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: $1,346 in Jeju versus $1,389 in Gwangju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,290 in Jeju versus $2,162 in Gwangju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,233 in Jeju versus $2,936 in Gwangju.

Living in Jeju costs roughly 3% less than in Gwangju, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jeju 1% above, Gwangju 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.59 ₩9,954

$7.16 ₩10.8K

-7.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 ₩78.9K

$51.7 ₩78.2K

0.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 ₩6,252

$5.74 ₩8,675

-27.87%

Cappuccino

$5.39 ₩8,142

$3.79 ₩5,724

42.22%

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

$2.45 ₩3,696

$1.49 ₩2,259

64.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₩1,069

$0.68 ₩1,032

4.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.09 ₩6,182

$3.02 ₩4,556

35.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 ₩9,129

$3.58 ₩5,406

68.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₩3,234

$1.86 ₩2,812

15.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 ₩3,254

$2.32 ₩3,509

-7.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₩3,284

$3.02 ₩4,560

-28.15%

Eggs

$2.55 ₩3,856

$2.72 ₩4,114

-6.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.57 ₩16.0K

$7.18 ₩10.8K

47.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.12 ₩12.3K

$7.57 ₩11.4K

7.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.46 ₩41.5K

$33.61 ₩50.8K

-18.30%

Apples (1kg)

$7.80 ₩11.8K

Banana (1kg)

$3.26 ₩4,933

$3.57 ₩5,396

-8.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.45 ₩8,235

$5.47 ₩8,272

-0.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.19 ₩7,849

$5.47 ₩8,262

-5.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 ₩4,540

$3.94 ₩5,947

-23.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 ₩2,701

$2.52 ₩3,807

-28.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 ₩3,293

$2.61 ₩3,946

-16.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₩692

$1.20 ₩1,819

-61.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.37 ₩5,099

$3.29 ₩4,969

2.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.13 ₩24.4K

$10.07 ₩15.2K

60.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ₩2,829

$1.57 ₩2,367

19.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₩2,550

$2.29 ₩3,453

-26.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ₩1,374

$0.94 ₩1,414

-3.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.9 ₩98.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 ₩3,865

$3.01 ₩4,548

-14.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₩867

$0.56 ₩851

1.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.67 ₩13.1K

$8.36 ₩12.6K

3.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₩1,855

$1.23 ₩1,862

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

$28.1K ₩42.5M

$27.3K ₩41.2M

3.08%

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

$24.5K ₩37.0M

$22.4K ₩33.8M

9.42%

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

$163 ₩245.6K

$166 ₩250.9K

-2.11%

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

$34.89 ₩52.7K

$34.23 ₩51.7K

1.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.15 ₩28.9K

$21.62 ₩32.7K

-11.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.08 ₩54.5K

$47.30 ₩71.5K

-23.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.60 ₩22.1K

Cinema Ticket

$11.11 ₩16.8K

$8.76 ₩13.2K

26.83%

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

$369 ₩558.2K

$410 ₩619.1K

-9.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.8K ₩37.5M

$23.7K ₩35.8M

4.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.1 ₩75.6K

$50.2 ₩75.9K

-0.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.83 ₩43.6K

$36.91 ₩55.8K

-21.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 ₩97.0K

$63.8 ₩96.4K

0.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.2 ₩131.8K

$100 ₩151.7K

-13.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 ₩757.3K

$451 ₩680.8K

11.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₩595.1K

$353 ₩534.0K

11.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,011 ₩1.5M

$854 ₩1.3M

18.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,150 ₩1.7M

$594 ₩897.1K

93.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,632 ₩14.6M

$6,977 ₩10.5M

38.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,347 ₩8.1M

$5,723 ₩8.6M

-6.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,634 ₩2.5M

$2,553 ₩3.9M

-35.99%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Gwangju: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $501 in Jeju and $451 in Gwangju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gwangju pays 56% 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 $52.0 in Gwangju for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $409 per month, with Jeju cheaper across the board.

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 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Gwangju earns 56% less. 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: $501 in Jeju versus $451 in Gwangju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Gwangju. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,346 per month in Jeju versus $1,389 in Gwangju – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,346 in Jeju versus $1,389 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 3% less than in Gwangju. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.