Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Gimcheon Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Gimcheon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,079 per month in Jeju vs $1,286 in Gimcheon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,866 per month in Jeju vs $1,736 in Gimcheon, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,652 per month in Jeju vs $2,186 in Gimcheon, rent included.

Jeju is about 16% cheaper than Gimcheon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jeju and Gimcheon are more affordable than the global median – Jeju 22% lower, Gimcheon 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.55 ₩10.1K

$6.11 ₩8,194

23.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.7 ₩69.3K

$34.79 ₩46.7K

48.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 ₩7,396

$6.55 ₩8,786

-15.73%

Cappuccino

$5.89 ₩7,898

$3.58 ₩4,804

64.53%

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

$2.15 ₩2,888

$1.59 ₩2,134

35.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ₩2,647

$0.57 ₩766

245.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ₩4,670

$3.44 ₩4,617

1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₩3,934

$4.36 ₩5,843

-32.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,037

$2.19 ₩2,934

3.20%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 ₩3,054

$3.15 ₩4,218

-27.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₩3,011

$2.33 ₩3,124

-3.43%

Eggs

$2.59 ₩3,471

$3.27 ₩4,380

-20.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.81 ₩21.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 ₩10.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.25 ₩15.1K

Apples (1kg)

$7.60 ₩10.2K

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 ₩2,968

$3.19 ₩4,278

-30.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.34 ₩9,837

Tomato (1kg)

$6.82 ₩9,142

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,055

$3.45 ₩4,622

-12.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 ₩2,429

$2.45 ₩3,285

-26.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 ₩2,948

$2.09 ₩2,807

5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₩577

$1.46 ₩1,965

-70.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.43 ₩4,598

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 ₩15.2K

$18.44 ₩24.7K

-38.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₩2,541

$2.24 ₩3,008

-15.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₩2,220

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 ₩1,343

$1.02 ₩1,374

-1.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 ₩3,957

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₩812

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ₩1,769

$1.10 ₩1,469

20.00%

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

$29.7K ₩39.9M

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

$35.7K ₩47.8M

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

$208 ₩278.9K

$209 ₩280.9K

-0.68%

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

$54.0 ₩72.4K

$43.63 ₩58.5K

23.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.21 ₩25.8K

$20.74 ₩27.8K

-7.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.8 ₩94.9K

Cinema Ticket

$11.24 ₩15.1K

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

$295 ₩395.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.2K ₩33.8M

$17.8K ₩23.9M

41.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 ₩67.5K

$64.0 ₩85.8K

-21.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.85 ₩40.0K

$64.4 ₩86.4K

-53.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.3 ₩87.5K

$75.1 ₩100.7K

-13.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.2 ₩118.3K

$101 ₩135.6K

-12.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₩618.7K

$297 ₩397.6K

55.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$381 ₩510.6K

$241 ₩323.7K

57.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 ₩1.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,152 ₩1.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K ₩14.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,719 ₩9.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,863 ₩2.5M

$1,872 ₩2.5M

-0.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.1

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

Last update for Jeju: September 5, 2026

Last update for Gimcheon: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $461 in Jeju versus $297 in Gimcheon. 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 0% higher in Gimcheon, 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 $35.00 in Gimcheon. Groceries tell a different story – $140 in Jeju vs $407 in Gimcheon – 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 Gimcheon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Gimcheon is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,619 per month in Jeju and $1,929 in Gimcheon. 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.

Groceries cost about 190% more in Gimcheon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Jeju and $35.00 in Gimcheon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,079, than in Gimcheon at $1,286. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gimcheon 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, Gimcheon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.