Cost of Living Comparison Between Wonju and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Wonju and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,523 per month in Wonju vs $1,089 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,429 per month in Wonju vs $1,883 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,336 per month in Wonju vs $2,677 in Jeju, rent included.

Wonju costs about 40% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Wonju sits 11% above the global median, while Jeju is 20% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.56 ₩10.5K

$7.39 ₩10.2K

2.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.53 ₩67.3K

$51.7 ₩71.7K

-6.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.45 ₩8,939

$5.46 ₩7,563

18.13%

Cappuccino

$3.71 ₩5,140

$5.72 ₩7,932

-35.14%

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

$1.78 ₩2,465

$2.18 ₩3,024

-18.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₩1,931

$1.91 ₩2,650

-27.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.68 ₩5,098

$3.39 ₩4,692

8.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 ₩5,759

$3.05 ₩4,223

36.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 ₩3,213

$2.25 ₩3,113

3.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 ₩4,250

$2.25 ₩3,124

36.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.07 ₩4,257

$2.19 ₩3,038

40.18%

Eggs

$2.67 ₩3,701

$2.66 ₩3,684

0.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.02 ₩15.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.21 ₩14.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.31 ₩33.7K

Apples (1kg)

$11.28 ₩15.6K

Banana (1kg)

$3.56 ₩4,940

$2.12 ₩2,933

67.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.05 ₩11.2K

Tomato (1kg)

$5.77 ₩7,995

Potato (1kg)

$5.88 ₩8,144

$2.99 ₩4,142

96.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.35 ₩4,638

$1.90 ₩2,629

76.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.81 ₩3,892

$2.19 ₩3,033

28.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 ₩1,758

$0.43 ₩595

195.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₩4,650

Wine (Bottle)

$18.25 ₩25.3K

$10.95 ₩15.2K

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 ₩3,254

$1.91 ₩2,647

23.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 ₩4,874

$1.69 ₩2,340

108.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 ₩1,496

$0.95 ₩1,315

13.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 ₩4,816

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₩983

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.05 ₩23.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ₩1,646

$1.27 ₩1,764

-6.30%

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

$29.2K ₩40.5M

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

$33.9K ₩47.0M

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

$196 ₩271.7K

$208 ₩288.1K

-5.69%

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

$36.12 ₩50.1K

$54.4 ₩75.4K

-33.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.02 ₩37.5K

$19.80 ₩27.4K

36.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.8 ₩78.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.05 ₩16.7K

Cinema Ticket

$12.01 ₩16.6K

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

$475 ₩658.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.6K ₩30.0M

$24.6K ₩34.0M

-11.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₩143.6K

$52.1 ₩72.2K

98.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.5 ₩89.4K

$29.94 ₩41.5K

115.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 ₩126.9K

$65.0 ₩90.1K

40.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 ₩174.7K

$90.8 ₩125.8K

38.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 ₩614.5K

$466 ₩646.3K

-4.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₩480.0K

$375 ₩519.7K

-7.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,174 ₩1.6M

$1,331 ₩1.8M

-11.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$722 ₩1.0M

$1,172 ₩1.6M

-38.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,216 ₩10.0M

$10.3K ₩14.2M

-29.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,460 ₩7.6M

$6,750 ₩9.4M

-19.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,854 ₩2.6M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

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

Last update for Wonju: September 14, 2026

Last update for Jeju: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $443 in Wonju 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Wonju versus $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $479 in Wonju 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

Wonju vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Wonju is pricier by about 40%, 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 $2,284 per month in Wonju 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 245% more in Wonju, 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 $49.00 in Wonju 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 Wonju at $1,523. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Wonju 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, Wonju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.