Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Ilsan Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Ilsan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,358 in Jeju versus $1,530 in Ilsan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,314 in Jeju versus $2,421 in Ilsan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,271 in Jeju versus $3,312 in Ilsan.

Living in Jeju costs roughly 11% less than in Ilsan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jeju 1% above, Ilsan 14% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.52 ₩9,611

$7.49 ₩11.0K

-12.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.2 ₩75.4K

$55.7 ₩82.0K

-8.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 ₩6,093

$6.53 ₩9,628

-36.60%

Cappuccino

$5.39 ₩7,947

$3.75 ₩5,518

43.73%

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

$2.43 ₩3,577

$1.67 ₩2,458

45.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₩1,055

$0.71 ₩1,047

1.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.94 ₩5,806

$3.65 ₩5,385

7.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.82 ₩8,581

$5.76 ₩8,489

1.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,269

$2.16 ₩3,177

2.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 ₩3,289

$3.38 ₩4,979

-34.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ₩3,162

$3.10 ₩4,561

-30.65%

Eggs

$2.65 ₩3,906

$3.19 ₩4,700

-16.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.28 ₩15.1K

$14.05 ₩20.7K

-26.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.16 ₩12.0K

$10.75 ₩15.8K

-24.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.07 ₩39.9K

$33.74 ₩49.7K

-19.77%

Apples (1kg)

$8.04 ₩11.9K

$7.76 ₩11.4K

3.61%

Banana (1kg)

$3.27 ₩4,822

$3.46 ₩5,098

-5.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.63 ₩8,296

$5.49 ₩8,085

2.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.40 ₩7,955

$6.35 ₩9,361

-14.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 ₩4,403

$3.82 ₩5,634

-21.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 ₩2,731

$2.85 ₩4,202

-35.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 ₩3,189

$2.64 ₩3,883

-18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₩678

$1.21 ₩1,787

-61.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₩5,021

$3.34 ₩4,922

2.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.49 ₩22.8K

$15.11 ₩22.3K

2.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ₩2,753

$2.34 ₩3,442

-20.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₩2,463

$3.33 ₩4,900

-49.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₩1,320

$1.11 ₩1,628

-18.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.83 ₩69.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 ₩3,752

$2.38 ₩3,509

7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₩850

$0.58 ₩847

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.68 ₩12.8K

$8.94 ₩13.2K

-2.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₩1,812

$1.15 ₩1,695

6.96%

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

$28.0K ₩41.2M

$27.3K ₩40.2M

2.48%

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

$25.2K ₩37.2M

$25.3K ₩37.3M

-0.40%

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

$162 ₩238.7K

$164 ₩241.2K

-1.03%

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

$34.77 ₩51.2K

$35.01 ₩51.6K

-0.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.51 ₩28.7K

$22.27 ₩32.8K

-12.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.31 ₩53.5K

$48.35 ₩71.2K

-24.90%

Cinema Ticket

$10.94 ₩16.1K

$10.84 ₩16.0K

0.92%

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

$360 ₩530.9K

$414 ₩610.4K

-13.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K ₩36.7M

$23.8K ₩35.0M

4.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 ₩75.6K

$58.0 ₩85.5K

-11.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.34 ₩43.2K

$47.24 ₩69.6K

-37.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.1 ₩94.4K

$79.9 ₩117.8K

-19.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.0 ₩129.7K

$116 ₩170.2K

-23.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₩723.3K

$455 ₩670.8K

7.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₩588.9K

$375 ₩552.8K

6.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 ₩1.5M

$1,054 ₩1.6M

-4.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,118 ₩1.6M

$763 ₩1.1M

46.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,859 ₩14.5M

$8,782 ₩12.9M

12.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,670 ₩8.4M

$5,189 ₩7.6M

9.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,715 ₩2.5M

$3,092 ₩4.6M

-44.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

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

Last update for Jeju: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ilsan: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $491 in Jeju and $455 in Ilsan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ilsan pays 80% 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: $51.0 in Jeju vs $56.0 in Ilsan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $482 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 Ilsan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jeju is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Ilsan earns 80% 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: $491 in Jeju versus $455 in Ilsan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Ilsan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,358 per month in Jeju versus $1,530 in Ilsan – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,358 in Jeju versus $1,530 in Ilsan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jeju but tight or insufficient in Ilsan. 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 Ilsan 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 13% less than in Ilsan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.