Cost of Living Comparison Between Songdo-dong and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Songdo-dong and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,414 per month in Songdo-dong vs $1,334 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,243 per month in Songdo-dong vs $2,290 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,072 per month in Songdo-dong vs $3,246 in Jeju, rent included.

Songdo-dong costs about 6% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Songdo-dong and Jeju sit above the global median – Songdo-dong by 6%, Jeju by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.20 ₩10.9K

$6.71 ₩10.2K

7.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.2 ₩83.6K

$51.2 ₩77.5K

7.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.38 ₩9,670

$4.04 ₩6,124

57.92%

Cappuccino

$3.59 ₩5,441

$5.21 ₩7,898

-31.09%

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

$1.07 ₩1,626

$2.42 ₩3,660

-55.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₩1,079

$0.72 ₩1,087

-1.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.00 ₩4,548

$3.98 ₩6,034

-24.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 ₩8,951

$5.71 ₩8,658

3.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₩3,237

$2.14 ₩3,248

White Bread (500g)

$3.33 ₩5,053

$2.25 ₩3,404

48.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.21 ₩4,863

$2.23 ₩3,379

43.95%

Eggs

$3.15 ₩4,778

$2.61 ₩3,952

20.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.54 ₩22.0K

$10.53 ₩16.0K

38.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.23 ₩12.5K

$8.47 ₩12.8K

-2.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.73 ₩52.6K

$27.80 ₩42.1K

24.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 ₩5,593

$7.66 ₩11.6K

-51.83%

Banana (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,576

$3.12 ₩4,735

-3.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 ₩8,595

$5.68 ₩8,600

-0.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.44 ₩9,755

$5.35 ₩8,109

20.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 ₩3,862

$3.02 ₩4,576

-15.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 ₩3,934

$1.89 ₩2,865

37.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 ₩3,801

$2.17 ₩3,292

15.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₩1,805

$0.46 ₩695

158.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.25 ₩4,917

$3.25 ₩4,925

Wine (Bottle)

$13.11 ₩19.9K

$16.99 ₩25.7K

-22.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₩3,309

$1.90 ₩2,881

14.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 ₩5,119

$1.61 ₩2,442

109.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 ₩1,271

$0.86 ₩1,305

-2.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 ₩5,493

$2.53 ₩3,840

43.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ₩801

$0.53 ₩800

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.60 ₩13.0K

$8.57 ₩13.0K

0.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ₩1,826

$1.26 ₩1,913

-3.97%

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

$27.9K ₩42.2M

$28.0K ₩42.4M

-0.48%

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

$25.1K ₩38.0M

$24.8K ₩37.5M

1.26%

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

$162 ₩245.4K

$159 ₩240.9K

1.85%

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

$35.26 ₩53.4K

$34.67 ₩52.5K

1.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.56 ₩34.2K

$19.46 ₩29.5K

15.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.6 ₩111.5K

$36.23 ₩54.9K

103.04%

Cinema Ticket

$10.88 ₩16.5K

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

$367 ₩556.2K

$367 ₩556.3K

-0.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K ₩36.1M

$24.3K ₩36.8M

-1.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 ₩90.9K

$51.3 ₩77.7K

16.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.09 ₩72.9K

$29.51 ₩44.7K

62.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.28 ₩56.5K

$66.3 ₩100.5K

-43.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₩172.8K

$89.4 ₩135.5K

27.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 ₩680.7K

$501 ₩759.2K

-10.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 ₩569.5K

$402 ₩609.2K

-6.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,087 ₩1.6M

$1,017 ₩1.5M

6.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$770 ₩1.2M

$1,149 ₩1.7M

-32.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,790 ₩14.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,331 ₩8.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,027 ₩4.6M

$1,672 ₩2.5M

81.03%

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 Songdo-dong: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jeju: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $449 in Songdo-dong versus $501 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 81% higher in Songdo-dong, 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 $55.0 in Songdo-dong versus $51.0 in Jeju. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $442 vs $401 – 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

Songdo-dong vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Songdo-dong 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 $2,122 per month in Songdo-dong and $2,001 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 $55.0 in Songdo-dong 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 10% more in Songdo-dong, 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 $1,334, than in Songdo-dong at $1,414. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Songdo-dong 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, Songdo-dong makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.