Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gyeongju and Jeju

For one person, living is cheaper in Jeju: $1,118 a month against $1,227 in Gyeongju, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. The total is higher in Gyeongju despite lower rent and utilities.

Gyeongju, South Korea
Jeju, South Korea
Gyeongju
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,227
/mo nomad
Jeju
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,118
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gyeongju and in Jeju

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gyeongju and in Jeju actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,227 per month in Gyeongju vs $1,118 in Jeju, rent included.

  • Gyeongju $1,227
  • Jeju $1,118

A couple spends around $2,008 per month in Gyeongju vs $1,917 in Jeju, rent included.

  • Gyeongju $2,008
  • Jeju $1,917

A family of three spends $2,788 per month in Gyeongju vs $2,715 in Jeju, rent included.

  • Gyeongju $2,788
  • Jeju $2,715

Gyeongju costs about 10% more than Jeju, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Gyeongju and Jeju are more affordable than the global median – Gyeongju 10% lower, Jeju 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gyeongju
Jeju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.65 ₩10.2K
$7.33 ₩9,822
4.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.45 ₩66.3K
$51.9 ₩69.5K
-4.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.60 ₩8,848
$5.61 ₩7,525
17.65%
Cappuccino
$3.05 ₩4,092
$5.87 ₩7,865
-48.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 ₩1,477
$2.19 ₩2,935
-49.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₩485
$2.06 ₩2,764
-82.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.68 ₩3,592
$3.93 ₩5,266
-31.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23 ₩5,663
$3.07 ₩4,118
37.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gyeongju
Jeju
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.25 ₩3,018
$2.26 ₩3,029
-0.44%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 ₩3,392
$2.31 ₩3,091
9.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.07 ₩4,114
$2.31 ₩3,097
32.90%
Eggs
$2.65 ₩3,554
$2.62 ₩3,512
1.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.17 ₩15.0K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.46 ₩14.0K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.08 ₩25.6K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.61 ₩6,185
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.69 ₩3,604
$2.20 ₩2,951
22.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.86 ₩5,168
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$3.68 ₩4,933
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.61 ₩3,504
$2.97 ₩3,976
-12.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 ₩3,057
$1.87 ₩2,505
21.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 ₩3,002
$2.28 ₩3,050
-1.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₩1,726
$0.47 ₩627
174.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 ₩4,444
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$15.13 ₩20.3K
$11.48 ₩15.4K
31.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 ₩1,549
$1.85 ₩2,475
-37.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 ₩3,068
$1.72 ₩2,304
33.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Gyeongju
Jeju
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 ₩1,373
$0.99 ₩1,326
3.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.98 ₩3,994
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ₩1,042
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.95 ₩22.7K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 ₩1,435
$1.37 ₩1,842
-21.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.1K ₩53.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K ₩44.7M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gyeongju
Jeju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.2 ₩108.8K
$214 ₩286.8K
-62.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.92 ₩48.1K
$54.0 ₩72.3K
-33.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.37 ₩36.7K
$19.65 ₩26.3K
39.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gyeongju
Jeju
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.1 ₩73.8K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.94 ₩18.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.09 ₩14.9K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gyeongju
Jeju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$633 ₩848.8K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.0K ₩29.6M
$25.3K ₩33.9M
-12.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gyeongju
Jeju
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.48 ₩59.6K
$52.7 ₩70.6K
-15.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.62 ₩30.3K
$29.78 ₩39.9K
-24.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.1 ₩124.8K
$66.6 ₩89.2K
39.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 ₩174.4K
$90.8 ₩121.6K
43.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gyeongju
Jeju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ₩657.0K
$461 ₩617.7K
6.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 ₩475.0K
$388 ₩520.3K
-8.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 ₩1.6M
$1,372 ₩1.8M
-14.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$739 ₩991.0K
$1,192 ₩1.6M
-37.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,222 ₩9.7M
$10.8K ₩14.4M
-32.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,555 ₩7.4M
$6,659 ₩8.9M
-16.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gyeongju
Jeju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,898 ₩2.5M
$1,883 ₩2.5M
0.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
0
-

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

Last update for Gyeongju: October 25, 2026

Last update for Jeju: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Gyeongju
$364
Jeju
–
Accommodation & Living
Gyeongju
$354
Jeju
–
Eating Out
Gyeongju
$145
Jeju
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gyeongju
$144
Jeju
–
Clothing & Footwear
Gyeongju
$131
Jeju
–
Sport & Entertainment
Gyeongju
$77
Jeju
–
Getting Around
Gyeongju
$11 *
Jeju
–

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Gyeongju versus $461 in Jeju. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49 in Gyeongju versus $52 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $364 in Gyeongju vs $142 in Jeju – so Jeju wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Gyeongju
🇰🇷 Jeju
🕒 Local time
15:29 3:29 PM
15:29 3:29 PM
Same time as Gyeongju
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
258,156
469,279
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1,340 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.46 USD). 1 EUR = 1,492 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.7 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gyeongju Jeju 360 km
From you
  • Gyeongju
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Gyeongju vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jeju cheaper than Gyeongju?
Yes – Gyeongju is pricier by about 10%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,841 per month in Gyeongju and $1,677 in Jeju. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Gyeongju and Jeju?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $490 in Gyeongju and $461 in Jeju. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do food prices compare in Gyeongju and in Jeju?
Groceries cost about 157% more in Gyeongju, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Gyeongju or in Jeju?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $49 in Gyeongju and $52 in Jeju. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 enough for either Gyeongju or Jeju?
$1,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,227 in Gyeongju and $1,118 in Jeju, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is safer, Gyeongju or Jeju?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Gyeongju vs other spots: cost of living compared

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