Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Seoul Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Seoul

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,335 per month in Jeju vs $1,765 in Seoul, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,303 per month in Jeju vs $2,881 in Seoul, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,270 per month in Jeju vs $3,997 in Seoul, rent included.

Jeju is about 24% cheaper than Seoul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jeju and Seoul sit above the global median – Jeju by 0%, Seoul by 32%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 ₩9,697

$8.73 ₩12.9K

-24.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.8 ₩76.5K

$54.3 ₩80.2K

-4.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.08 ₩6,026

$6.47 ₩9,546

-36.94%

Cappuccino

$5.34 ₩7,878

$3.88 ₩5,717

37.63%

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

$2.33 ₩3,438

$1.65 ₩2,435

41.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₩1,046

$0.86 ₩1,263

-17.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.99 ₩5,892

$3.77 ₩5,562

5.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.93 ₩8,748

$5.72 ₩8,444

3.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ₩3,120

$2.26 ₩3,340

-6.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.19 ₩3,227

$3.42 ₩5,051

-35.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₩3,321

$3.09 ₩4,565

-27.18%

Eggs

$2.56 ₩3,780

$3.06 ₩4,509

-16.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.31 ₩15.2K

$14.51 ₩21.4K

-28.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.41 ₩12.4K

$10.76 ₩15.9K

-21.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.81 ₩41.0K

$34.54 ₩51.0K

-19.48%

Apples (1kg)

$8.00 ₩11.8K

$7.65 ₩11.3K

4.58%

Banana (1kg)

$3.25 ₩4,791

$3.54 ₩5,227

-8.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.60 ₩8,267

$5.42 ₩7,995

3.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.39 ₩7,947

$6.49 ₩9,575

-16.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.88 ₩4,252

$3.87 ₩5,705

-25.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 ₩2,742

$2.87 ₩4,236

-35.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₩3,195

$2.61 ₩3,856

-16.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₩621

$1.32 ₩1,943

-68.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ₩4,986

$3.32 ₩4,905

1.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.52 ₩24.4K

$16.50 ₩24.3K

0.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ₩2,655

$2.38 ₩3,517

-24.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₩2,362

$3.37 ₩4,973

-52.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ₩1,341

$1.08 ₩1,587

-15.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.87 ₩69.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.50 ₩3,691

$3.46 ₩5,109

-27.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ₩775

$0.57 ₩840

-7.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.01 ₩13.3K

$9.00 ₩13.3K

0.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₩1,803

$1.25 ₩1,846

-2.40%

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

$27.3K ₩40.3M

$27.9K ₩41.2M

-2.15%

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

$24.8K ₩36.6M

$25.4K ₩37.4M

-2.25%

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

$158 ₩233.0K

$160 ₩236.5K

-1.45%

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

$35.45 ₩52.3K

$34.41 ₩50.8K

3.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.12 ₩28.2K

$22.05 ₩32.5K

-13.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.71 ₩54.2K

$58.0 ₩85.5K

-36.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.44 ₩34.6K

Cinema Ticket

$10.93 ₩16.1K

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

$367 ₩540.8K

$417 ₩615.5K

-12.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K ₩36.7M

$23.6K ₩34.8M

5.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 ₩74.5K

$59.2 ₩87.3K

-14.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.60 ₩43.7K

$48.41 ₩71.4K

-38.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.6 ₩95.3K

$79.9 ₩117.8K

-19.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.8 ₩128.0K

$115 ₩169.4K

-24.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ₩710.9K

$944 ₩1.4M

-48.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₩589.9K

$588 ₩867.2K

-31.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 ₩1.5M

$2,584 ₩3.8M

-60.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,130 ₩1.7M

$1,312 ₩1.9M

-13.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,269 ₩12.2M

$26.0K ₩38.4M

-68.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,103 ₩7.5M

$10.7K ₩15.8M

-52.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,678 ₩2.5M

$3,149 ₩4.6M

-46.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

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

Last update for Jeju: July 12, 2026

Last update for Seoul: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Jeju versus $944 in Seoul. 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 88% higher in Seoul, 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 $54.0 in Seoul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $399 vs $491 – 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 Seoul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seoul is pricier by about 32%, 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 $2,003 per month in Jeju and $2,647 in Seoul. 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 $54.0 in Seoul. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Seoul, 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 $1,335, than in Seoul at $1,765. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul 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, Seoul makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.