Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Gyeongju Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Gyeongju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,334 per month in Jeju vs $1,495 in Gyeongju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,290 per month in Jeju vs $2,319 in Gyeongju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,246 per month in Jeju vs $3,144 in Gyeongju, rent included.

Jeju is about 11% cheaper than Gyeongju, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Jeju and Gyeongju sit above the global median – Jeju by 0%, Gyeongju by 12%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.71 ₩10.2K

$7.31 ₩11.1K

-8.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.2 ₩77.5K

$36.18 ₩54.8K

41.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.04 ₩6,124

$6.17 ₩9,354

-34.52%

Cappuccino

$5.21 ₩7,898

$4.00 ₩6,054

30.25%

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

$2.42 ₩3,660

$1.83 ₩2,772

32.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₩1,087

$1.33 ₩2,014

-45.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 ₩6,034

$3.60 ₩5,449

10.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 ₩8,658

$5.76 ₩8,732

-0.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₩3,248

$2.24 ₩3,401

-4.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 ₩3,404

$3.43 ₩5,202

-34.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ₩3,379

$3.09 ₩4,685

-27.83%

Eggs

$2.61 ₩3,952

$2.98 ₩4,518

-12.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.53 ₩16.0K

$10.45 ₩15.8K

0.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 ₩12.8K

$8.22 ₩12.5K

3.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.80 ₩42.1K

$27.27 ₩41.3K

1.94%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 ₩11.6K

$8.53 ₩12.9K

-10.20%

Banana (1kg)

$3.12 ₩4,735

$3.15 ₩4,767

-0.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.68 ₩8,600

$7.46 ₩11.3K

-23.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.35 ₩8,109

$5.30 ₩8,035

0.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,576

$5.20 ₩7,877

-41.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 ₩2,865

$3.04 ₩4,601

-37.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₩3,292

$2.02 ₩3,058

7.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₩695

$1.20 ₩1,820

-61.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.25 ₩4,925

$3.33 ₩5,048

-2.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ₩25.7K

$13.18 ₩20.0K

28.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₩2,881

$1.75 ₩2,651

8.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₩2,442

$3.47 ₩5,258

-53.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ₩1,305

$1.11 ₩1,677

-22.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 ₩3,840

$3.02 ₩4,575

-16.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ₩800

$0.78 ₩1,188

-32.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.57 ₩13.0K

$16.38 ₩24.8K

-47.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ₩1,913

$1.22 ₩1,842

3.28%

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

$28.0K ₩42.4M

$27.2K ₩41.2M

2.88%

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

$24.8K ₩37.5M

$25.1K ₩38.0M

-1.22%

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

$159 ₩240.9K

$187 ₩283.9K

-15.13%

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

$34.67 ₩52.5K

$46.54 ₩70.5K

-25.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.46 ₩29.5K

$27.73 ₩42.0K

-29.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.23 ₩54.9K

$47.37 ₩71.8K

-23.52%

Cinema Ticket

$10.88 ₩16.5K

$11.17 ₩16.9K

-2.60%

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

$367 ₩556.3K

$494 ₩748.3K

-25.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.3K ₩36.8M

$14.4K ₩21.8M

69.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 ₩77.7K

$105 ₩158.9K

-51.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.51 ₩44.7K

$47.99 ₩72.7K

-38.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.3 ₩100.5K

$89.9 ₩136.2K

-26.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 ₩135.5K

$117 ₩177.6K

-23.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 ₩759.2K

$448 ₩678.7K

11.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$402 ₩609.2K

$376 ₩570.4K

6.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,017 ₩1.5M

$1,087 ₩1.6M

-6.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,149 ₩1.7M

$758 ₩1.1M

51.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,790 ₩14.8M

$9,707 ₩14.7M

0.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,331 ₩8.1M

$5,689 ₩8.6M

-6.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,672 ₩2.5M

$1,646 ₩2.5M

1.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

4.22

-1.90%

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

Last update for Jeju: June 1, 2026

Last update for Gyeongju: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Jeju versus $448 in Gyeongju. 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 2% higher in Jeju, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Jeju versus $36.00 in Gyeongju. Groceries tell a different story – $401 in Jeju vs $439 in Gyeongju – 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 Gyeongju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Gyeongju is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,001 per month in Jeju and $2,242 in Gyeongju. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,334 in Jeju and $1,495 in Gyeongju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $367 per month in Jeju and $494 in Gyeongju. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,334, than in Gyeongju at $1,495. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gyeongju 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, Gyeongju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.