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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,074 per month in Jeju vs $1,400 in Messina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,819 per month in Jeju vs $2,417 in Messina, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,563 per month in Jeju vs $3,434 in Messina, rent included.

Jeju is about 23% cheaper than Messina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Jeju sits 22% below the global median, while Messina is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.52 ₩10.2K

$15.53 €13.40

-51.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.1 ₩70.8K

$69.9 €60.3

-25.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 ₩7,271

$12.79 €11.04

-58.17%

Cappuccino

$5.96 ₩8,103

$2.08 €1.80

186.54%

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

$2.17 ₩2,947

$2.35 €2.03

-7.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₩2,576

$1.24 €1.07

52.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 ₩4,610

$4.57 €3.94

-25.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₩3,871

$3.43 €2.96

-16.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₩2,908

$1.31 €1.13

63.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.17 ₩2,944

$1.91 €1.65

13.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ₩2,961

$2.97 €2.56

-26.60%

Eggs

$2.60 ₩3,536

$3.02 €2.60

-13.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.22 €13.14

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.10 €9.58

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.62 €15.20

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 €2.59

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 ₩2,799

$1.78 €1.53

15.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 €0.97

Tomato (1kg)

$3.45 €2.97

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 ₩4,071

$0.68 €0.59

339.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 ₩2,465

$1.59 €1.37

13.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₩2,951

$1.43 €1.23

51.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₩615

$0.44 €0.38

2.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.88 €5.94

Wine (Bottle)

$10.91 ₩14.8K

$5.68 €4.90

92.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ₩2,482

$1.66 €1.43

10.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 ₩2,206

$2.50 €2.16

-35.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ₩1,274

$1.77 €1.52

-46.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.78 €36.91

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.70 €4.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 €0.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.16 €34.65

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ₩1,710

$2.03 €1.75

-37.93%

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

$35.4K €30.5K

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

$32.5K €28.1K

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

$209 ₩284.0K

$182 €157

15.03%

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

$52.5 ₩71.4K

$10.48 €9.04

400.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.46 ₩26.5K

$26.42 €22.80

-26.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.55 €41.89

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.11 €14.77

Cinema Ticket

$9.34 €8.06

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

$349 €301

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.8K ₩33.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.90 ₩67.8K

$74.2 €64.0

-32.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.86 ₩39.2K

$31.79 €27.43

-9.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.0 ₩89.8K

$89.2 €77.0

-25.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 ₩120.7K

$131 €113

-32.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₩619.3K

$561 €484

-18.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 ₩493.4K

$398 €343

-8.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,341 ₩1.8M

$1,242 €1,072

7.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,113 ₩1.5M

$1,105 €954

0.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.3K ₩14.0M

$2,145 €1,851

381.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,615 ₩9.0M

$1,709 €1,475

287.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,824 ₩2.5M

$1,751 €1,511

4.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.8

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

Last update for Jeju: August 31, 2026

Last update for Messina: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $456 in Jeju versus $561 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 4% 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 $70.0 in Messina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $135 vs $299 – making Jeju the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 30%, 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 $1,611 per month in Jeju and $2,100 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.

Groceries cost about 120% more in Messina, 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 $70.0 in Messina. 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 $1,074, than in Messina at $1,400. 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.