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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,495 per month in Gyeongju vs $1,334 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,319 per month in Gyeongju vs $2,290 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,144 per month in Gyeongju vs $3,246 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

$7.31 ₩11.1K

$6.71 ₩10.2K

8.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.18 ₩54.8K

$51.2 ₩77.5K

-29.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.17 ₩9,354

$4.04 ₩6,124

52.72%

Cappuccino

$4.00 ₩6,054

$5.21 ₩7,898

-23.22%

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

$1.83 ₩2,772

$2.42 ₩3,660

-24.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩2,014

$0.72 ₩1,087

84.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 ₩5,449

$3.98 ₩6,034

-9.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 ₩8,732

$5.71 ₩8,658

0.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₩3,401

$2.14 ₩3,248

4.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 ₩5,202

$2.25 ₩3,404

52.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 ₩4,685

$2.23 ₩3,379

38.57%

Eggs

$2.98 ₩4,518

$2.61 ₩3,952

14.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.45 ₩15.8K

$10.53 ₩16.0K

-0.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.22 ₩12.5K

$8.47 ₩12.8K

-2.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.27 ₩41.3K

$27.80 ₩42.1K

-1.91%

Apples (1kg)

$8.53 ₩12.9K

$7.66 ₩11.6K

11.36%

Banana (1kg)

$3.15 ₩4,767

$3.12 ₩4,735

0.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.46 ₩11.3K

$5.68 ₩8,600

31.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 ₩8,035

$5.35 ₩8,109

-0.93%

Potato (1kg)

$5.20 ₩7,877

$3.02 ₩4,576

72.19%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 ₩4,601

$1.89 ₩2,865

60.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₩3,058

$2.17 ₩3,292

-6.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,820

$0.46 ₩695

160.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₩5,048

$3.25 ₩4,925

2.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 ₩20.0K

$16.99 ₩25.7K

-22.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 ₩2,651

$1.90 ₩2,881

-7.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 ₩5,258

$1.61 ₩2,442

115.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₩1,677

$0.86 ₩1,305

29.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ₩4,575

$2.53 ₩3,840

19.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 ₩1,188

$0.53 ₩800

47.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.38 ₩24.8K

$8.57 ₩13.0K

91.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₩1,842

$1.26 ₩1,913

-3.17%

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

$27.2K ₩41.2M

$28.0K ₩42.4M

-2.80%

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

$25.1K ₩38.0M

$24.8K ₩37.5M

1.24%

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

$187 ₩283.9K

$159 ₩240.9K

17.83%

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

$46.54 ₩70.5K

$34.67 ₩52.5K

34.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.73 ₩42.0K

$19.46 ₩29.5K

42.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.37 ₩71.8K

$36.23 ₩54.9K

30.75%

Cinema Ticket

$11.17 ₩16.9K

$10.88 ₩16.5K

2.67%

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

$494 ₩748.3K

$367 ₩556.3K

34.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ₩21.8M

$24.3K ₩36.8M

-40.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₩158.9K

$51.3 ₩77.7K

104.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.99 ₩72.7K

$29.51 ₩44.7K

62.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.9 ₩136.2K

$66.3 ₩100.5K

35.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₩177.6K

$89.4 ₩135.5K

31.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 ₩678.7K

$501 ₩759.2K

-10.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 ₩570.4K

$402 ₩609.2K

-6.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,087 ₩1.6M

$1,017 ₩1.5M

6.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$758 ₩1.1M

$1,149 ₩1.7M

-34.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,707 ₩14.7M

$9,790 ₩14.8M

-0.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,689 ₩8.6M

$5,331 ₩8.1M

6.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,646 ₩2.5M

$1,672 ₩2.5M

-1.54%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jeju: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $448 in Gyeongju versus $501 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 2% 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 $51.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $439 in Gyeongju vs $401 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 $2,242 per month in Gyeongju and $2,001 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 $1,495 in Gyeongju and $1,334 in Jeju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $494 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 $1,334, than in Gyeongju at $1,495. 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.