Cost of Living Comparison Between Gyeongju and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Gyeongju and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,501 per month in Gyeongju vs $1,335 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,301 per month in Gyeongju vs $2,303 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,102 per month in Gyeongju vs $3,270 in Jeju, rent included.

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

Both Gyeongju and Jeju sit above the global median – Gyeongju by 12%, Jeju by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.25 ₩10.8K

$6.57 ₩9,780

10.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.10 ₩53.7K

$51.8 ₩77.1K

-30.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.88 ₩8,757

$4.08 ₩6,078

44.12%

Cappuccino

$4.23 ₩6,293

$5.34 ₩7,946

-20.79%

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

$1.83 ₩2,719

$2.33 ₩3,467

-21.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₩2,055

$0.71 ₩1,055

94.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 ₩5,313

$3.99 ₩5,942

-10.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.84 ₩8,683

$5.93 ₩8,823

-1.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 ₩3,401

$2.12 ₩3,147

8.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 ₩5,104

$2.19 ₩3,254

56.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 ₩4,506

$2.25 ₩3,350

34.67%

Eggs

$2.88 ₩4,293

$2.56 ₩3,813

12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.44 ₩15.5K

$10.31 ₩15.3K

1.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.13 ₩12.1K

$8.41 ₩12.5K

-3.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.42 ₩40.8K

$27.81 ₩41.4K

-1.40%

Apples (1kg)

$8.33 ₩12.4K

$8.00 ₩11.9K

4.13%

Banana (1kg)

$3.27 ₩4,864

$3.25 ₩4,832

0.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.26 ₩10.8K

$5.60 ₩8,338

29.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.32 ₩7,923

$5.39 ₩8,015

-1.30%

Potato (1kg)

$5.21 ₩7,751

$2.88 ₩4,289

80.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 ₩4,388

$1.86 ₩2,766

58.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 ₩3,025

$2.17 ₩3,222

-6.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,791

$0.42 ₩626

185.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.27 ₩4,864

$3.38 ₩5,029

-3.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.43 ₩20.0K

$16.52 ₩24.6K

-18.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ₩2,616

$1.80 ₩2,677

-2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 ₩5,111

$1.60 ₩2,382

114.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ₩1,578

$0.91 ₩1,352

16.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 ₩4,355

$2.50 ₩3,722

17.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₩1,189

$0.53 ₩782

50.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.58 ₩24.7K

$9.01 ₩13.4K

84.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₩1,719

$1.22 ₩1,818

-4.92%

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

$27.9K ₩41.5M

$27.3K ₩40.7M

1.94%

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

$24.5K ₩36.4M

$24.8K ₩36.9M

-1.23%

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

$193 ₩286.4K

$158 ₩235.0K

21.89%

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

$47.67 ₩70.9K

$35.45 ₩52.8K

34.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.23 ₩40.5K

$19.12 ₩28.5K

42.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.63 ₩72.4K

$36.71 ₩54.6K

32.47%

Cinema Ticket

$10.81 ₩16.1K

$10.93 ₩16.3K

-1.10%

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

$493 ₩733.9K

$367 ₩545.5K

34.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K ₩21.3M

$24.9K ₩37.0M

-42.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₩151.0K

$50.5 ₩75.1K

101.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.15 ₩71.6K

$29.60 ₩44.0K

62.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 ₩130.8K

$64.6 ₩96.1K

36.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₩174.7K

$86.8 ₩129.1K

35.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ₩662.1K

$482 ₩717.0K

-7.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 ₩560.5K

$400 ₩595.0K

-5.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 ₩1.6M

$1,009 ₩1.5M

5.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$763 ₩1.1M

$1,130 ₩1.7M

-32.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,893 ₩11.7M

$8,269 ₩12.3M

-4.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,773 ₩8.6M

$5,103 ₩7.6M

13.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,660 ₩2.5M

$1,678 ₩2.5M

-1.09%

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 Gyeongju: July 13, 2026

Last update for Jeju: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Gyeongju versus $482 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 1% 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 $36.00 in Gyeongju versus $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $439 in Gyeongju vs $399 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

Gyeongju vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Gyeongju is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,252 per month in Gyeongju and $2,003 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 $1,501 in Gyeongju and $1,335 in Jeju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $493 per month in Gyeongju and $367 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 $1,335, than in Gyeongju at $1,501. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gyeongju 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, Gyeongju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.