Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilsan and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilsan and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,502 in Ilsan versus $1,338 in Jeju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,410 in Ilsan versus $2,319 in Jeju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Ilsan versus $3,299 in Jeju.

Living in Ilsan is roughly 12% more expensive than in Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ilsan 13% above, Jeju 1% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.18 ₩10.4K

$6.65 ₩9,599

7.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.9 ₩79.3K

$52.2 ₩75.3K

5.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.18 ₩8,927

$4.14 ₩5,974

49.28%

Cappuccino

$3.95 ₩5,705

$5.26 ₩7,592

-24.90%

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

$1.75 ₩2,519

$2.39 ₩3,453

-26.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₩1,079

$0.70 ₩1,011

7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.61 ₩5,211

$4.10 ₩5,917

-11.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 ₩8,238

$5.71 ₩8,239

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ₩3,157

$2.24 ₩3,235

-2.23%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 ₩4,825

$2.15 ₩3,109

55.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 ₩4,660

$2.17 ₩3,130

48.85%

Eggs

$3.18 ₩4,585

$2.60 ₩3,756

22.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.19 ₩20.5K

$10.62 ₩15.3K

33.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 ₩15.4K

$8.29 ₩12.0K

28.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.64 ₩50.0K

$27.81 ₩40.1K

24.56%

Apples (1kg)

$7.71 ₩11.1K

$7.87 ₩11.4K

-2.03%

Banana (1kg)

$3.43 ₩4,945

$3.21 ₩4,640

6.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 ₩8,239

$5.65 ₩8,151

1.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.63 ₩9,564

$5.38 ₩7,760

23.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.86 ₩5,572

$2.98 ₩4,304

29.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₩4,232

$1.87 ₩2,701

56.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 ₩3,743

$2.18 ₩3,154

18.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₩1,678

$0.45 ₩655

157.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 ₩4,756

$3.36 ₩4,857

-1.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.75 ₩24.2K

$10.44 ₩15.1K

60.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₩3,379

$1.87 ₩2,693

25.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₩4,697

$1.67 ₩2,407

94.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 ₩1,549

$0.90 ₩1,305

18.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.48 ₩70.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 ₩3,519

$2.51 ₩3,617

-2.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₩824

$0.58 ₩831

-1.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.95 ₩12.9K

$8.56 ₩12.4K

4.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₩1,594

$1.28 ₩1,852

-14.06%

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

$28.0K ₩40.4M

$27.7K ₩40.0M

0.95%

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

$25.0K ₩36.1M

$25.3K ₩36.5M

-0.96%

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

$161 ₩232.8K

$158 ₩228.5K

1.87%

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

$34.55 ₩49.9K

$35.48 ₩51.2K

-2.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.94 ₩31.7K

$19.16 ₩27.7K

14.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.63 ₩70.2K

$36.67 ₩52.9K

32.62%

Cinema Ticket

$11.06 ₩16.0K

$10.83 ₩15.6K

2.12%

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

$406 ₩585.6K

$363 ₩523.7K

11.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K ₩34.3M

$24.9K ₩35.9M

-4.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 ₩83.7K

$50.5 ₩72.8K

14.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.27 ₩68.2K

$29.77 ₩43.0K

58.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.6 ₩114.9K

$65.2 ₩94.1K

22.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₩166.8K

$87.2 ₩125.9K

32.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 ₩645.7K

$486 ₩701.5K

-7.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$382 ₩551.0K

$398 ₩574.8K

-4.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₩1.5M

$1,041 ₩1.5M

1.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$754 ₩1.1M

$1,129 ₩1.6M

-33.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,247 ₩11.9M

$9,502 ₩13.7M

-13.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,518 ₩6.5M

$6,054 ₩8.7M

-25.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,204 ₩4.6M

$1,736 ₩2.5M

84.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

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

Last update for Ilsan: July 28, 2026

Last update for Jeju: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Ilsan and $486 in Jeju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ilsan pays 85% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $55.0 in Ilsan vs $52.0 in Jeju for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $489 vs $388 per month, with Jeju cheaper across the board.

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

Ilsan vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jeju is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 85% higher in Ilsan, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $447 in Ilsan versus $486 in Jeju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Ilsan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,502 per month in Ilsan versus $1,338 in Jeju – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,338 in Jeju versus $1,502 in Ilsan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jeju but tight or insufficient in Ilsan. The gap between the two cities makes Jeju the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ilsan and Jeju are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Jeju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Ilsan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.