Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Gyeonggi Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Gyeonggi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,089 in Jeju versus $1,088 in Gyeonggi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,883 in Jeju versus $2,066 in Gyeonggi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,677 in Jeju versus $3,044 in Gyeonggi.

Monthly costs are close between Jeju and Gyeonggi; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jeju 20% lower, Gyeonggi 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.39 ₩10.2K

$7.37 ₩10.2K

0.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.7 ₩71.3K

$59.6 ₩82.1K

-13.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.46 ₩7,521

$6.29 ₩8,674

-13.20%

Cappuccino

$5.72 ₩7,888

$3.91 ₩5,383

46.29%

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

$2.18 ₩3,007

$1.22 ₩1,676

78.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₩2,635

$0.72 ₩991

165.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 ₩4,665

$3.26 ₩4,493

3.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 ₩4,199

$3.00 ₩4,128

1.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₩3,095

$1.73 ₩2,389

30.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 ₩3,107

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ₩3,021

Eggs

$2.66 ₩3,663

Apples (1kg)

$11.21 ₩15.4K

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ₩2,916

$3.60 ₩4,967

-41.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.35 ₩10.1K

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 ₩4,119

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 ₩2,614

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 ₩3,016

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₩592

Wine (Bottle)

$10.95 ₩15.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₩2,632

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₩2,327

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₩1,308

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 ₩4,200

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₩840

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₩1,754

$1.40 ₩1,927

-9.29%

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

$208 ₩286.5K

$185 ₩254.6K

12.53%

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

$54.4 ₩74.9K

$40.38 ₩55.6K

34.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.80 ₩27.3K

$21.44 ₩29.5K

-7.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 ₩77.7K

Cinema Ticket

$9.98 ₩13.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K ₩33.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 ₩71.8K

$59.5 ₩82.1K

-12.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.94 ₩41.3K

$41.29 ₩56.9K

-27.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ₩89.6K

$85.0 ₩117.2K

-23.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.8 ₩125.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 ₩642.7K

$512 ₩704.9K

-8.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$375 ₩516.8K

$376 ₩517.7K

-0.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,331 ₩1.8M

$2,119 ₩2.9M

-37.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 ₩1.6M

$1,495 ₩2.1M

-21.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.3K ₩14.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,750 ₩9.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,854 ₩2.6M

$2,227 ₩3.1M

-16.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.5

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

Last update for Jeju: September 14, 2026

Last update for Gyeonggi: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $466 in Jeju and $512 in Gyeonggi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gyeonggi pays 20% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $52.0 in Jeju vs $60.0 in Gyeonggi. Groceries flip the comparison at $139 vs $124, with Gyeonggi 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 Gyeonggi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

On paper, salaries run 20% lower in Gyeonggi. 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 $512 in Gyeonggi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Gyeonggi – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $52.0 in Jeju. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Jeju. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,088 in Gyeonggi versus $1,089 in Jeju, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gyeonggi but tight or insufficient in Jeju. The gap between the two cities makes Gyeonggi 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 Gyeonggi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Gyeonggi wins on affordability, Jeju on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.