Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Pohang Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Pohang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,089 per month in Jeju vs $1,343 in Pohang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,883 per month in Jeju vs $1,635 in Pohang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,677 per month in Jeju vs $1,927 in Pohang, rent included.

Jeju is about 19% cheaper than Pohang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jeju and Pohang are more affordable than the global median – Jeju 20% lower, Pohang 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.39 ₩10.2K

$6.11 ₩8,418

20.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.7 ₩71.3K

$22.23 ₩30.6K

132.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.46 ₩7,521

$6.38 ₩8,796

-14.42%

Cappuccino

$5.72 ₩7,888

$3.02 ₩4,156

89.40%

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

$2.18 ₩3,007

$1.46 ₩2,009

49.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₩2,635

$0.48 ₩663

297.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 ₩4,665

$3.78 ₩5,211

-10.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 ₩4,199

$3.76 ₩5,177

-18.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₩3,095

$1.92 ₩2,640

17.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 ₩3,107

$3.06 ₩4,223

-26.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ₩3,021

$2.61 ₩3,603

-16.09%

Eggs

$2.66 ₩3,663

$2.68 ₩3,693

-0.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.83 ₩14.9K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.75 ₩9,302

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.99 ₩34.4K

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 ₩3,150

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ₩2,916

$3.69 ₩5,085

-42.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.99 ₩11.0K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.95 ₩4,060

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 ₩4,119

$4.84 ₩6,670

-38.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 ₩2,614

$3.23 ₩4,454

-41.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 ₩3,016

$2.29 ₩3,151

-4.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₩592

$1.34 ₩1,841

-67.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₩4,559

Wine (Bottle)

$10.95 ₩15.1K

$6.65 ₩9,166

64.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₩2,632

$1.51 ₩2,080

26.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₩2,327

$3.50 ₩4,827

-51.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₩1,308

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 ₩4,531

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₩837

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.44 ₩22.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₩1,754

$1.24 ₩1,706

2.42%

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

$29.7K ₩40.9M

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

$28.8K ₩39.6M

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

$208 ₩286.5K

$100 ₩137.9K

107.81%

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

$54.4 ₩74.9K

$35.70 ₩49.2K

52.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.80 ₩27.3K

$27.20 ₩37.5K

-27.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.05 ₩41.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.40 ₩10.2K

Cinema Ticket

$10.95 ₩15.1K

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

$624 ₩860.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K ₩33.9M

$21.8K ₩30.1M

12.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 ₩71.8K

$102 ₩140.5K

-48.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.94 ₩41.3K

$65.8 ₩90.6K

-54.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ₩89.6K

$94.3 ₩130.0K

-31.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.8 ₩125.1K

$114 ₩156.5K

-20.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 ₩642.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$375 ₩516.8K

$446 ₩615.1K

-15.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,331 ₩1.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 ₩1.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.3K ₩14.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,750 ₩9.3M

$2,956 ₩4.1M

128.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,854 ₩2.6M

$2,176 ₩3.0M

-14.80%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Pohang: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 17% higher in Pohang, 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 $22.00 in Pohang. Groceries tell a different story – $139 in Jeju vs $366 in Pohang – 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 Pohang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Pohang is pricier by about 23%, 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 $1,633 per month in Jeju and $2,015 in Pohang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 164% more in Pohang, 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 $22.00 in Pohang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,089 in Jeju and $1,343 in Pohang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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, Pohang makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.