8 ₩125.8K

41.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$446 ₩618.5K

$466 ₩646.3K

-4.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₩490.6K

$375 ₩519.7K

-5.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,136 ₩1.6M

$1,331 ₩1.8M

-14.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$718 ₩995.3K

$1,172 ₩1.6M

-38.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,970 ₩9.7M

$10.3K ₩14.2M

-32.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,431 ₩7.5M

$6,750 ₩9.4M

-19.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,322 ₩1.8M

$1,854 ₩2.6M

-28.67%

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 Gongju: September 13, 2026

Last update for Jeju: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $446 in Gongju versus $466 in Jeju. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 40% higher in Jeju, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Gongju versus $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $482 in Gongju vs $139 in Jeju – so Jeju wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Gongju vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,538 in Gongju, $1,089 in Jeju – roughly 41% apart. Gongju costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,306 per month in Gongju and $1,633 in Jeju. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jeju, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Gongju and $52.0 in Jeju. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,538 in Gongju and $1,089 in Jeju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,089, than in Gongju at $1,538. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gongju it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Jeju – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Jeju. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gongju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.