Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Daegu Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Daegu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,334 per month in Jeju vs $1,336 in Daegu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,290 per month in Jeju vs $2,152 in Daegu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,246 per month in Jeju vs $2,967 in Daegu, rent included.

Jeju and Daegu have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Jeju and Daegu sit above the global median – Jeju by 0%, Daegu by 0%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jeju
Daegu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.71 ₩10.2K
$8.24 ₩12.5K
-18.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.2 ₩77.5K
$36.47 ₩55.3K
40.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.04 ₩6,124
$6.00 ₩9,088
-32.67%
Cappuccino
$5.21 ₩7,898
$3.61 ₩5,467
44.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 ₩3,660
$1.54 ₩2,336
57.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₩1,087
$0.79 ₩1,194
-8.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.98 ₩6,034
$3.70 ₩5,610
7.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 ₩8,658
$5.31 ₩8,050
7.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jeju
Daegu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 ₩3,248
$2.14 ₩3,247
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.25 ₩3,404
$3.31 ₩5,012
-32.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 ₩3,379
$2.63 ₩3,984
-15.21%
Eggs
$2.61 ₩3,952
$2.73 ₩4,133
-4.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.53 ₩16.0K
$11.40 ₩17.3K
-7.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.47 ₩12.8K
$7.26 ₩11.0K
16.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.80 ₩42.1K
$22.89 ₩34.7K
21.45%
Apples (1kg)
$7.66 ₩11.6K
$8.04 ₩12.2K
-4.73%
Banana (1kg)
$3.12 ₩4,735
$3.46 ₩5,249
-9.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.68 ₩8,600
$5.53 ₩8,386
2.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.35 ₩8,109
$6.61 ₩10.0K
-19.06%
Potato (1kg)
$3.02 ₩4,576
$2.42 ₩3,661
24.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 ₩2,865
$2.95 ₩4,468
-35.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 ₩3,292
$2.64 ₩3,993
-17.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₩695
$1.27 ₩1,920
-63.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.25 ₩4,925
$3.33 ₩5,039
-2.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.99 ₩25.7K
$13.00 ₩19.7K
30.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 ₩2,881
$2.43 ₩3,681
-21.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ₩2,442
$3.02 ₩4,569
-46.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Jeju
Daegu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ₩1,305
$1.12 ₩1,697
-23.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.8 ₩113.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 ₩3,840
$3.14 ₩4,758
-19.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ₩800
$0.43 ₩646
23.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.57 ₩13.0K
$8.89 ₩13.5K
-3.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 ₩1,913
$1.15 ₩1,746
9.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K ₩42.4M
$27.4K ₩41.5M
2.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K ₩37.5M
$24.6K ₩37.3M
0.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeju
Daegu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$159 ₩240.9K
$162 ₩245.3K
-1.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.67 ₩52.5K
$35.44 ₩53.7K
-2.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46 ₩29.5K
$22.58 ₩34.2K
-13.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jeju
Daegu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.23 ₩54.9K
$50.5 ₩76.6K
-28.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.95 ₩18.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.88 ₩16.5K
$10.49 ₩15.9K
3.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jeju
Daegu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$367 ₩556.3K
$419 ₩635.5K
-12.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.3K ₩36.8M
$23.4K ₩35.5M
3.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jeju
Daegu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 ₩77.7K
$54.4 ₩82.4K
-5.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.51 ₩44.7K
$47.29 ₩71.7K
-37.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.3 ₩100.5K
$78.5 ₩119.0K
-15.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.4 ₩135.5K
$117 ₩176.6K
-23.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jeju
Daegu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$501 ₩759.2K
$394 ₩596.6K
27.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$402 ₩609.2K
$253 ₩383.9K
58.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,017 ₩1.5M
$1,199 ₩1.8M
-15.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,149 ₩1.7M
$596 ₩903.5K
92.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,790 ₩14.8M
$7,150 ₩10.8M
36.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,331 ₩8.1M
$5,267 ₩8.0M
1.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jeju
Daegu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,672 ₩2.5M
$2,165 ₩3.3M
-22.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.14
4.14
-

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

Last update for Jeju: June 1, 2026

Last update for Daegu: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Jeju versus $394 in Daegu. 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 29% higher in Daegu. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Jeju versus $36.00 in Daegu. Groceries tell a different story – $401 in Jeju vs $414 in Daegu – 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 Daegu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What salary covers living expenses in Jeju compared to Daegu?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,001 per month in Jeju and $2,004 in Daegu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Jeju and Daegu?
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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Jeju and Daegu?
Kindergarten costs $367 per month in Jeju and $419 in Daegu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Daegu, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,334, than in Daegu at $1,336. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Daegu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Jeju or Daegu?
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.
Is Jeju or Daegu safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Jeju and Daegu?
If budget matters most, go with Jeju. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Daegu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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