Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Changwon Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Changwon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,079 in Jeju versus $1,175 in Changwon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,866 in Jeju versus $1,792 in Changwon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,652 in Jeju versus $2,409 in Changwon.

Living in Jeju costs roughly 8% less than in Changwon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jeju 22% lower, Changwon 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.55 ₩10.1K

$7.31 ₩9,808

3.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.7 ₩69.3K

$27.35 ₩36.7K

88.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 ₩7,396

$5.35 ₩7,169

3.18%

Cappuccino

$5.89 ₩7,898

$3.60 ₩4,831

63.61%

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

$2.15 ₩2,888

$1.81 ₩2,423

18.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ₩2,647

$0.94 ₩1,256

109.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ₩4,670

$2.91 ₩3,902

19.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₩3,934

$4.36 ₩5,847

-32.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,037

$2.31 ₩3,091

-2.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 ₩3,054

$3.13 ₩4,191

-27.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₩3,011

$3.15 ₩4,228

-28.57%

Eggs

$2.59 ₩3,471

$2.60 ₩3,489

-0.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 ₩14.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₩14.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.67 ₩33.1K

Apples (1kg)

$11.29 ₩15.1K

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 ₩2,968

$3.67 ₩4,926

-39.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.83 ₩10.5K

Tomato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩7,897

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,055

$5.89 ₩7,898

-48.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 ₩2,429

$3.27 ₩4,390

-44.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 ₩2,948

$2.85 ₩3,818

-22.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₩577

$1.33 ₩1,788

-67.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ₩4,560

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 ₩15.2K

$18.84 ₩25.3K

-39.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₩2,541

$2.34 ₩3,141

-19.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₩2,220

$3.50 ₩4,688

-52.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 ₩1,343

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 ₩3,920

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₩1,023

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.94 ₩22.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ₩1,769

$1.32 ₩1,771

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

$29.5K ₩39.6M

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

$33.5K ₩44.9M

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

$208 ₩278.9K

$198 ₩265.3K

5.14%

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

$54.0 ₩72.4K

$35.58 ₩47.7K

51.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.21 ₩25.8K

$26.96 ₩36.2K

-28.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 ₩70.3K

Cinema Ticket

$11.03 ₩14.8K

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

$630 ₩844.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.2K ₩33.8M

$22.0K ₩29.5M

14.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 ₩67.5K

$106 ₩141.6K

-52.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.85 ₩40.0K

$65.4 ₩87.7K

-54.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.3 ₩87.5K

$93.0 ₩124.7K

-29.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.2 ₩118.3K

$126 ₩168.9K

-29.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₩618.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$381 ₩510.6K

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)

$1,863 ₩2.5M

$1,661 ₩2.2M

12.15%

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 Jeju: September 5, 2026

Last update for Changwon: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Jeju pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $52.0 in Jeju vs $27.00 in Changwon. Groceries flip the comparison at $140 vs $484, with Jeju cheaper for home cooking.

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 Changwon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jeju and Changwon differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($1,079 vs $1,175 including rent). Jeju is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 12% higher in Jeju, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Dining out is cheaper in Jeju – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $27.00 in Changwon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,079 per month in Jeju versus $1,175 in Changwon – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,079 in Jeju versus $1,175 in Changwon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jeju but tight or insufficient in Changwon. 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, Jeju and Changwon 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 9% less than in Changwon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.