Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Cheongju Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Cheongju

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,079 in Jeju versus $1,192 in Cheongju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,866 in Jeju versus $2,049 in Cheongju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,652 in Jeju versus $2,905 in Cheongju.

Living in Jeju costs roughly 9% less than in Cheongju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jeju 22% lower, Cheongju 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.55 ₩10.1K

$7.25 ₩9,721

4.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.7 ₩69.3K

$47.69 ₩64.0K

8.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 ₩7,396

$5.79 ₩7,761

-4.66%

Cappuccino

$5.89 ₩7,898

$3.61 ₩4,836

63.16%

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

$2.15 ₩2,888

$1.77 ₩2,368

21.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ₩2,647

$1.38 ₩1,846

42.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ₩4,670

$3.82 ₩5,126

-8.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₩3,934

$4.25 ₩5,697

-31.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,037

$2.06 ₩2,761

9.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 ₩3,054

$3.18 ₩4,262

-28.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₩3,011

$1.81 ₩2,421

24.31%

Eggs

$2.59 ₩3,471

$2.18 ₩2,923

18.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.75 ₩14.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.50 ₩14.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.67 ₩19.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 ₩4,077

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 ₩2,968

$2.91 ₩3,905

-24.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.59 ₩10.2K

Tomato (1kg)

$5.83 ₩7,814

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,055

$5.90 ₩7,914

-48.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 ₩2,429

$3.41 ₩4,568

-46.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 ₩2,948

$2.74 ₩3,669

-19.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₩577

$0.47 ₩626

-8.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ₩4,401

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 ₩15.2K

$14.65 ₩19.7K

-22.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₩2,541

$1.91 ₩2,560

-1.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₩2,220

$2.28 ₩3,054

-27.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 ₩1,343

$1.12 ₩1,509

-10.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 ₩3,637

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 ₩969

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.66 ₩22.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ₩1,769

$1.31 ₩1,755

0.76%

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

$28.8K ₩38.7M

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

$34.1K ₩45.7M

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

$208 ₩278.9K

$198 ₩265.2K

5.18%

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

$54.0 ₩72.4K

$24.13 ₩32.4K

123.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.21 ₩25.8K

$14.98 ₩20.1K

28.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 ₩73.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.05 ₩16.2K

Cinema Ticket

$7.57 ₩10.1K

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

$631 ₩845.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.2K ₩33.8M

$21.7K ₩29.1M

16.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 ₩67.5K

$37.58 ₩50.4K

33.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.85 ₩40.0K

$66.0 ₩88.5K

-54.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.3 ₩87.5K

$93.0 ₩124.7K

-29.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.2 ₩118.3K

$113 ₩151.7K

-22.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₩618.7K

$276 ₩370.2K

67.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$381 ₩510.6K

$212 ₩284.8K

79.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 ₩1.8M

$1,144 ₩1.5M

14.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,152 ₩1.5M

$721 ₩966.7K

59.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K ₩14.2M

$7,052 ₩9.5M

50.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,719 ₩9.0M

$5,477 ₩7.3M

22.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,863 ₩2.5M

$2,630 ₩3.5M

-29.16%

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 Cheongju: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $461 in Jeju and $276 in Cheongju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cheongju pays 41% 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: $52.0 in Jeju vs $48.00 in Cheongju. Groceries flip the comparison at $140 vs $374, 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 Cheongju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jeju wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Cheongju. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jeju the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 41% lower in Cheongju. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $461 in Jeju versus $276 in Cheongju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,079 per month in Jeju versus $1,192 in Cheongju – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 167% higher in Cheongju. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,079 in Jeju versus $1,192 in Cheongju, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jeju but tight or insufficient in Cheongju. 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 Cheongju 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 10% less than in Cheongju. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.