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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,513 per month in Gongju vs $1,358 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,375 per month in Gongju vs $2,314 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,237 per month in Gongju vs $3,271 in Jeju, rent included.

Gongju costs about 11% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Gongju and Jeju sit above the global median – Gongju by 13%, Jeju by 1%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.06 ₩10.4K

$6.52 ₩9,611

8.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.91 ₩54.4K

$51.2 ₩75.4K

-27.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.90 ₩8,689

$4.14 ₩6,093

42.51%

Cappuccino

$4.22 ₩6,222

$5.39 ₩7,947

-21.71%

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

$1.87 ₩2,760

$2.43 ₩3,577

-23.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₩2,045

$0.72 ₩1,055

93.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 ₩5,461

$3.94 ₩5,806

-5.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.98 ₩8,807

$5.82 ₩8,581

2.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 ₩3,443

$2.22 ₩3,269

5.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 ₩5,221

$2.23 ₩3,289

58.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.11 ₩4,585

$2.15 ₩3,162

44.65%

Eggs

$2.89 ₩4,261

$2.65 ₩3,906

9.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.53 ₩15.5K

$10.28 ₩15.1K

2.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.41 ₩12.4K

$8.16 ₩12.0K

3.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.77 ₩40.9K

$27.07 ₩39.9K

2.59%

Apples (1kg)

$8.49 ₩12.5K

$8.04 ₩11.9K

5.60%

Banana (1kg)

$3.12 ₩4,593

$3.27 ₩4,822

-4.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.43 ₩10.9K

$5.63 ₩8,296

31.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.18 ₩7,629

$5.40 ₩7,955

-4.07%

Potato (1kg)

$5.21 ₩7,677

$2.99 ₩4,403

74.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 ₩4,295

$1.85 ₩2,731

57.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₩3,100

$2.16 ₩3,189

-2.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,769

$0.46 ₩678

160.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 ₩4,988

$3.41 ₩5,021

-0.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.24 ₩25.4K

$15.49 ₩22.8K

11.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 ₩2,517

$1.87 ₩2,753

-8.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₩4,960

$1.67 ₩2,463

101.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ₩1,563

$0.90 ₩1,320

17.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 ₩5,246

$2.55 ₩3,752

39.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ₩1,165

$0.58 ₩850

36.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.74 ₩24.7K

$8.68 ₩12.8K

92.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₩1,804

$1.23 ₩1,812

-0.81%

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

$27.9K ₩41.1M

$28.0K ₩41.2M

-0.37%

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

$24.5K ₩36.2M

$25.2K ₩37.2M

-2.76%

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

$188 ₩277.1K

$162 ₩238.7K

16.12%

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

$49.50 ₩72.9K

$34.77 ₩51.2K

42.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.76 ₩40.9K

$19.51 ₩28.7K

42.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.01 ₩69.3K

$36.31 ₩53.5K

29.47%

Cinema Ticket

$11.43 ₩16.8K

$10.94 ₩16.1K

4.48%

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

$496 ₩730.5K

$360 ₩530.9K

37.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K ₩21.0M

$24.9K ₩36.7M

-42.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₩152.9K

$51.3 ₩75.6K

102.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.40 ₩69.8K

$29.34 ₩43.2K

61.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 ₩129.3K

$64.1 ₩94.4K

36.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩174.3K

$88.0 ₩129.7K

34.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 ₩665.3K

$491 ₩723.3K

-8.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 ₩545.2K

$400 ₩588.9K

-7.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,059 ₩1.6M

$1,010 ₩1.5M

4.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$762 ₩1.1M

$1,118 ₩1.6M

-31.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,654 ₩14.2M

$9,859 ₩14.5M

-2.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,717 ₩8.4M

$5,670 ₩8.4M

0.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,168 ₩1.7M

$1,715 ₩2.5M

-31.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.14

1.93%

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

Last update for Gongju: April 25, 2026

Last update for Jeju: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $452 in Gongju versus $491 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 47% 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 $37.00 in Gongju versus $51.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $451 in Gongju vs $396 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: $1,513 in Gongju, $1,358 in Jeju – roughly 11% apart. Gongju costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,269 per month in Gongju and $2,036 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,513 in Gongju and $1,358 in Jeju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $496 per month in Gongju and $360 in Jeju. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,358, than in Gongju at $1,513. 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.