Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Chungju Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Chungju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,358 per month in Jeju vs $1,456 in Chungju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,314 per month in Jeju vs $2,235 in Chungju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,271 per month in Jeju vs $3,014 in Chungju, rent included.

Jeju is about 7% cheaper than Chungju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jeju and Chungju sit above the global median – Jeju by 1%, Chungju by 9%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.52 ₩9,676

$7.33 ₩10.9K

-11.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.2 ₩76.0K

$37.07 ₩55.0K

38.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 ₩6,134

$6.17 ₩9,153

-32.90%

Cappuccino

$5.39 ₩8,001

$4.08 ₩6,047

32.11%

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

$2.43 ₩3,601

$1.82 ₩2,695

33.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₩1,062

$1.35 ₩1,999

-46.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.94 ₩5,846

$3.63 ₩5,381

8.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.82 ₩8,639

$5.85 ₩8,675

-0.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,291

$2.17 ₩3,216

2.30%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 ₩3,311

$2.92 ₩4,334

-23.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ₩3,184

$3.12 ₩4,630

-31.09%

Eggs

$2.65 ₩3,933

$3.00 ₩4,448

-11.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.28 ₩15.2K

$10.42 ₩15.5K

-1.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.16 ₩12.1K

$7.54 ₩11.2K

8.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.07 ₩40.2K

$27.32 ₩40.5K

-0.92%

Apples (1kg)

$8.04 ₩11.9K

$8.39 ₩12.4K

-4.17%

Banana (1kg)

$3.27 ₩4,855

$3.14 ₩4,661

4.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.63 ₩8,352

$7.53 ₩11.2K

-25.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.40 ₩8,009

$5.37 ₩7,962

0.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 ₩4,433

$5.10 ₩7,566

-41.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 ₩2,749

$2.96 ₩4,395

-37.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 ₩3,211

$2.07 ₩3,077

4.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₩683

$1.21 ₩1,795

-61.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₩5,055

$3.26 ₩4,838

4.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.49 ₩23.0K

$16.65 ₩24.7K

-6.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ₩2,772

$1.77 ₩2,622

5.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₩2,480

$2.99 ₩4,434

-44.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₩1,329

$1.12 ₩1,658

-19.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 ₩3,777

$3.60 ₩5,337

-29.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₩856

$0.85 ₩1,260

-31.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.68 ₩12.9K

$16.69 ₩24.8K

-47.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₩1,824

$1.17 ₩1,740

5.13%

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

$28.0K ₩41.5M

$27.5K ₩40.8M

1.79%

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

$25.2K ₩37.4M

$25.0K ₩37.1M

0.92%

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

$162 ₩240.3K

$188 ₩279.4K

-13.99%

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

$34.77 ₩51.6K

$26.89 ₩39.9K

29.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.51 ₩28.9K

$27.11 ₩40.2K

-28.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.31 ₩53.9K

$47.86 ₩71.0K

-24.13%

Cinema Ticket

$10.94 ₩16.2K

$11.19 ₩16.6K

-2.23%

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

$360 ₩534.5K

$495 ₩734.0K

-27.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K ₩36.9M

$14.2K ₩21.1M

75.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 ₩76.2K

$73.9 ₩109.6K

-30.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.34 ₩43.5K

$37.16 ₩55.1K

-21.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.1 ₩95.1K

$73.2 ₩108.6K

-12.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.0 ₩130.6K

$111 ₩164.3K

-20.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₩728.2K

$460 ₩683.0K

6.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₩592.9K

$381 ₩565.3K

4.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 ₩1.5M

$1,057 ₩1.6M

-4.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,118 ₩1.7M

$778 ₩1.2M

43.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,859 ₩14.6M

$9,683 ₩14.4M

1.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,670 ₩8.4M

$5,755 ₩8.5M

-1.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,715 ₩2.5M

$1,504 ₩2.2M

14.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

4.22

-1.90%

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

Last update for Jeju: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chungju: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $491 in Jeju versus $460 in Chungju. 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 14% 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 $51.0 in Jeju versus $37.00 in Chungju. Groceries tell a different story – $396 in Jeju vs $436 in Chungju – 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 Chungju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chungju costs about 7% 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 $2,036 per month in Jeju and $2,184 in Chungju. 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 $1,358 in Jeju and $1,456 in Chungju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $360 per month in Jeju and $495 in Chungju. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,358, than in Chungju at $1,456. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chungju 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, Chungju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.