Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Incheon Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Incheon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,338 per month in Jeju vs $1,358 in Incheon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,319 per month in Jeju vs $2,122 in Incheon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,299 per month in Jeju vs $2,885 in Incheon, rent included.

Jeju is about 1% cheaper than Incheon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Jeju and Incheon sit above the global median – Jeju by 1%, Incheon by 2%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.65 ₩9,599

$6.66 ₩9,610

-0.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 ₩75.3K

$37.41 ₩54.0K

39.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 ₩5,974

$6.32 ₩9,123

-34.49%

Cappuccino

$5.26 ₩7,592

$3.60 ₩5,200

46.11%

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

$2.39 ₩3,453

$1.39 ₩2,014

71.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₩1,011

$0.65 ₩937

7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.10 ₩5,917

$3.15 ₩4,546

30.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 ₩8,239

$4.45 ₩6,417

28.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₩3,235

$2.23 ₩3,218

0.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 ₩3,109

$3.03 ₩4,379

-29.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₩3,130

$2.78 ₩4,017

-21.94%

Eggs

$2.60 ₩3,756

$3.07 ₩4,436

-15.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.62 ₩15.3K

$14.34 ₩20.7K

-25.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 ₩12.0K

$6.59 ₩9,519

25.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.81 ₩40.1K

$13.54 ₩19.5K

105.39%

Apples (1kg)

$7.87 ₩11.4K

$7.61 ₩11.0K

3.42%

Banana (1kg)

$3.21 ₩4,640

$2.91 ₩4,203

10.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.65 ₩8,151

$5.54 ₩7,996

1.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.38 ₩7,760

$6.70 ₩9,670

-19.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 ₩4,304

$3.41 ₩4,925

-12.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.87 ₩2,701

$1.98 ₩2,859

-5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 ₩3,154

$2.00 ₩2,890

9.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₩655

$1.27 ₩1,830

-64.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₩4,857

$3.28 ₩4,733

2.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.44 ₩15.1K

$16.90 ₩24.4K

-38.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ₩2,693

$2.00 ₩2,884

-6.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₩2,407

$1.88 ₩2,713

-11.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₩1,305

$1.09 ₩1,567

-17.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.50 ₩36.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 ₩3,617

$3.43 ₩4,954

-26.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₩831

$0.57 ₩819

1.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.56 ₩12.4K

$8.94 ₩12.9K

-4.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ₩1,852

$1.24 ₩1,785

3.23%

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

$27.7K ₩40.0M

$28.0K ₩40.4M

-1.00%

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

$25.3K ₩36.5M

$14.1K ₩20.3M

79.70%

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

$158 ₩228.5K

$162 ₩233.2K

-2.02%

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

$35.48 ₩51.2K

$35.34 ₩51.0K

0.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.16 ₩27.7K

$20.38 ₩29.4K

-5.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.67 ₩52.9K

$33.66 ₩48.6K

8.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.46 ₩52.6K

Cinema Ticket

$10.83 ₩15.6K

$11.17 ₩16.1K

-3.04%

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

$363 ₩523.7K

$265 ₩382.3K

36.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K ₩35.9M

$10.8K ₩15.7M

129.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 ₩72.8K

$58.8 ₩84.8K

-14.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.77 ₩43.0K

$48.34 ₩69.8K

-38.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 ₩94.1K

$65.2 ₩94.0K

0.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.2 ₩125.9K

$103 ₩149.0K

-15.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₩701.5K

$681 ₩983.2K

-28.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$398 ₩574.8K

$385 ₩556.2K

3.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,041 ₩1.5M

$1,370 ₩2.0M

-23.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,129 ₩1.6M

$802 ₩1.2M

40.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,502 ₩13.7M

$6,284 ₩9.1M

51.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,054 ₩8.7M

$5,133 ₩7.4M

17.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,736 ₩2.5M

$2,269 ₩3.3M

-23.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

4.1

0.98%

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

Last update for Jeju: July 26, 2026

Last update for Incheon: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Jeju versus $681 in Incheon. 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 31% higher in Incheon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Jeju versus $37.00 in Incheon. Groceries tell a different story – $388 in Jeju vs $389 in Incheon – 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 Incheon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Incheon is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,007 per month in Jeju and $2,036 in Incheon. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Jeju and $37.00 in Incheon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Incheon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,338, than in Incheon at $1,358. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Incheon 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, Incheon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.