Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Messina Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Messina

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,334 per month in Jeju vs $1,438 in Messina, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,290 per month in Jeju vs $2,258 in Messina, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,246 per month in Jeju vs $3,078 in Messina, rent included.

Jeju is about 7% cheaper than Messina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jeju and Messina sit above the global median – Jeju by 0%, Messina by 7%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.71 ₩10.2K

$13.65 €11.74

-50.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.2 ₩77.5K

$58.2 €50.1

-12.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.04 ₩6,124

$11.53 €9.91

-64.96%

Cappuccino

$5.21 ₩7,898

$1.99 €1.71

161.81%

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

$2.42 ₩3,660

$2.21 €1.90

9.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₩1,087

$1.22 €1.05

-40.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 ₩6,034

$3.53 €3.03

12.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 ₩8,658

$3.57 €3.07

59.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₩3,248

$1.34 €1.15

59.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 ₩3,404

$2.08 €1.79

8.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ₩3,379

$2.65 €2.28

-15.85%

Eggs

$2.61 ₩3,952

$3.33 €2.87

-21.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.53 ₩16.0K

$9.87 €8.49

6.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 ₩12.8K

$9.97 €8.58

-15.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.80 ₩42.1K

$17.73 €15.25

56.80%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 ₩11.6K

$2.83 €2.43

170.67%

Banana (1kg)

$3.12 ₩4,735

$1.73 €1.49

80.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.68 ₩8,600

$1.13 €0.97

402.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.35 ₩8,109

$3.04 €2.62

75.99%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,576

$0.67 €0.58

350.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 ₩2,865

$1.25 €1.08

51.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₩3,292

$1.13 €0.97

92.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₩695

$0.40 €0.34

15.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.25 ₩4,925

$6.47 €5.56

-49.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ₩25.7K

$5.83 €5.02

191.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₩2,881

$1.50 €1.29

26.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₩2,442

$2.45 €2.11

-34.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ₩1,305

$1.70 €1.47

-49.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.97 €37.82

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 ₩3,840

$4.65 €4.00

-45.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ₩800

$1.47 €1.26

-63.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.57 ₩13.0K

$45.90 €39.49

-81.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ₩1,913

$1.98 €1.71

-36.36%

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

$28.0K ₩42.4M

$35.6K €30.6K

-21.30%

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

$24.8K ₩37.5M

$28.5K €24.5K

-13.02%

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

$159 ₩240.9K

$192 €165

-17.33%

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

$34.67 ₩52.5K

$14.24 €12.25

143.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.46 ₩29.5K

$27.42 €23.58

-29.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.23 ₩54.9K

$50.1 €43.05

-27.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.30 €14.88

Cinema Ticket

$10.88 ₩16.5K

$9.60 €8.26

13.33%

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

$367 ₩556.3K

$351 €302

4.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.3K ₩36.8M

$10.7K €9,188

127.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 ₩77.7K

$88.7 €76.3

-42.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.51 ₩44.7K

$31.10 €26.75

-5.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.3 ₩100.5K

$91.7 €78.8

-27.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 ₩135.5K

$129 €111

-30.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 ₩759.2K

$631 €543

-20.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$402 ₩609.2K

$463 €399

-13.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,017 ₩1.5M

$1,000 €860

1.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,149 ₩1.7M

$879 €756

30.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,790 ₩14.8M

$2,220 €1,910

340.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,331 ₩8.1M

$1,752 €1,507

204.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,672 ₩2.5M

$1,834 €1,578

-8.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

4.72

-12.29%

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

Last update for Jeju: June 1, 2026

Last update for Messina: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Jeju versus $631 in Messina. 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 10% higher in Messina, 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 $51.0 in Jeju versus $58.0 in Messina. Groceries tell a different story – $401 in Jeju vs $273 in Messina – so Messina 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 Messina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Messina is pricier by about 8%, 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 $2,001 per month in Jeju and $2,157 in Messina. 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 $51.0 in Jeju and $58.0 in Messina. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 47% cheaper in Messina – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,334, than in Messina at $1,438. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Messina 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, Messina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.