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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,079 per month in Jeju vs $1,197 in Gyeongju, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,866 per month in Jeju vs $1,944 in Gyeongju, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,652 per month in Jeju vs $2,690 in Gyeongju, rent included.

Jeju is about 10% cheaper than Gyeongju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jeju and Gyeongju are more affordable than the global median – Jeju 22% lower, Gyeongju 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.55 ₩10.1K

$7.61 ₩10.2K

-0.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.7 ₩69.3K

$47.49 ₩63.7K

8.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 ₩7,396

$6.71 ₩8,996

-17.73%

Cappuccino

$5.89 ₩7,898

$2.98 ₩4,002

97.65%

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

$2.15 ₩2,888

$1.08 ₩1,454

99.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ₩2,647

$0.39 ₩521

405.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ₩4,670

$2.67 ₩3,581

30.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₩3,934

$4.38 ₩5,867

-33.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,037

$2.33 ₩3,127

-3.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 ₩3,054

$2.43 ₩3,264

-6.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₩3,011

$3.19 ₩4,281

-29.47%

Eggs

$2.59 ₩3,471

$2.72 ₩3,646

-4.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.91 ₩14.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.45 ₩14.0K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.47 ₩24.8K

Apples (1kg)

$4.45 ₩5,964

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 ₩2,968

$2.56 ₩3,434

-13.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 ₩5,043

Tomato (1kg)

$3.69 ₩4,950

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,055

$2.64 ₩3,546

14.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 ₩2,429

$2.24 ₩3,005

-19.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 ₩2,948

$2.20 ₩2,952

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₩577

$1.27 ₩1,698

-66.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 ₩4,426

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 ₩15.2K

$15.04 ₩20.2K

-24.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₩2,541

$1.12 ₩1,506

68.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₩2,220

$2.29 ₩3,071

-27.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 ₩1,343

$1.01 ₩1,361

-0.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ₩4,047

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 ₩962

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.94 ₩22.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ₩1,769

$1.06 ₩1,420

24.53%

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

$29.7K ₩39.8M

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

$33.0K ₩44.3M

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

$208 ₩278.9K

$78.7 ₩105.6K

164.16%

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

$54.0 ₩72.4K

$35.54 ₩47.7K

51.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.21 ₩25.8K

$26.57 ₩35.6K

-27.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 ₩76.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.64 ₩14.3K

Cinema Ticket

$11.18 ₩15.0K

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

$630 ₩845.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.2K ₩33.8M

$22.0K ₩29.5M

14.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 ₩67.5K

$45.35 ₩60.8K

10.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.85 ₩40.0K

$22.40 ₩30.0K

33.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.3 ₩87.5K

$91.2 ₩122.4K

-28.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.2 ₩118.3K

$128 ₩172.3K

-31.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₩618.7K

$452 ₩606.0K

2.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$381 ₩510.6K

$352 ₩471.9K

8.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 ₩1.8M

$1,154 ₩1.5M

13.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,152 ₩1.5M

$815 ₩1.1M

41.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K ₩14.2M

$8,164 ₩10.9M

30.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,719 ₩9.0M

$6,253 ₩8.4M

7.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,863 ₩2.5M

$1,830 ₩2.5M

1.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

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

Last update for Jeju: September 5, 2026

Last update for Gyeongju: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $461 in Jeju versus $452 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 $52.0 in Jeju versus $47.00 in Gyeongju. Groceries tell a different story – $140 in Jeju vs $359 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 11%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,619 per month in Jeju and $1,796 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.

Groceries cost about 156% more in Gyeongju, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Jeju and $47.00 in Gyeongju. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,079, than in Gyeongju at $1,197. 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.