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: $1,509 in Ilsan versus $1,334 in Jeju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,401 in Ilsan versus $2,325 in Jeju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Ilsan versus $3,316 in Jeju.

Living in Ilsan is roughly 13% more expensive than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ilsan is 12% above, Jeju is 1% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.24 ₩11.0K

$6.47 ₩9,822

11.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.1 ₩85.2K

$51.7 ₩78.5K

8.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.51 ₩9,893

$4.11 ₩6,248

58.39%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₩5,897

$5.40 ₩8,203

-28.15%

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

$1.67 ₩2,539

$2.39 ₩3,632

-30.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₩1,131

$0.74 ₩1,129

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.74 ₩5,678

$3.95 ₩6,001

-5.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.85 ₩8,878

$5.81 ₩8,819

0.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₩3,266

$2.19 ₩3,328

-1.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 ₩5,244

$2.23 ₩3,390

54.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.11 ₩4,727

$2.22 ₩3,369

40.09%

Eggs

$3.04 ₩4,616

$2.57 ₩3,905

18.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 ₩22.1K

$10.60 ₩16.1K

36.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.90 ₩16.6K

$8.15 ₩12.4K

33.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.53 ₩52.4K

$27.07 ₩41.1K

27.56%

Apples (1kg)

$8.00 ₩12.1K

$7.66 ₩11.6K

4.44%

Banana (1kg)

$3.45 ₩5,234

$3.22 ₩4,894

7.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 ₩8,669

$5.49 ₩8,333

4.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 ₩9,692

$5.12 ₩7,782

24.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.86 ₩5,856

$3.00 ₩4,560

28.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 ₩4,442

$1.82 ₩2,760

60.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 ₩4,001

$2.18 ₩3,311

20.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₩1,760

$0.42 ₩637

176.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₩4,899

$3.23 ₩4,909

Wine (Bottle)

$16.64 ₩25.3K

$16.21 ₩24.6K

2.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 ₩3,732

$1.81 ₩2,747

35.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 ₩4,953

$1.61 ₩2,451

102.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 ₩1,671

$0.84 ₩1,275

30.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.85 ₩72.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 ₩3,590

$2.55 ₩3,865

-7.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ₩852

$0.57 ₩865

-1.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.56 ₩13.0K

$9.04 ₩13.7K

-5.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₩1,654

$1.26 ₩1,915

-13.49%

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

$28.0K ₩42.6M

$28.1K ₩42.6M

-0.10%

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

$24.7K ₩37.5M

$25.3K ₩38.5M

-2.43%

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

$162 ₩246.1K

$163 ₩247.2K

-0.47%

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

$34.84 ₩52.9K

$34.40 ₩52.2K

1.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.09 ₩33.5K

$19.43 ₩29.5K

13.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.96 ₩71.3K

$37.45 ₩56.9K

25.39%

Cinema Ticket

$10.97 ₩16.7K

$11.04 ₩16.8K

-0.63%

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

$416 ₩631.5K

$360 ₩546.0K

15.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K ₩35.7M

$25.1K ₩38.1M

-6.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₩90.9K

$50.6 ₩76.8K

18.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.09 ₩71.5K

$29.89 ₩45.4K

57.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 ₩122.9K

$64.5 ₩97.9K

25.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩179.8K

$88.9 ₩135.0K

33.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 ₩698.3K

$494 ₩749.6K

-6.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$382 ₩579.8K

$391 ₩593.5K

-2.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 ₩1.6M

$1,009 ₩1.5M

7.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$770 ₩1.2M

$1,120 ₩1.7M

-31.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,626 ₩14.6M

$9,495 ₩14.4M

1.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,315 ₩8.1M

$5,193 ₩7.9M

2.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,086 ₩4.7M

$1,629 ₩2.5M

89.47%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Jeju: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $460 in Ilsan and $494 in Jeju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ilsan pays 89% 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: $56.0 in Ilsan vs $52.0 in Jeju for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $492 vs $393 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 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Ilsan pays 89% more on average, 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: $460 in Ilsan versus $494 in Jeju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Ilsan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,509 per month in Ilsan versus $1,334 in Jeju – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,334 in Jeju versus $1,509 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 13% less than in Ilsan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.