Cost of Living Comparison Between Icheon and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Icheon and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,586 per month in Icheon vs $1,079 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,042 per month in Icheon vs $1,866 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,498 per month in Icheon vs $2,652 in Jeju, rent included.

Icheon costs about 47% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Icheon sits 15% above the global median, while Jeju is 22% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.15 ₩8,241

$7.55 ₩10.1K

-18.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.09 ₩65.8K

$51.7 ₩69.3K

-5.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 ₩9,100

$5.52 ₩7,396

23.01%

Cappuccino

$3.64 ₩4,887

$5.89 ₩7,898

-38.20%

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

$1.27 ₩1,699

$2.15 ₩2,888

-40.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₩1,637

$1.97 ₩2,647

-38.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,026

$3.48 ₩4,670

7.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 ₩5,847

$2.93 ₩3,934

48.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ₩2,994

$2.26 ₩3,037

-1.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.14 ₩4,214

$2.28 ₩3,054

37.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.12 ₩4,185

$2.25 ₩3,011

38.67%

Eggs

$2.72 ₩3,647

$2.59 ₩3,471

5.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.01 ₩14.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₩14.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.54 ₩32.9K

Apples (1kg)

$11.09 ₩14.9K

Banana (1kg)

$3.66 ₩4,914

$2.21 ₩2,968

65.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.03 ₩10.8K

Tomato (1kg)

$5.86 ₩7,860

Potato (1kg)

$5.92 ₩7,933

$3.02 ₩4,055

96.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.25 ₩4,357

$1.81 ₩2,429

79.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 ₩3,812

$2.20 ₩2,948

29.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 ₩1,692

$0.43 ₩577

193.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ₩4,582

Wine (Bottle)

$18.87 ₩25.3K

$11.36 ₩15.2K

66.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₩3,126

$1.89 ₩2,541

23.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 ₩4,488

$1.66 ₩2,220

101.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 ₩1,450

$1.00 ₩1,343

8.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.59 ₩4,816

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₩978

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.99 ₩22.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₩1,860

$1.32 ₩1,769

5.30%

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

$29.6K ₩39.8M

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

$33.3K ₩44.7M

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

$202 ₩270.7K

$208 ₩278.9K

-2.94%

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

$36.35 ₩48.7K

$54.0 ₩72.4K

-32.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.33 ₩36.7K

$19.21 ₩25.8K

42.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 ₩29.8K

Cinema Ticket

$11.12 ₩14.9K

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

$642 ₩860.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.9K ₩29.4M

$25.2K ₩33.8M

-12.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₩139.0K

$50.3 ₩67.5K

105.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.4 ₩86.4K

$29.85 ₩40.0K

115.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 ₩122.8K

$65.3 ₩87.5K

40.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 ₩170.5K

$88.2 ₩118.3K

44.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$745 ₩999.2K

$461 ₩618.7K

61.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$440 ₩590.6K

$381 ₩510.6K

15.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 ₩1.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,152 ₩1.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K ₩14.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,719 ₩9.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,295 ₩3.1M

$1,863 ₩2.5M

23.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.9

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

Last update for Icheon: September 6, 2026

Last update for Jeju: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $745 in Icheon 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 23% higher in Icheon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Icheon versus $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $482 in Icheon 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

Icheon vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Icheon is pricier by about 47%, 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 $2,379 per month in Icheon 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 244% more in Icheon, 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 $49.00 in Icheon 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 Icheon at $1,586. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Icheon 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, Icheon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.