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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in Gyeongju vs $1,079 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,944 per month in Gyeongju vs $1,866 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,690 per month in Gyeongju vs $2,652 in Jeju, rent included.

Gyeongju costs about 11% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gyeongju and Jeju are more affordable than the global median – Gyeongju 13% lower, Jeju 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.61 ₩10.2K

$7.55 ₩10.1K

0.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.49 ₩63.7K

$51.7 ₩69.3K

-8.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 ₩8,996

$5.52 ₩7,396

21.56%

Cappuccino

$2.98 ₩4,002

$5.89 ₩7,898

-49.41%

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

$1.08 ₩1,454

$2.15 ₩2,888

-49.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₩521

$1.97 ₩2,647

-80.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.67 ₩3,581

$3.48 ₩4,670

-23.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 ₩5,867

$2.93 ₩3,934

49.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 ₩3,127

$2.26 ₩3,037

3.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 ₩3,264

$2.28 ₩3,054

6.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 ₩4,281

$2.25 ₩3,011

41.78%

Eggs

$2.72 ₩3,646

$2.59 ₩3,471

5.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.91 ₩14.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.45 ₩14.0K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.47 ₩24.8K

Apples (1kg)

$4.45 ₩5,964

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 ₩3,434

$2.21 ₩2,968

15.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 ₩5,043

Tomato (1kg)

$3.69 ₩4,950

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 ₩3,546

$3.02 ₩4,055

-12.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 ₩3,005

$1.81 ₩2,429

23.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 ₩2,952

$2.20 ₩2,948

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 ₩1,698

$0.43 ₩577

195.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 ₩4,426

Wine (Bottle)

$15.04 ₩20.2K

$11.36 ₩15.2K

32.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₩1,506

$1.89 ₩2,541

-40.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₩3,071

$1.66 ₩2,220

37.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ₩1,361

$1.00 ₩1,343

1.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ₩4,047

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 ₩962

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.94 ₩22.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ₩1,420

$1.32 ₩1,769

-19.70%

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

$29.7K ₩39.8M

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

$33.0K ₩44.3M

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

$78.7 ₩105.6K

$208 ₩278.9K

-62.14%

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

$35.54 ₩47.7K

$54.0 ₩72.4K

-34.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.57 ₩35.6K

$19.21 ₩25.8K

38.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 ₩76.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.64 ₩14.3K

Cinema Ticket

$11.18 ₩15.0K

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

$630 ₩845.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$25.2K ₩33.8M

-12.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.35 ₩60.8K

$50.3 ₩67.5K

-9.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.40 ₩30.0K

$29.85 ₩40.0K

-24.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.2 ₩122.4K

$65.3 ₩87.5K

39.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ₩172.3K

$88.2 ₩118.3K

45.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 ₩606.0K

$461 ₩618.7K

-2.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 ₩471.9K

$381 ₩510.6K

-7.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,154 ₩1.5M

$1,315 ₩1.8M

-12.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$815 ₩1.1M

$1,152 ₩1.5M

-29.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,164 ₩10.9M

$10.6K ₩14.2M

-23.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,253 ₩8.4M

$6,719 ₩9.0M

-6.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,830 ₩2.5M

$1,863 ₩2.5M

-1.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

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

Last update for Gyeongju: September 5, 2026

Last update for Jeju: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $452 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.

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 $47.00 in Gyeongju versus $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $359 in Gyeongju vs $140 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 11%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,796 per month in Gyeongju and $1,619 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.

Groceries cost about 156% more in Gyeongju, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Gyeongju and $52.0 in Jeju. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,079, than in Gyeongju at $1,197. 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.