Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Songdo-dong Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Songdo-dong

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,079 per month in Jeju vs $1,479 in Songdo-dong, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,866 per month in Jeju vs $2,336 in Songdo-dong, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,652 per month in Jeju vs $3,193 in Songdo-dong, rent included.

Jeju is about 27% cheaper than Songdo-dong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Jeju sits 22% below the global median, while Songdo-dong is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.55 ₩10.1K

$5.98 ₩8,021

26.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.7 ₩69.3K

$34.80 ₩46.7K

48.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 ₩7,396

$6.77 ₩9,078

-18.46%

Cappuccino

$5.89 ₩7,898

$3.60 ₩4,830

63.61%

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

$2.15 ₩2,888

$1.58 ₩2,120

36.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ₩2,647

$0.62 ₩834

217.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ₩4,670

$3.02 ₩4,047

15.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₩3,934

$4.42 ₩5,923

-33.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,037

$2.29 ₩3,066

-1.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 ₩3,054

$3.02 ₩4,049

-24.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₩3,011

$2.34 ₩3,144

-3.85%

Eggs

$2.59 ₩3,471

$3.19 ₩4,275

-18.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.72 ₩21.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.60 ₩10.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.22 ₩15.0K

Apples (1kg)

$3.70 ₩4,961

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 ₩2,968

$2.94 ₩3,945

-24.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.51 ₩10.1K

Tomato (1kg)

$7.01 ₩9,404

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,055

$2.63 ₩3,522

14.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 ₩2,429

$2.35 ₩3,153

-22.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 ₩2,948

$2.09 ₩2,798

5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₩577

$1.13 ₩1,510

-61.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₩4,448

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 ₩15.2K

$14.72 ₩19.7K

-22.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₩2,541

$2.19 ₩2,935

-13.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₩2,220

$5.27 ₩7,063

-68.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 ₩1,343

$0.87 ₩1,160

14.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 ₩4,863

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 ₩886

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ₩1,769

$1.37 ₩1,843

-3.65%

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

$28.9K ₩38.7M

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

$35.7K ₩47.8M

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

$208 ₩278.9K

$214 ₩287.1K

-2.85%

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

$54.0 ₩72.4K

$43.07 ₩57.8K

25.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.21 ₩25.8K

$20.86 ₩28.0K

-7.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.4 ₩98.4K

Cinema Ticket

$11.05 ₩14.8K

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

$366 ₩490.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.2K ₩33.8M

$17.6K ₩23.6M

43.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 ₩67.5K

$65.5 ₩87.9K

-23.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.85 ₩40.0K

$62.3 ₩83.6K

-52.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.3 ₩87.5K

$36.54 ₩49.0K

78.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.2 ₩118.3K

$98.1 ₩131.6K

-10.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₩618.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$381 ₩510.6K

$448 ₩600.7K

-15.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 ₩1.8M

$1,519 ₩2.0M

-13.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,152 ₩1.5M

$1,038 ₩1.4M

10.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K ₩14.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,719 ₩9.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,863 ₩2.5M

$3,376 ₩4.5M

-44.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.1

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

Last update for Jeju: September 5, 2026

Last update for Songdo-dong: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 81% higher in Songdo-dong, 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 $35.00 in Songdo-dong. Groceries tell a different story – $140 in Jeju vs $381 in Songdo-dong – 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 Songdo-dong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Songdo-dong is pricier by about 37%, 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 $1,619 per month in Jeju and $2,218 in Songdo-dong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 171% more in Songdo-dong, 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 $35.00 in Songdo-dong. 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 $1,079, than in Songdo-dong at $1,479. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Songdo-dong 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, Songdo-dong makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.