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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,079 per month in Jeju vs $1,332 in Suwon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,866 per month in Jeju vs $2,126 in Suwon, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,652 per month in Jeju vs $2,920 in Suwon, rent included.

Jeju is about 19% cheaper than Suwon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jeju and Suwon are more affordable than the global median – Jeju 22% lower, Suwon 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.55 ₩10.1K

$5.89 ₩7,910

28.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.7 ₩69.4K

$30.08 ₩40.4K

71.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 ₩7,401

$7.56 ₩10.1K

-26.98%

Cappuccino

$5.89 ₩7,903

$3.41 ₩4,573

72.73%

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

$2.15 ₩2,890

$1.60 ₩2,147

34.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ₩2,649

$0.61 ₩824

222.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ₩4,673

$3.79 ₩5,085

-8.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₩3,936

$4.85 ₩6,514

-39.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,039

$2.58 ₩3,462

-12.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 ₩3,056

$2.54 ₩3,402

-10.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₩3,013

$3.22 ₩4,323

-30.12%

Eggs

$2.59 ₩3,474

$3.23 ₩4,338

-19.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 ₩14.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.23 ₩15.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.27 ₩15.1K

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 ₩8,361

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 ₩2,969

$2.96 ₩3,969

-25.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.31 ₩7,126

Tomato (1kg)

$4.24 ₩5,686

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,058

$3.54 ₩4,746

-14.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 ₩2,430

$2.60 ₩3,490

-30.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 ₩2,950

$4.94 ₩6,623

-55.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₩577

$1.29 ₩1,726

-66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.82 ₩5,122

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 ₩15.2K

$13.58 ₩18.2K

-16.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₩2,542

$2.46 ₩3,303

-23.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₩2,222

$3.61 ₩4,850

-54.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 ₩1,344

$1.26 ₩1,692

-20.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.58 ₩62.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 ₩3,869

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 ₩806

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.03 ₩12.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ₩1,770

$1.29 ₩1,735

2.33%

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

$27.6K ₩37.0M

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

$25.0K ₩33.6M

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

$208 ₩279.1K

$187 ₩250.7K

11.34%

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

$54.0 ₩72.4K

$17.88 ₩24.0K

201.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.21 ₩25.8K

$17.82 ₩23.9K

7.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.04 ₩59.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.71 ₩15.7K

Cinema Ticket

$11.32 ₩15.2K

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

$678 ₩910.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.2K ₩33.8M

$17.5K ₩23.4M

44.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 ₩67.5K

$37.49 ₩50.3K

34.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.85 ₩40.1K

$108 ₩144.6K

-72.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.3 ₩87.6K

$74.5 ₩99.9K

-12.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.2 ₩118.4K

$58.3 ₩78.3K

51.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₩619.1K

$430 ₩577.5K

7.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$381 ₩511.0K

$345 ₩462.6K

10.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 ₩1.8M

$1,156 ₩1.6M

13.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,152 ₩1.5M

$786 ₩1.1M

46.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K ₩14.2M

$12.7K ₩17.0M

-16.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,719 ₩9.0M

$7,124 ₩9.6M

-5.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,863 ₩2.5M

$2,511 ₩3.4M

-25.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

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

Last update for Jeju: September 5, 2026

Last update for Suwon: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $461 in Jeju versus $430 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 35% 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 $30.00 in Suwon. Groceries tell a different story – $140 in Jeju vs $389 in Suwon – 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 Suwon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Suwon is pricier by about 23%, 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 $1,998 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.

Groceries cost about 178% more in Suwon, 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 $30.00 in Suwon. 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 Suwon at $1,332. 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.