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 $1,479 per month in Songdo-dong vs $1,079 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,336 per month in Songdo-dong vs $1,866 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,193 per month in Songdo-dong vs $2,652 in Jeju, rent included.

Songdo-dong costs about 37% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Songdo-dong sits 7% above the global median, while Jeju is 22% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.98 ₩8,021

$7.55 ₩10.1K

-20.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.80 ₩46.7K

$51.7 ₩69.3K

-32.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 ₩9,078

$5.52 ₩7,396

22.64%

Cappuccino

$3.60 ₩4,830

$5.89 ₩7,898

-38.88%

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

$1.58 ₩2,120

$2.15 ₩2,888

-26.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₩834

$1.97 ₩2,647

-68.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 ₩4,047

$3.48 ₩4,670

-13.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.42 ₩5,923

$2.93 ₩3,934

50.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 ₩3,066

$2.26 ₩3,037

1.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 ₩4,049

$2.28 ₩3,054

32.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 ₩3,144

$2.25 ₩3,011

4.00%

Eggs

$3.19 ₩4,275

$2.59 ₩3,471

23.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.72 ₩21.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.60 ₩10.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.22 ₩15.0K

Apples (1kg)

$3.70 ₩4,961

Banana (1kg)

$2.94 ₩3,945

$2.21 ₩2,968

33.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.51 ₩10.1K

Tomato (1kg)

$7.01 ₩9,404

Potato (1kg)

$2.63 ₩3,522

$3.02 ₩4,055

-12.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 ₩3,153

$1.81 ₩2,429

29.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.09 ₩2,798

$2.20 ₩2,948

-5.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₩1,510

$0.43 ₩577

162.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₩4,448

Wine (Bottle)

$14.72 ₩19.7K

$11.36 ₩15.2K

29.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₩2,935

$1.89 ₩2,541

15.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 ₩7,063

$1.66 ₩2,220

217.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ₩1,160

$1.00 ₩1,343

-13.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 ₩4,863

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 ₩886

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 ₩1,843

$1.32 ₩1,769

3.79%

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

$28.9K ₩38.7M

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

$35.7K ₩47.8M

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

$214 ₩287.1K

$208 ₩278.9K

2.93%

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

$43.07 ₩57.8K

$54.0 ₩72.4K

-20.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.86 ₩28.0K

$19.21 ₩25.8K

8.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.4 ₩98.4K

Cinema Ticket

$11.05 ₩14.8K

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

$366 ₩490.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.6K ₩23.6M

$25.2K ₩33.8M

-30.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.5 ₩87.9K

$50.3 ₩67.5K

30.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.3 ₩83.6K

$29.85 ₩40.0K

108.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$36.54 ₩49.0K

$65.3 ₩87.5K

-44.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.1 ₩131.6K

$88.2 ₩118.3K

11.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₩618.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ₩600.7K

$381 ₩510.6K

17.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,519 ₩2.0M

$1,315 ₩1.8M

15.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 ₩1.4M

$1,152 ₩1.5M

-9.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K ₩14.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,719 ₩9.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,376 ₩4.5M

$1,863 ₩2.5M

81.25%

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 Songdo-dong: September 7, 2026

Last update for Jeju: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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 $35.00 in Songdo-dong versus $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $381 in Songdo-dong vs $140 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

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

Yes – Songdo-dong is pricier by about 37%, 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 $2,218 per month in Songdo-dong and $1,619 in Jeju. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 171% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Songdo-dong 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 $1,079, than in Songdo-dong at $1,479. 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.