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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,335 per month in Jeju vs $1,313 in Daejeon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,303 per month in Jeju vs $2,057 in Daejeon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,270 per month in Jeju vs $2,801 in Daejeon, rent included.

Jeju costs about 2% more than Daejeon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Jeju sits 0% above the global median, while Daejeon is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 ₩9,697

$7.09 ₩10.5K

-7.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.8 ₩76.5K

$36.72 ₩54.2K

41.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.08 ₩6,026

$5.34 ₩7,873

-23.60%

Cappuccino

$5.34 ₩7,878

$3.60 ₩5,305

48.33%

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

$2.33 ₩3,438

$1.53 ₩2,258

52.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₩1,046

$0.83 ₩1,224

-14.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.99 ₩5,892

$3.29 ₩4,857

21.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.93 ₩8,748

$5.20 ₩7,673

14.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ₩3,120

$2.15 ₩3,169

-1.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.19 ₩3,227

$2.60 ₩3,831

-15.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₩3,321

$2.58 ₩3,800

-12.79%

Eggs

$2.56 ₩3,780

$2.65 ₩3,915

-3.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.31 ₩15.2K

$10.28 ₩15.2K

0.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.41 ₩12.4K

$8.03 ₩11.9K

4.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.81 ₩41.0K

$20.44 ₩30.2K

36.06%

Apples (1kg)

$8.00 ₩11.8K

$8.67 ₩12.8K

-7.73%

Banana (1kg)

$3.25 ₩4,791

$3.10 ₩4,570

4.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.60 ₩8,267

$5.69 ₩8,396

-1.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.39 ₩7,947

$5.11 ₩7,544

5.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.88 ₩4,252

$5.27 ₩7,779

-45.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 ₩2,742

$2.69 ₩3,968

-30.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₩3,195

$1.90 ₩2,808

14.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₩621

$1.16 ₩1,717

-63.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ₩4,986

$3.36 ₩4,958

0.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.52 ₩24.4K

$16.66 ₩24.6K

-0.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ₩2,655

$1.74 ₩2,561

3.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₩2,362

$3.37 ₩4,979

-52.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ₩1,341

$1.12 ₩1,645

-18.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.98 ₩16.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.50 ₩3,691

$2.87 ₩4,233

-12.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ₩775

$0.85 ₩1,260

-37.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.01 ₩13.3K

$16.46 ₩24.3K

-45.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₩1,803

$1.17 ₩1,728

4.27%

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

$27.3K ₩40.3M

$28.1K ₩41.4M

-2.65%

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

$24.8K ₩36.6M

$11.0K ₩16.2M

126.03%

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

$158 ₩233.0K

$167 ₩246.9K

-5.61%

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

$35.45 ₩52.3K

$43.98 ₩64.9K

-19.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.12 ₩28.2K

$24.74 ₩36.5K

-22.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.71 ₩54.2K

$29.64 ₩43.7K

23.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.31 ₩32.9K

Cinema Ticket

$10.93 ₩16.1K

$10.84 ₩16.0K

0.83%

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

$367 ₩540.8K

$283 ₩417.2K

29.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K ₩36.7M

$35.2K ₩51.9M

-29.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 ₩74.5K

$63.0 ₩93.0K

-19.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.60 ₩43.7K

$39.67 ₩58.5K

-25.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.6 ₩95.3K

$88.4 ₩130.3K

-26.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.8 ₩128.0K

$106 ₩156.3K

-18.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ₩710.9K

$360 ₩531.5K

33.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₩589.9K

$310 ₩457.8K

28.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 ₩1.5M

$933 ₩1.4M

8.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,130 ₩1.7M

$616 ₩908.5K

83.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,269 ₩12.2M

$5,089 ₩7.5M

62.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,103 ₩7.5M

$4,046 ₩6.0M

26.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,678 ₩2.5M

$2,132 ₩3.1M

-21.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

3.77

9.81%

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

Last update for Jeju: July 12, 2026

Last update for Daejeon: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Jeju versus $360 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 27% higher in Daejeon, 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 $37.00 in Daejeon. Groceries tell a different story – $399 in Jeju vs $402 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

Jeju costs about 2% more than Daejeon, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,003 per month in Jeju and $1,970 in Daejeon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Daejeon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Jeju and $37.00 in Daejeon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Jeju – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Daejeon, where all-in costs run around $1,313, than in Jeju at $1,335. In Daejeon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeju it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Daejeon – 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 Daejeon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jeju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.