Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Cheonan Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Cheonan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,074 per month in Jeju vs $1,403 in Cheonan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,819 per month in Jeju vs $2,204 in Cheonan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,563 per month in Jeju vs $3,005 in Cheonan, rent included.

Jeju is about 23% cheaper than Cheonan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Jeju sits 22% below the global median, while Cheonan is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.52 ₩10.2K

$7.36 ₩9,982

2.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.1 ₩70.6K

$21.53 ₩29.2K

141.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 ₩7,253

$4.20 ₩5,692

27.38%

Cappuccino

$5.96 ₩8,082

$1.47 ₩1,994

305.44%

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

$2.17 ₩2,939

$1.14 ₩1,544

90.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₩2,569

$1.35 ₩1,830

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 ₩4,598

$2.20 ₩2,986

54.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₩3,862

$4.21 ₩5,704

-32.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₩2,901

$1.55 ₩2,104

38.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.17 ₩2,936

$3.16 ₩4,285

-31.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ₩2,953

$2.98 ₩4,042

-26.85%

Eggs

$2.60 ₩3,527

$2.59 ₩3,516

0.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.71 ₩14.5K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 ₩13.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.13 ₩32.7K

Apples (1kg)

$10.67 ₩14.5K

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 ₩2,792

$3.51 ₩4,757

-41.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.99 ₩10.8K

Tomato (1kg)

$5.60 ₩7,586

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 ₩4,060

$5.71 ₩7,741

-47.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 ₩2,459

$3.14 ₩4,263

-42.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₩2,944

$2.79 ₩3,780

-22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₩614

$1.31 ₩1,771

-65.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₩4,425

Wine (Bottle)

$10.91 ₩14.8K

$17.74 ₩24.1K

-38.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ₩2,476

$2.39 ₩3,242

-23.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 ₩2,200

$3.37 ₩4,570

-51.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ₩1,271

$1.10 ₩1,485

-14.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 ₩3,904

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 ₩1,017

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.10 ₩21.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ₩1,705

$1.18 ₩1,604

6.78%

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

$28.9K ₩39.2M

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

$32.8K ₩44.5M

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

$209 ₩283.3K

$191 ₩259.2K

9.29%

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

$52.5 ₩71.2K

$34.82 ₩47.2K

50.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.46 ₩26.4K

$25.91 ₩35.1K

-24.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 ₩74.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₩15.8K

Cinema Ticket

$11.64 ₩15.8K

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

$611 ₩828.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.8K ₩33.6M

$20.7K ₩28.1M

19.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.90 ₩67.7K

$66.4 ₩90.0K

-24.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.86 ₩39.1K

$58.2 ₩78.9K

-50.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.0 ₩89.5K

$90.6 ₩122.8K

-27.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 ₩120.3K

$125 ₩169.9K

-29.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₩617.7K

$426 ₩577.5K

6.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 ₩492.1K

$341 ₩462.6K

6.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,341 ₩1.8M

$1,111 ₩1.5M

20.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,113 ₩1.5M

$704 ₩954.6K

58.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.3K ₩14.0M

$7,494 ₩10.2M

37.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,615 ₩9.0M

$5,453 ₩7.4M

21.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,824 ₩2.5M

$1,755 ₩2.4M

3.92%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Cheonan: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $456 in Jeju versus $426 in Cheonan. 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 4% 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 $22.00 in Cheonan. Groceries tell a different story – $135 in Jeju vs $463 in Cheonan – 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

Jeju vs Cheonan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cheonan costs about 31% more than Jeju, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,611 per month in Jeju and $2,104 in Cheonan. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,074 in Jeju and $1,403 in Cheonan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 242% more in Cheonan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,074, than in Cheonan at $1,403. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cheonan 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, Cheonan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.