Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Daejeon Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Daejeon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,089 per month in Jeju vs $1,344 in Daejeon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,883 per month in Jeju vs $2,124 in Daejeon, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,677 per month in Jeju vs $2,903 in Daejeon, rent included.

Jeju is about 19% cheaper than Daejeon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jeju and Daejeon are more affordable than the global median – Jeju 20% lower, Daejeon 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.39 ₩10.2K

$7.29 ₩10.1K

1.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.7 ₩71.4K

$36.48 ₩50.4K

41.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.46 ₩7,532

$5.48 ₩7,570

-0.36%

Cappuccino

$5.72 ₩7,899

$3.73 ₩5,149

53.35%

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

$2.18 ₩3,011

$1.25 ₩1,719

74.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₩2,639

$0.67 ₩928

185.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 ₩4,672

$3.58 ₩4,936

-5.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 ₩4,205

$3.64 ₩5,024

-16.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₩3,100

$2.16 ₩2,983

4.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 ₩3,111

$2.73 ₩3,762

-17.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ₩3,025

$2.64 ₩3,639

-17.05%

Eggs

$2.66 ₩3,669

$2.48 ₩3,429

7.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.88 ₩15.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.82 ₩10.8K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 ₩28.6K

Apples (1kg)

$11.03 ₩15.2K

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ₩2,920

$5.67 ₩7,820

-62.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 ₩8,041

Tomato (1kg)

$5.75 ₩7,932

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 ₩4,125

$5.14 ₩7,093

-41.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 ₩2,618

$2.77 ₩3,824

-31.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 ₩3,020

$1.69 ₩2,339

29.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₩593

$1.07 ₩1,472

-59.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₩4,493

Wine (Bottle)

$10.95 ₩15.1K

$18.62 ₩25.7K

-41.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₩2,636

$2.55 ₩3,514

-25.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₩2,330

$3.40 ₩4,695

-50.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₩1,310

$1.14 ₩1,568

-16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.94 ₩15.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 ₩4,276

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 ₩1,057

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.54 ₩22.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₩1,756

$1.18 ₩1,633

7.63%

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

$27.8K ₩38.4M

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

$23.0K ₩31.7M

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

$208 ₩286.9K

$176 ₩243.4K

17.87%

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

$54.4 ₩75.0K

$42.27 ₩58.3K

28.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.80 ₩27.3K

$22.63 ₩31.2K

-12.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.82 ₩45.3K

Cinema Ticket

$11.03 ₩15.2K

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

$298 ₩410.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K ₩33.9M

$21.4K ₩29.6M

14.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 ₩71.9K

$64.8 ₩89.5K

-19.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.94 ₩41.3K

$40.88 ₩56.4K

-26.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ₩89.7K

$94.5 ₩130.4K

-31.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.8 ₩125.3K

$105 ₩144.8K

-13.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 ₩643.6K

$377 ₩520.4K

23.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$375 ₩517.5K

$299 ₩413.1K

25.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,331 ₩1.8M

$1,057 ₩1.5M

25.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 ₩1.6M

$589 ₩812.9K

99.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.3K ₩14.2M

$5,605 ₩7.7M

83.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,750 ₩9.3M

$4,539 ₩6.3M

48.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,854 ₩2.6M

$2,336 ₩3.2M

-20.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.65

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

Last update for Jeju: September 14, 2026

Last update for Daejeon: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $466 in Jeju versus $377 in Daejeon. 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 26% higher in Daejeon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Jeju versus $36.00 in Daejeon. Groceries tell a different story – $139 in Jeju vs $442 in Daejeon – 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 Daejeon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Daejeon costs about 23% 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 $1,633 per month in Jeju and $2,017 in Daejeon. 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 $1,089 in Jeju and $1,344 in Daejeon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 219% more in Daejeon, 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 $1,089, than in Daejeon at $1,344. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Daejeon 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, Daejeon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.