Cost of Living Comparison Between Gyeonggi and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Gyeonggi and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,400 in Gyeonggi versus $1,338 in Jeju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,733 in Gyeonggi versus $2,319 in Jeju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,066 in Gyeonggi versus $3,299 in Jeju.

Living in Gyeonggi is roughly 5% more expensive than in Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gyeonggi 5% above, Jeju 1% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.42 ₩10.7K

$6.65 ₩9,564

11.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.9 ₩122.1K

$52.2 ₩75.0K

62.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 ₩9,743

$4.14 ₩5,953

63.53%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ₩5,125

$5.26 ₩7,564

-32.32%

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

$1.38 ₩1,983

$2.39 ₩3,441

-42.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₩1,100

$0.70 ₩1,008

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.47 ₩6,435

$4.10 ₩5,896

9.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 ₩4,353

$5.71 ₩8,209

-46.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,246

$2.24 ₩3,223

0.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.08 ₩4,424

$2.15 ₩3,098

43.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 ₩4,448

$2.17 ₩3,118

42.40%

Eggs

$2.93 ₩4,208

$2.60 ₩3,742

12.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.43 ₩15.0K

$10.62 ₩15.3K

-1.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.22 ₩11.8K

$8.29 ₩11.9K

-0.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.94 ₩40.2K

$27.81 ₩40.0K

0.47%

Apples (1kg)

$10.96 ₩15.8K

$7.87 ₩11.3K

39.26%

Banana (1kg)

$3.65 ₩5,247

$3.21 ₩4,624

13.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.42 ₩10.7K

$5.65 ₩8,121

31.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.38 ₩7,732

Potato (1kg)

$3.86 ₩5,551

$2.98 ₩4,288

29.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₩4,118

$1.87 ₩2,691

52.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 ₩3,139

$2.18 ₩3,142

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,726

$0.45 ₩652

166.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ₩4,723

$3.36 ₩4,840

-2.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.44 ₩15.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₩2,600

$1.87 ₩2,683

-3.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₩4,653

$1.67 ₩2,398

94.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,609

$0.90 ₩1,300

24.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ₩4,359

$2.51 ₩3,604

20.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ₩806

$0.58 ₩828

-3.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.70 ₩12.5K

$8.56 ₩12.3K

1.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ₩1,947

$1.28 ₩1,846

5.47%

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

$28.2K ₩40.6M

$27.7K ₩39.9M

1.68%

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

$25.4K ₩36.6M

$25.3K ₩36.4M

0.63%

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

$184 ₩264.7K

$158 ₩227.7K

16.25%

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

$40.10 ₩57.7K

$35.48 ₩51.0K

13.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.89 ₩30.0K

$19.16 ₩27.6K

9.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₩79.1K

$36.67 ₩52.7K

49.93%

Cinema Ticket

$9.64 ₩13.9K

$10.83 ₩15.6K

-10.99%

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

$419 ₩602.1K

$363 ₩521.8K

15.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K ₩34.4M

$24.9K ₩35.8M

-3.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 ₩85.2K

$50.5 ₩72.6K

17.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.36 ₩59.5K

$29.77 ₩42.8K

38.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₩120.9K

$65.2 ₩93.8K

28.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩169.9K

$87.2 ₩125.4K

35.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₩740.4K

$486 ₩699.0K

5.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 ₩522.1K

$398 ₩572.7K

-8.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,104 ₩3.0M

$1,041 ₩1.5M

102.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,474 ₩2.1M

$1,129 ₩1.6M

30.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,502 ₩13.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,054 ₩8.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,072 ₩3.0M

$1,736 ₩2.5M

19.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.5

4.14

-15.46%

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

Last update for Gyeonggi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Jeju: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Gyeonggi and $486 in Jeju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gyeonggi pays 19% 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: $85.0 in Gyeonggi vs $52.0 in Jeju for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $423 vs $388 per month, with Jeju cheaper across the board.

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

Gyeonggi vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jeju is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 19% higher in Gyeonggi, 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: $515 in Gyeonggi versus $486 in Jeju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $419 in Gyeonggi versus $363 in Jeju. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Jeju – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $85.0 in Gyeonggi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,338 in Jeju versus $1,400 in Gyeonggi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jeju but tight or insufficient in Gyeonggi. 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, Gyeonggi 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 5% less than in Gyeonggi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.