Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Sangju

For one person, living is cheaper in Jeju: $1,107 a month against $1,377 in Sangju, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. The total is higher in Sangju despite lower rent and utilities.

Jeju, South Korea
Sangju, South Korea
Jeju
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,107
/mo nomad
Sangju
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,377
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jeju and in Sangju

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Jeju and in Sangju actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,107 per month in Jeju vs $1,377 in Sangju, rent included.

  • Jeju $1,107
  • Sangju $1,377

A couple spends around $1,875 per month in Jeju vs $2,181 in Sangju, rent included.

  • Jeju $1,875
  • Sangju $2,181

A family of three spends $2,643 per month in Jeju vs $2,984 in Sangju, rent included.

  • Jeju $2,643
  • Sangju $2,984

Jeju is about 20% cheaper than Sangju, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Jeju sits 18% below the global median, while Sangju is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jeju
Sangju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.46 ₩10.0K
$6.13 ₩8,221
21.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.4 ₩68.9K
$34.02 ₩45.6K
51.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.64 ₩7,565
$6.72 ₩9,005
-16.07%
Cappuccino
$6.14 ₩8,226
$3.56 ₩4,771
72.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ₩3,059
$1.52 ₩2,037
50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₩2,622
$0.62 ₩827
216.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.01 ₩5,369
$3.48 ₩4,664
15.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 ₩4,057
$4.40 ₩5,902
-31.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jeju
Sangju
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 ₩2,973
$2.18 ₩2,917
1.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.17 ₩2,910
$3.05 ₩4,090
-28.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ₩2,914
$2.69 ₩3,600
-19.33%
Eggs
$2.68 ₩3,597
$3.24 ₩4,342
-17.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$15.65 ₩21.0K
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$10.51 ₩14.1K
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$10.97 ₩14.7K
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$6.91 ₩9,263
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.19 ₩2,930
$2.54 ₩3,398
-13.78%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$4.37 ₩5,863
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$7.13 ₩9,564
-
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 ₩4,072
$3.28 ₩4,393
-7.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 ₩2,531
$2.68 ₩3,588
-29.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 ₩2,919
$2.01 ₩2,688
8.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₩589
$1.26 ₩1,691
-65.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.25 ₩4,355
-
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 ₩14.9K
$13.72 ₩18.4K
-18.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ₩2,458
$2.34 ₩3,142
-21.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 ₩2,263
$3.66 ₩4,910
-53.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Jeju
Sangju
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 ₩1,359
$1.02 ₩1,363
-0.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.60 ₩4,823
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.61 ₩815
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.78 ₩11.8K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 ₩1,771
$1.35 ₩1,810
-2.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$29.0K ₩38.8M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$35.8K ₩48.0M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeju
Sangju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$209 ₩280.4K
$210 ₩282.1K
-0.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.5 ₩71.7K
$42.49 ₩57.0K
25.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.48 ₩26.1K
$20.41 ₩27.4K
-4.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jeju
Sangju
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$48.18 ₩64.6K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$12.82 ₩17.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$11.07 ₩14.8K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jeju
Sangju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$303 ₩406.2K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.0K ₩33.5M
$17.4K ₩23.3M
43.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jeju
Sangju
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 ₩69.3K
$64.1 ₩86.0K
-19.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.62 ₩39.7K
$63.0 ₩84.4K
-52.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.2 ₩88.7K
$75.4 ₩101.1K
-12.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.9 ₩117.9K
$99.3 ₩133.1K
-11.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jeju
Sangju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$457 ₩613.1K
$476 ₩638.4K
-3.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$383 ₩513.4K
$344 ₩461.0K
11.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,330 ₩1.8M
$1,325 ₩1.8M
0.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,129 ₩1.5M
$816 ₩1.1M
38.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.4K ₩13.9M
$6,815 ₩9.1M
52.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,701 ₩9.0M
$5,434 ₩7.3M
23.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jeju
Sangju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,825 ₩2.4M
$1,470 ₩2.0M
24.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
4.1
-

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

Last update for Jeju: October 31, 2026

Last update for Sangju: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Jeju
–
Sangju
$396
Accommodation & Living
Jeju
–
Sangju
$344
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeju
–
Sangju
$273
Eating Out
Jeju
–
Sangju
$147
Clothing & Footwear
Jeju
–
Sangju
$136
Sport & Entertainment
Jeju
–
Sangju
$70
Getting Around
Jeju
–
Sangju
$11 *

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $457 in Jeju versus $476 in Sangju. 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 24% 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 $51 in Jeju versus $34 in Sangju. Groceries tell a different story – $138 in Jeju vs $396 in Sangju – so Jeju wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Jeju
🇰🇷 Sangju
🕒 Local time
16:13 4:13 PM
16:13 4:13 PM
Same time as Jeju
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
469,279
100,947
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 1,341 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.46 USD). 1 EUR = 1,509 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.63 EUR).

On the map
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  • Jeju Sangju 360 km
From you
  • Jeju
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Sangju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jeju cheaper than Sangju?
Yes – Sangju is pricier by about 24%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,660 per month in Jeju and $2,065 in Sangju. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Jeju and Sangju?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $457 in Jeju and $476 in Sangju. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do food prices compare in Jeju and in Sangju?
Groceries cost about 187% more in Sangju, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Jeju or in Sangju?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $51 in Jeju and $34 in Sangju. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is it better to live in Jeju or in Sangju?
It depends on your priorities. Sangju has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,107 in Jeju to $1,377 in Sangju. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Jeju or Sangju?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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