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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,500 per month in Gongju vs $1,334 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,339 per month in Gongju vs $2,325 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,178 per month in Gongju vs $3,316 in Jeju, rent included.

Gongju costs about 12% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Gongju sits 12% above the global median, while Jeju is 1% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.04 ₩10.7K

$6.47 ₩9,822

8.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.67 ₩55.7K

$51.7 ₩78.5K

-29.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.15 ₩9,341

$4.11 ₩6,248

49.64%

Cappuccino

$4.15 ₩6,297

$5.40 ₩8,203

-23.15%

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

$1.78 ₩2,710

$2.39 ₩3,632

-25.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 ₩2,041

$0.74 ₩1,129

81.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 ₩5,727

$3.95 ₩6,001

-4.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 ₩8,753

$5.81 ₩8,819

-0.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 ₩3,440

$2.19 ₩3,328

3.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 ₩5,447

$2.23 ₩3,390

60.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,583

$2.22 ₩3,369

36.04%

Eggs

$2.91 ₩4,418

$2.57 ₩3,905

13.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.50 ₩16.0K

$10.60 ₩16.1K

-0.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 ₩12.7K

$8.15 ₩12.4K

2.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.29 ₩41.4K

$27.07 ₩41.1K

0.81%

Apples (1kg)

$8.50 ₩12.9K

$7.66 ₩11.6K

10.97%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 ₩4,751

$3.22 ₩4,894

-2.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.49 ₩11.4K

$5.49 ₩8,333

36.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.18 ₩7,865

$5.12 ₩7,782

1.17%

Potato (1kg)

$5.22 ₩7,933

$3.00 ₩4,560

74.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.00 ₩4,557

$1.82 ₩2,760

64.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 ₩3,111

$2.18 ₩3,311

-5.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₩1,764

$0.42 ₩637

176.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.21 ₩4,881

$3.23 ₩4,909

-0.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.39 ₩24.9K

$16.21 ₩24.6K

1.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₩2,589

$1.81 ₩2,747

-6.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 ₩5,134

$1.61 ₩2,451

109.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₩1,689

$0.84 ₩1,275

32.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 ₩5,392

$2.55 ₩3,865

39.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₩1,214

$0.57 ₩865

40.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.59 ₩25.2K

$9.04 ₩13.7K

83.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ₩1,839

$1.26 ₩1,915

-3.97%

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

$28.1K ₩42.6M

-0.01%

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

$24.9K ₩37.8M

$25.3K ₩38.5M

-1.81%

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

$188 ₩286.0K

$163 ₩247.2K

15.69%

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

$49.83 ₩75.7K

$34.40 ₩52.2K

44.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.84 ₩42.3K

$19.43 ₩29.5K

43.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.83 ₩72.6K

$37.45 ₩56.9K

27.72%

Cinema Ticket

$11.36 ₩17.2K

$11.04 ₩16.8K

2.90%

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

$490 ₩744.8K

$360 ₩546.0K

36.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K ₩21.3M

$25.1K ₩38.1M

-44.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₩153.8K

$50.6 ₩76.8K

100.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.13 ₩73.1K

$29.89 ₩45.4K

61.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 ₩135.4K

$64.5 ₩97.9K

38.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ₩180.4K

$88.9 ₩135.0K

33.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₩700.0K

$494 ₩749.6K

-6.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 ₩573.2K

$391 ₩593.5K

-3.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,049 ₩1.6M

$1,009 ₩1.5M

4.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$773 ₩1.2M

$1,120 ₩1.7M

-30.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,505 ₩14.4M

$9,495 ₩14.4M

0.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,298 ₩8.0M

$5,193 ₩7.9M

2.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,125 ₩1.7M

$1,629 ₩2.5M

-30.92%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Jeju: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $461 in Gongju versus $494 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 45% 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 $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $446 in Gongju vs $393 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: $1,500 in Gongju, $1,334 in Jeju – roughly 12% apart. Gongju costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,250 per month in Gongju and $2,002 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 $1,500 in Gongju and $1,334 in Jeju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $490 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 $1,334, than in Gongju at $1,500. 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.