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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,406 per month in Sangju vs $1,089 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,148 per month in Sangju vs $1,883 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,890 per month in Sangju vs $2,677 in Jeju, rent included.

Sangju costs about 29% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sangju sits 3% above the global median, while Jeju is 20% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.84 ₩8,089

$7.39 ₩10.2K

-20.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.44 ₩47.7K

$51.7 ₩71.7K

-33.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.68 ₩9,254

$5.46 ₩7,563

22.34%

Cappuccino

$3.74 ₩5,179

$5.72 ₩7,932

-34.62%

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

$1.54 ₩2,137

$2.18 ₩3,024

-29.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₩814

$1.91 ₩2,650

-69.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.45 ₩4,778

$3.39 ₩4,692

1.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 ₩6,342

$3.05 ₩4,223

50.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,136

$2.25 ₩3,113

0.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.16 ₩4,382

$2.25 ₩3,124

40.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 ₩3,244

$2.19 ₩3,038

6.85%

Eggs

$3.25 ₩4,505

$2.66 ₩3,684

22.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.31 ₩21.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.75 ₩10.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.36 ₩15.7K

Apples (1kg)

$7.78 ₩10.8K

Banana (1kg)

$3.24 ₩4,486

$2.12 ₩2,933

52.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.62 ₩10.6K

Tomato (1kg)

$6.99 ₩9,685

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 ₩4,844

$2.99 ₩4,142

17.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₩3,402

$1.90 ₩2,629

28.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 ₩2,778

$2.19 ₩3,033

-8.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₩1,775

$0.43 ₩595

197.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₩4,520

Wine (Bottle)

$18.61 ₩25.8K

$10.95 ₩15.2K

69.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₩3,023

$1.91 ₩2,647

14.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 ₩4,637

$1.69 ₩2,340

98.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 ₩1,583

$0.95 ₩1,315

20.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.66 ₩5,068

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 ₩901

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.98 ₩23.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ₩1,937

$1.27 ₩1,764

10.24%

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

$29.7K ₩41.1M

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

$35.0K ₩48.6M

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

$214 ₩296.5K

$208 ₩288.1K

2.92%

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

$42.51 ₩58.9K

$54.4 ₩75.4K

-21.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.07 ₩29.2K

$19.80 ₩27.4K

6.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 ₩76.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₩16.7K

Cinema Ticket

$11.10 ₩15.4K

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

$302 ₩418.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.9K ₩24.9M

$24.6K ₩34.0M

-26.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 ₩89.6K

$52.1 ₩72.2K

24.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.1 ₩87.4K

$29.94 ₩41.5K

110.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 ₩102.1K

$65.0 ₩90.1K

13.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.9 ₩138.4K

$90.8 ₩125.8K

10.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 ₩628.2K

$466 ₩646.3K

-2.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 ₩488.4K

$375 ₩519.7K

-6.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,175 ₩1.6M

$1,331 ₩1.8M

-11.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$736 ₩1.0M

$1,172 ₩1.6M

-37.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,181 ₩10.0M

$10.3K ₩14.2M

-30.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,395 ₩7.5M

$6,750 ₩9.4M

-20.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,423 ₩2.0M

$1,854 ₩2.6M

-23.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.1

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

Last update for Sangju: September 14, 2026

Last update for Jeju: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Sangju versus $466 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 30% 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 $34.00 in Sangju versus $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $413 in Sangju vs $139 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

Sangju vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sangju is pricier by about 29%, 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 $2,109 per month in Sangju and $1,633 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.

Groceries cost about 198% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Sangju 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 $1,089, than in Sangju at $1,406. 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.