Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Suji-gu Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Suji-gu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,358 per month in Jeju vs $1,479 in Suji-gu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,314 per month in Jeju vs $2,394 in Suji-gu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,271 per month in Jeju vs $3,310 in Suji-gu, rent included.

Jeju is about 8% cheaper than Suji-gu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jeju and Suji-gu sit above the global median – Jeju by 1%, Suji-gu by 10%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.52 ₩9,676

$9.03 ₩13.4K

-27.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.2 ₩76.0K

$54.4 ₩80.6K

-5.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 ₩6,134

$6.53 ₩9,686

-36.60%

Cappuccino

$5.39 ₩8,001

$3.84 ₩5,697

40.36%

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

$2.43 ₩3,601

$1.72 ₩2,558

41.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₩1,062

$0.79 ₩1,178

-8.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.94 ₩5,846

$3.74 ₩5,551

5.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.82 ₩8,639

$5.97 ₩8,860

-2.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,291

$2.25 ₩3,333

-1.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 ₩3,311

$3.32 ₩4,921

-32.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ₩3,184

$3.13 ₩4,642

-31.31%

Eggs

$2.65 ₩3,933

$3.07 ₩4,548

-13.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.28 ₩15.2K

$14.30 ₩21.2K

-28.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.16 ₩12.1K

$10.78 ₩16.0K

-24.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.07 ₩40.2K

$33.91 ₩50.3K

-20.17%

Apples (1kg)

$8.04 ₩11.9K

$7.64 ₩11.3K

5.24%

Banana (1kg)

$3.27 ₩4,855

$3.60 ₩5,341

-9.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.63 ₩8,352

$5.67 ₩8,410

-0.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.40 ₩8,009

$6.61 ₩9,805

-18.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 ₩4,433

$3.83 ₩5,688

-21.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 ₩2,749

$2.98 ₩4,426

-37.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 ₩3,211

$2.61 ₩3,864

-17.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₩683

$1.16 ₩1,723

-60.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₩5,055

$3.39 ₩5,023

0.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.49 ₩23.0K

$15.28 ₩22.7K

1.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ₩2,772

$2.35 ₩3,488

-20.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₩2,480

$3.26 ₩4,837

-48.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₩1,329

$1.06 ₩1,580

-15.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 ₩3,777

$3.60 ₩5,346

-29.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₩856

$0.52 ₩776

11.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.68 ₩12.9K

$8.77 ₩13.0K

-1.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₩1,824

$1.24 ₩1,844

-0.81%

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

$28.0K ₩41.5M

$27.2K ₩40.3M

2.83%

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

$25.2K ₩37.4M

$24.7K ₩36.6M

2.33%

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

$162 ₩240.3K

$165 ₩244.9K

-1.86%

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

$34.77 ₩51.6K

$35.23 ₩52.3K

-1.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.51 ₩28.9K

$21.93 ₩32.5K

-11.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.31 ₩53.9K

$48.38 ₩71.8K

-24.95%

Cinema Ticket

$10.94 ₩16.2K

$10.98 ₩16.3K

-0.36%

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

$360 ₩534.5K

$422 ₩625.3K

-14.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K ₩36.9M

$23.1K ₩34.2M

7.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 ₩76.2K

$58.7 ₩87.1K

-12.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.34 ₩43.5K

$46.62 ₩69.2K

-37.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.1 ₩95.1K

$80.6 ₩119.5K

-20.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.0 ₩130.6K

$117 ₩173.9K

-24.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₩728.2K

$455 ₩675.5K

7.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₩592.9K

$380 ₩564.3K

5.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 ₩1.5M

$1,045 ₩1.5M

-3.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,118 ₩1.7M

$771 ₩1.1M

44.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,859 ₩14.6M

$8,337 ₩12.4M

18.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,670 ₩8.4M

$5,314 ₩7.9M

6.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,715 ₩2.5M

$1,000 ₩1.5M

71.52%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Suji-gu: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $491 in Jeju versus $455 in Suji-gu. 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 72% 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 $51.0 in Jeju versus $54.0 in Suji-gu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $485 – 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 Suji-gu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Suji-gu is pricier by about 9%, 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 $2,036 per month in Jeju and $2,218 in Suji-gu. 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 $51.0 in Jeju and $54.0 in Suji-gu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Suji-gu, 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 $1,358, than in Suji-gu at $1,479. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Suji-gu 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, Suji-gu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.