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: $1,089 in Jeju versus $1,324 in Gwangju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,883 in Jeju versus $2,038 in Gwangju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,677 in Jeju versus $2,751 in Gwangju.

Living in Jeju costs roughly 18% less than in Gwangju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jeju 20% lower, Gwangju 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.39 ₩10.2K

$5.90 ₩8,128

25.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.7 ₩71.3K

$35.02 ₩48.3K

47.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.46 ₩7,521

$5.81 ₩8,013

-6.02%

Cappuccino

$5.72 ₩7,888

$3.08 ₩4,251

85.71%

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

$2.18 ₩3,007

$1.53 ₩2,111

42.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₩2,635

$0.57 ₩792

235.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 ₩4,665

$2.45 ₩3,370

38.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 ₩4,199

$4.49 ₩6,191

-32.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₩3,095

$1.71 ₩2,355

31.58%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 ₩3,107

$2.38 ₩3,287

-5.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ₩3,021

$2.26 ₩3,112

-3.10%

Eggs

$2.66 ₩3,663

$2.71 ₩3,732

-1.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.02 ₩12.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 ₩11.0K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.24 ₩15.5K

Apples (1kg)

$5.29 ₩7,288

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ₩2,916

$2.95 ₩4,065

-28.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.82 ₩5,269

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 ₩4,173

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 ₩4,119

$3.50 ₩4,821

-14.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 ₩2,614

$1.82 ₩2,514

4.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 ₩3,016

$2.08 ₩2,870

5.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₩592

$1.29 ₩1,774

-66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.24 ₩4,471

Wine (Bottle)

$10.95 ₩15.1K

$11.26 ₩15.5K

-2.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₩2,632

$1.46 ₩2,015

30.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₩2,327

$2.20 ₩3,027

-23.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₩1,308

$1.03 ₩1,424

-7.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.9 ₩93.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ₩4,169

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₩864

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.93 ₩10.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₩1,754

$1.20 ₩1,655

5.83%

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

$28.0K ₩38.7M

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

$35.2K ₩48.6M

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

$208 ₩286.5K

$212 ₩291.8K

-1.82%

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

$54.4 ₩74.9K

$43.48 ₩59.9K

25.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.80 ₩27.3K

$20.49 ₩28.2K

-3.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 ₩78.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.73 ₩16.2K

Cinema Ticket

$11.21 ₩15.4K

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

$303 ₩417.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K ₩33.9M

$17.8K ₩24.5M

38.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 ₩71.8K

$31.08 ₩42.8K

67.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.94 ₩41.3K

$26.41 ₩36.4K

13.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ₩89.6K

$63.6 ₩87.6K

2.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.8 ₩125.1K

$90.0 ₩124.0K

0.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 ₩642.7K

$510 ₩702.7K

-8.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$375 ₩516.8K

$363 ₩500.5K

3.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,331 ₩1.8M

$1,181 ₩1.6M

12.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 ₩1.6M

$716 ₩986.3K

63.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.3K ₩14.1M

$7,891 ₩10.9M

30.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,750 ₩9.3M

$6,431 ₩8.9M

4.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,854 ₩2.6M

$2,870 ₩4.0M

-35.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.6

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

Last update for Jeju: September 14, 2026

Last update for Gwangju: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $466 in Jeju and $510 in Gwangju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gwangju pays 55% 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 $35.00 in Gwangju. Groceries flip the comparison at $139 vs $308, 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, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 55% 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: $466 in Jeju versus $510 in Gwangju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 122% higher in Gwangju. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Jeju – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $35.00 in Gwangju. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,089 in Jeju versus $1,324 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 22% less than in Gwangju. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.