Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Suwon Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Suwon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,334 per month in Jeju vs $1,361 in Suwon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,325 per month in Jeju vs $2,126 in Suwon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,316 per month in Jeju vs $2,892 in Suwon, rent included.

Jeju is about 2% cheaper than Suwon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Jeju sits 1% below the global median, while Suwon is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₩9,822

$7.36 ₩11.2K

-12.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.7 ₩78.5K

$29.01 ₩44.1K

78.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 ₩6,248

$5.07 ₩7,692

-18.93%

Cappuccino

$5.40 ₩8,203

$3.52 ₩5,344

53.41%

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

$2.39 ₩3,632

$1.54 ₩2,342

55.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₩1,129

$0.68 ₩1,027

8.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.95 ₩6,001

$3.65 ₩5,536

8.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 ₩8,819

$4.31 ₩6,540

34.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ₩3,328

$2.25 ₩3,424

-2.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 ₩3,390

$2.15 ₩3,272

3.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 ₩3,369

$3.19 ₩4,851

-30.41%

Eggs

$2.57 ₩3,905

$2.36 ₩3,579

8.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.60 ₩16.1K

$11.19 ₩17.0K

-5.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.15 ₩12.4K

$10.91 ₩16.6K

-25.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.07 ₩41.1K

$11.71 ₩17.8K

131.17%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 ₩11.6K

$5.65 ₩8,573

35.58%

Banana (1kg)

$3.22 ₩4,894

$2.90 ₩4,400

11.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.49 ₩8,333

$5.42 ₩8,225

1.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.12 ₩7,782

$2.54 ₩3,860

101.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 ₩4,560

$3.94 ₩5,983

-23.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 ₩2,760

$2.26 ₩3,431

-19.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 ₩3,311

$2.53 ₩3,835

-13.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₩637

$0.92 ₩1,394

-54.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₩4,909

$3.22 ₩4,884

0.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.21 ₩24.6K

$11.88 ₩18.0K

36.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₩2,747

$2.03 ₩3,081

-10.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₩2,451

$2.26 ₩3,428

-28.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 ₩1,275

$1.16 ₩1,754

-27.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.90 ₩72.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 ₩3,865

$2.80 ₩4,252

-8.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₩865

$0.57 ₩860

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.04 ₩13.7K

$8.70 ₩13.2K

3.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ₩1,915

$1.20 ₩1,823

5.00%

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

$28.1K ₩42.6M

$28.2K ₩42.9M

-0.58%

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

$25.3K ₩38.5M

$13.5K ₩20.5M

87.33%

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

$163 ₩247.2K

$163 ₩248.2K

-0.39%

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

$34.40 ₩52.2K

$34.65 ₩52.6K

-0.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.43 ₩29.5K

$22.64 ₩34.4K

-14.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.45 ₩56.9K

$46.08 ₩70.0K

-18.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.48 ₩22.0K

Cinema Ticket

$11.04 ₩16.8K

$10.86 ₩16.5K

1.66%

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

$360 ₩546.0K

$412 ₩626.2K

-12.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.1K ₩38.1M

$23.9K ₩36.3M

4.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 ₩76.8K

$34.48 ₩52.4K

46.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.89 ₩45.4K

$47.48 ₩72.1K

-37.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.5 ₩97.9K

$78.5 ₩119.2K

-17.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 ₩135.0K

$27.57 ₩41.9K

222.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 ₩749.6K

$442 ₩671.4K

11.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 ₩593.5K

$443 ₩673.4K

-11.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 ₩1.5M

$919 ₩1.4M

9.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,120 ₩1.7M

$864 ₩1.3M

29.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,495 ₩14.4M

$10.5K ₩16.0M

-9.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,193 ₩7.9M

$6,492 ₩9.9M

-20.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,629 ₩2.5M

$2,123 ₩3.2M

-23.28%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Suwon: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $494 in Jeju versus $442 in Suwon. 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 30% higher in Suwon, 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 $29.00 in Suwon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $393 vs $345 – making Suwon 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 Suwon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Suwon is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,002 per month in Jeju and $2,041 in Suwon. 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 $29.00 in Suwon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Suwon – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,334, than in Suwon at $1,361. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Suwon 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, Suwon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.