Cost of Living Comparison Between Sangju and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Sangju and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,434 per month in Sangju vs $1,358 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,337 per month in Sangju vs $2,314 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,240 per month in Sangju vs $3,271 in Jeju, rent included.

Sangju costs about 6% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sangju and Jeju sit above the global median – Sangju by 7%, Jeju by 1%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.77 ₩12.9K

$6.52 ₩9,611

34.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.7 ₩82.0K

$51.2 ₩75.4K

8.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.33 ₩9,332

$4.14 ₩6,093

52.90%

Cappuccino

$3.91 ₩5,753

$5.39 ₩7,947

-27.46%

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

$1.66 ₩2,443

$2.43 ₩3,577

-31.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₩1,150

$0.72 ₩1,055

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 ₩5,556

$3.94 ₩5,806

-4.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.83 ₩8,592

$5.82 ₩8,581

0.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₩3,156

$2.22 ₩3,269

-3.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.33 ₩4,905

$2.23 ₩3,289

49.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 ₩4,786

$2.15 ₩3,162

51.16%

Eggs

$3.20 ₩4,715

$2.65 ₩3,906

20.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.60 ₩21.5K

$10.28 ₩15.1K

42.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.99 ₩16.2K

$8.16 ₩12.0K

34.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.56 ₩49.4K

$27.07 ₩39.9K

23.97%

Apples (1kg)

$7.98 ₩11.8K

$8.04 ₩11.9K

-0.75%

Banana (1kg)

$3.63 ₩5,346

$3.27 ₩4,822

11.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 ₩8,355

$5.63 ₩8,296

0.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.60 ₩9,723

$5.40 ₩7,955

22.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 ₩5,657

$2.99 ₩4,403

28.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₩4,329

$1.85 ₩2,731

58.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 ₩3,707

$2.16 ₩3,189

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₩1,715

$0.46 ₩678

152.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ₩4,837

$3.41 ₩5,021

-3.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.26 ₩15.1K

$15.49 ₩22.8K

-33.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,484

$1.87 ₩2,753

26.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 ₩4,741

$1.67 ₩2,463

92.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ₩1,560

$0.90 ₩1,320

17.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 ₩5,146

$2.55 ₩3,752

36.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₩847

$0.58 ₩850

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 ₩12.7K

$8.68 ₩12.8K

-0.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₩1,823

$1.23 ₩1,812

0.81%

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

$27.2K ₩40.1M

$28.0K ₩41.2M

-2.58%

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

$24.8K ₩36.6M

$25.2K ₩37.2M

-1.73%

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

$165 ₩243.6K

$162 ₩238.7K

2.05%

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

$34.50 ₩50.8K

$34.77 ₩51.2K

-0.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.52 ₩33.2K

$19.51 ₩28.7K

15.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.99 ₩70.7K

$36.31 ₩53.5K

32.17%

Cinema Ticket

$11.03 ₩16.3K

$10.94 ₩16.1K

0.82%

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

$412 ₩606.8K

$360 ₩530.9K

14.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K ₩34.2M

$24.9K ₩36.7M

-6.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ₩87.7K

$51.3 ₩75.6K

15.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.29 ₩71.2K

$29.34 ₩43.2K

64.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 ₩119.4K

$64.1 ₩94.4K

26.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.92 ₩73.5K

$88.0 ₩129.7K

-43.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₩668.3K

$491 ₩723.3K

-7.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$372 ₩548.7K

$400 ₩588.9K

-6.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 ₩1.5M

$1,010 ₩1.5M

3.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$772 ₩1.1M

$1,118 ₩1.6M

-30.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,819 ₩13.0M

$9,859 ₩14.5M

-10.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,432 ₩9.5M

$5,670 ₩8.4M

13.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,277 ₩1.9M

$1,715 ₩2.5M

-25.56%

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 Sangju: April 27, 2026

Last update for Jeju: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $454 in Sangju versus $491 in Jeju. 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 34% 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 $56.0 in Sangju versus $51.0 in Jeju. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $477 vs $396 – 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

Sangju vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sangju is pricier by about 6%, 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 $2,150 per month in Sangju and $2,036 in Jeju. 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 $56.0 in Sangju and $51.0 in Jeju. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Sangju, 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 Sangju at $1,434. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sangju 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, Sangju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.