Cost of Living Comparison Between Pohang and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Pohang and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,307 per month in Pohang vs $1,074 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,611 per month in Pohang vs $1,819 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,915 per month in Pohang vs $2,563 in Jeju, rent included.

Pohang costs about 22% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Pohang and Jeju are more affordable than the global median – Pohang 5% lower, Jeju 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.81 ₩7,898

$7.52 ₩10.2K

-22.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.80 ₩29.6K

$52.1 ₩70.8K

-58.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.59 ₩8,957

$5.35 ₩7,271

23.18%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₩3,902

$5.96 ₩8,103

-51.85%

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

$1.44 ₩1,951

$2.17 ₩2,947

-33.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₩637

$1.89 ₩2,576

-75.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 ₩4,815

$3.39 ₩4,610

4.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 ₩4,849

$2.85 ₩3,871

25.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₩2,559

$2.14 ₩2,908

-12.15%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 ₩4,304

$2.17 ₩2,944

46.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 ₩3,378

$2.18 ₩2,961

13.76%

Eggs

$2.64 ₩3,590

$2.60 ₩3,536

1.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.95 ₩14.9K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 ₩8,817

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.37 ₩33.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 ₩2,905

Banana (1kg)

$3.49 ₩4,741

$2.06 ₩2,799

69.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.70 ₩10.5K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 ₩4,044

Potato (1kg)

$4.90 ₩6,663

$2.99 ₩4,071

63.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.32 ₩4,519

$1.81 ₩2,465

83.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 ₩3,040

$2.17 ₩2,951

3.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 ₩1,761

$0.45 ₩615

188.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.22 ₩4,373

Wine (Bottle)

$6.42 ₩8,732

$10.91 ₩14.8K

-41.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₩1,970

$1.83 ₩2,482

-20.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ₩4,480

$1.62 ₩2,206

103.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ₩1,274

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 ₩4,596

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 ₩817

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.22 ₩22.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₩1,652

$1.26 ₩1,710

-3.17%

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

$28.8K ₩39.2M

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

$27.9K ₩37.9M

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

$97.7 ₩132.8K

$209 ₩284.0K

-53.22%

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

$35.52 ₩48.3K

$52.5 ₩71.4K

-32.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.97 ₩35.3K

$19.46 ₩26.5K

33.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.64 ₩38.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.20 ₩9,785

Cinema Ticket

$10.87 ₩14.8K

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

$612 ₩831.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K ₩29.2M

$24.8K ₩33.7M

-13.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₩137.3K

$49.90 ₩67.8K

102.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.7 ₩86.6K

$28.86 ₩39.2K

120.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 ₩125.2K

$66.0 ₩89.8K

39.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₩150.6K

$88.8 ₩120.7K

24.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₩619.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₩616.6K

$363 ₩493.4K

24.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,341 ₩1.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,113 ₩1.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.3K ₩14.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,891 ₩3.9M

$6,615 ₩9.0M

-56.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,242 ₩3.0M

$1,824 ₩2.5M

22.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

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

Last update for Pohang: August 30, 2026

Last update for Jeju: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 23% higher in Pohang, 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 $22.00 in Pohang versus $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $359 in Pohang vs $135 in Jeju – 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

Pohang vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Pohang is pricier by about 22%, 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 $1,961 per month in Pohang and $1,611 in Jeju. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 165% more in Pohang, 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 $22.00 in Pohang and $52.0 in Jeju. 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 $1,074, than in Pohang at $1,307. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pohang 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, Pohang makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.