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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,465 per month in Sangju vs $1,338 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,319 per month in Sangju vs $2,319 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,173 per month in Sangju vs $3,299 in Jeju, rent included.

Sangju costs about 10% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sangju and Jeju sit above the global median – Sangju by 10%, Jeju by 1%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.98 ₩12.9K

$6.65 ₩9,564

35.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.7 ₩80.1K

$52.2 ₩75.0K

6.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.34 ₩9,120

$4.14 ₩5,953

53.14%

Cappuccino

$3.91 ₩5,625

$5.26 ₩7,564

-25.67%

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

$1.68 ₩2,416

$2.39 ₩3,441

-29.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₩1,227

$0.70 ₩1,008

21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.74 ₩5,386

$4.10 ₩5,896

-8.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 ₩8,431

$5.71 ₩8,209

2.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ₩3,207

$2.24 ₩3,223

-0.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 ₩4,907

$2.15 ₩3,098

58.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.16 ₩4,552

$2.17 ₩3,118

45.62%

Eggs

$3.11 ₩4,467

$2.60 ₩3,742

19.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.44 ₩20.8K

$10.62 ₩15.3K

35.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.99 ₩15.8K

$8.29 ₩11.9K

32.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.47 ₩49.6K

$27.81 ₩40.0K

23.95%

Apples (1kg)

$7.75 ₩11.1K

$7.87 ₩11.3K

-1.52%

Banana (1kg)

$3.50 ₩5,039

$3.21 ₩4,624

9.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.45 ₩7,840

$5.65 ₩8,121

-3.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.63 ₩9,529

$5.38 ₩7,732

23.23%

Potato (1kg)

$4.03 ₩5,800

$2.98 ₩4,288

35.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.98 ₩4,279

$1.87 ₩2,691

59.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 ₩3,775

$2.18 ₩3,142

20.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₩1,658

$0.45 ₩652

155.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.34 ₩4,798

$3.36 ₩4,840

-0.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.09 ₩14.5K

$10.44 ₩15.0K

-3.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 ₩3,513

$1.87 ₩2,683

30.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₩4,664

$1.67 ₩2,398

94.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ₩1,528

$0.90 ₩1,300

17.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₩5,180

$2.51 ₩3,604

43.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ₩775

$0.58 ₩828

-6.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.59 ₩12.4K

$8.56 ₩12.3K

0.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₩1,790

$1.28 ₩1,846

-3.13%

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

$27.6K ₩39.7M

$27.7K ₩39.9M

-0.51%

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

$25.4K ₩36.6M

$25.3K ₩36.4M

0.65%

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

$164 ₩235.5K

$158 ₩227.7K

3.43%

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

$34.70 ₩49.9K

$35.48 ₩51.0K

-2.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.30 ₩32.1K

$19.16 ₩27.6K

16.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.02 ₩69.1K

$36.67 ₩52.7K

30.95%

Cinema Ticket

$10.99 ₩15.8K

$10.83 ₩15.6K

1.48%

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

$416 ₩598.6K

$363 ₩521.8K

14.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K ₩33.6M

$24.9K ₩35.8M

-5.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 ₩85.4K

$50.5 ₩72.6K

17.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.59 ₩68.5K

$29.77 ₩42.8K

59.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 ₩113.5K

$65.2 ₩93.8K

21.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.15 ₩70.7K

$87.2 ₩125.4K

-43.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$450 ₩646.8K

$486 ₩699.0K

-7.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$381 ₩548.0K

$398 ₩572.7K

-4.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,068 ₩1.5M

$1,041 ₩1.5M

2.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$759 ₩1.1M

$1,129 ₩1.6M

-32.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,556 ₩9.4M

$9,502 ₩13.7M

-31.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,947 ₩7.1M

$6,054 ₩8.7M

-18.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,322 ₩1.9M

$1,736 ₩2.5M

-23.83%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Jeju: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $450 in Sangju versus $486 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 31% 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 $52.0 in Jeju. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $479 vs $388 – 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 10%, 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 $2,198 per month in Sangju and $2,007 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 $52.0 in Jeju. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% 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 $1,338, than in Sangju at $1,465. 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.