Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Gwangju Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Gwangju

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,338 in Jeju versus $1,394 in Gwangju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,319 in Jeju versus $2,165 in Gwangju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,299 in Jeju versus $2,936 in Gwangju.

Living in Jeju costs roughly 4% less than in Gwangju, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jeju 1% above, Gwangju 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.65 ₩9,564

$7.43 ₩10.7K

-10.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 ₩75.0K

$50.7 ₩73.0K

2.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 ₩5,953

$5.79 ₩8,333

-28.50%

Cappuccino

$5.26 ₩7,564

$3.90 ₩5,616

34.87%

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

$2.39 ₩3,441

$1.57 ₩2,253

52.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₩1,008

$0.69 ₩999

1.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.10 ₩5,896

$2.88 ₩4,141

42.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 ₩8,209

$3.62 ₩5,209

57.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₩3,223

$1.88 ₩2,708

19.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 ₩3,098

$2.41 ₩3,468

-10.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₩3,118

$3.02 ₩4,342

-28.15%

Eggs

$2.60 ₩3,742

$2.69 ₩3,867

-3.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.62 ₩15.3K

$7.43 ₩10.7K

42.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 ₩11.9K

$7.24 ₩10.4K

14.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.81 ₩40.0K

$34.35 ₩49.4K

-19.04%

Apples (1kg)

$7.87 ₩11.3K

$8.02 ₩11.5K

-1.87%

Banana (1kg)

$3.21 ₩4,624

$3.60 ₩5,180

-10.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.65 ₩8,121

$5.69 ₩8,189

-0.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.38 ₩7,732

$5.59 ₩8,034

-3.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 ₩4,288

$3.82 ₩5,500

-21.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.87 ₩2,691

$2.46 ₩3,545

-23.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 ₩3,142

$2.61 ₩3,759

-16.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₩652

$1.15 ₩1,660

-60.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₩4,840

$3.32 ₩4,781

1.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.44 ₩15.0K

$10.13 ₩14.6K

3.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ₩2,683

$1.62 ₩2,336

15.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₩2,398

$2.28 ₩3,283

-26.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₩1,300

$0.96 ₩1,379

-6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.3 ₩93.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 ₩3,604

$2.99 ₩4,302

-16.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₩828

$0.53 ₩763

9.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.56 ₩12.3K

$8.38 ₩12.0K

2.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ₩1,846

$1.25 ₩1,802

2.40%

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

$27.7K ₩39.9M

$27.6K ₩39.7M

0.55%

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

$25.3K ₩36.4M

$22.4K ₩32.2M

13.04%

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

$158 ₩227.7K

$165 ₩237.8K

-4.26%

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

$35.48 ₩51.0K

$34.57 ₩49.7K

2.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.16 ₩27.6K

$21.75 ₩31.3K

-11.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.67 ₩52.7K

$47.38 ₩68.1K

-22.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.44 ₩20.8K

Cinema Ticket

$10.83 ₩15.6K

$9.06 ₩13.0K

19.54%

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

$363 ₩521.8K

$421 ₩605.1K

-13.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K ₩35.8M

$23.7K ₩34.1M

5.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 ₩72.6K

$51.0 ₩73.4K

-1.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.77 ₩42.8K

$37.09 ₩53.3K

-19.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 ₩93.8K

$64.3 ₩92.5K

1.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.2 ₩125.4K

$101 ₩144.7K

-13.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₩699.0K

$462 ₩664.5K

5.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$398 ₩572.7K

$359 ₩516.6K

10.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,041 ₩1.5M

$850 ₩1.2M

22.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,129 ₩1.6M

$595 ₩855.6K

89.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,502 ₩13.7M

$7,241 ₩10.4M

31.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,054 ₩8.7M

$5,779 ₩8.3M

4.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,736 ₩2.5M

$2,583 ₩3.7M

-32.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

3.9

6.15%

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

Last update for Jeju: July 26, 2026

Last update for Gwangju: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $486 in Jeju and $462 in Gwangju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gwangju pays 49% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $52.0 in Jeju vs $51.0 in Gwangju. Groceries flip the comparison at $388 vs $413, with Jeju cheaper for home cooking.

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 Gwangju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jeju is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 49% lower in Gwangju. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $486 in Jeju versus $462 in Gwangju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Gwangju. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,338 per month in Jeju versus $1,394 in Gwangju – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,338 in Jeju versus $1,394 in Gwangju, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jeju but tight or insufficient in Gwangju. The gap between the two cities makes Jeju the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Jeju and Gwangju are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Jeju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Gwangju. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.