Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Bucheon Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Bucheon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,079 per month in Jeju vs $1,484 in Bucheon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,866 per month in Jeju vs $2,350 in Bucheon, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,652 per month in Jeju vs $3,217 in Bucheon, rent included.

Jeju is about 27% cheaper than Bucheon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Jeju sits 22% below the global median, while Bucheon is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.55 ₩10.1K

$9.62 ₩12.9K

-21.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.7 ₩69.3K

$67.5 ₩90.6K

-23.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 ₩7,396

$7.48 ₩10.0K

-26.20%

Cappuccino

$5.89 ₩7,898

$4.06 ₩5,442

45.07%

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

$2.15 ₩2,888

$1.61 ₩2,154

33.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ₩2,647

$0.81 ₩1,093

143.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ₩4,670

$3.65 ₩4,900

-4.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₩3,934

$5.93 ₩7,946

-50.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,037

$2.14 ₩2,874

5.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 ₩3,054

$3.06 ₩4,101

-25.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₩3,011

$4.21 ₩5,650

-46.56%

Eggs

$2.59 ₩3,471

$3.43 ₩4,600

-24.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.35 ₩23.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.15 ₩13.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.48 ₩34.2K

Apples (1kg)

$7.84 ₩10.5K

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 ₩2,968

$3.37 ₩4,524

-34.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.79 ₩7,760

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 ₩8,576

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,055

$3.73 ₩5,001

-19.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 ₩2,429

$2.48 ₩3,321

-27.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 ₩2,948

$2.79 ₩3,739

-21.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₩577

$1.08 ₩1,446

-60.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 ₩4,430

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 ₩15.2K

$18.65 ₩25.0K

-39.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₩2,541

$2.44 ₩3,275

-22.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₩2,220

$3.08 ₩4,133

-46.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 ₩1,343

$1.02 ₩1,365

-1.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 ₩4,677

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₩783

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.04 ₩12.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ₩1,769

$1.46 ₩1,964

-9.59%

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

$29.7K ₩39.9M

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

$28.0K ₩37.5M

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

$208 ₩278.9K

$201 ₩269.7K

3.41%

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

$54.0 ₩72.4K

$35.42 ₩47.5K

52.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.21 ₩25.8K

$19.90 ₩26.7K

-3.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 ₩70.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.16 ₩15.0K

Cinema Ticket

$11.29 ₩15.1K

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

$569 ₩762.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.2K ₩33.8M

$22.9K ₩30.8M

9.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 ₩67.5K

$57.9 ₩77.7K

-13.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.85 ₩40.0K

$32.85 ₩44.1K

-9.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.3 ₩87.5K

$70.6 ₩94.6K

-7.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.2 ₩118.3K

$80.6 ₩108.1K

9.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₩618.7K

$442 ₩593.2K

4.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$381 ₩510.6K

$325 ₩436.0K

17.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 ₩1.8M

$1,171 ₩1.6M

12.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,152 ₩1.5M

$625 ₩838.3K

84.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K ₩14.2M

$6,956 ₩9.3M

52.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,719 ₩9.0M

$5,459 ₩7.3M

23.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,863 ₩2.5M

$1,485 ₩2.0M

25.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

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

Last update for Jeju: September 5, 2026

Last update for Bucheon: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $461 in Jeju versus $442 in Bucheon. 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 25% 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 $52.0 in Jeju versus $68.0 in Bucheon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $140 vs $472 – making Jeju the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Jeju vs Bucheon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,079 in Jeju, $1,484 in Bucheon – roughly 37% apart. Bucheon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,619 per month in Jeju and $2,226 in Bucheon. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Jeju and $68.0 in Bucheon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,079 in Jeju and $1,484 in Bucheon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,079, than in Bucheon at $1,484. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bucheon 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, Bucheon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.