Cost of Living in Gongju - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $941 (excluding rent), and $1,517 including rent.
Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,185 (excluding rent), and $3,121 including rent.
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🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.33 ₩9,952
$6.02 ₩8,172
$9.04 ₩12.3K
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.03 ₩48.9K
$28.82 ₩39.1K
$72.1 ₩97.8K
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.11 ₩8,292
$5.56 ₩7,540
$6.75 ₩9,154
Cappuccino
$4.18 ₩5,667
$2.24 ₩3,033
$4.86 ₩6,591
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 ₩2,468
$0.95 ₩1,288
$2.54 ₩3,447
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 ₩1,865
$0.74 ₩1,001
$2.22 ₩3,017
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.69 ₩5,000
$1.85 ₩2,507
$4.43 ₩6,008
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.8 ₩7,865
$5.07 ₩6,875
$6.52 ₩8,841
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$2.34 ₩3,180
$1.88 ₩2,544
$2.62 ₩3,553
White Bread (500g)
$3.47 ₩4,709
$1.81 ₩2,454
$5.05 ₩6,856
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.13 ₩4,251
$1.89 ₩2,565
$3.77 ₩5,115
Eggs
$2.86 ₩3,887
$2.14 ₩2,908
$3.69 ₩5,011
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.28 ₩13.9K
$7.22 ₩9,790
$14.42 ₩19.6K
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.21 ₩11.1K
$4.4 ₩5,967
$11.73 ₩15.9K
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.89 ₩37.8K
$11.9 ₩16.2K
$37.19 ₩50.5K
Apples (1kg)
$8.49 ₩11.5K
$2.21 ₩2,998
$12.55 ₩17K
Banana (1kg)
$3.27 ₩4,440
$3.02 ₩4,092
$3.76 ₩5,108
Oranges (1kg)
$7.51 ₩10.2K
$5.6 ₩7,595
$8.96 ₩12.2K
Tomato (1kg)
$5.25 ₩7,118
$2.19 ₩2,977
$7.33 ₩9,946
Potato (1kg)
$5.22 ₩7,088
$2.24 ₩3,034
$7.47 ₩10.1K
Onion (1kg)
$3 ₩4,073
$0.74 ₩998
$5.18 ₩7,025
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.11 ₩2,860
$1.13 ₩1,527
$3.76 ₩5,096
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 ₩1,577
$0.29 ₩388
$1.81 ₩2,459
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.34 ₩4,533
$3.34 ₩4,533
$3.7 ₩5,026
Wine (Bottle)
$14.46 ₩19.6K
$6.5 ₩8,826
$36.15 ₩49.1K
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₩2,368
$1.12 ₩1,515
$3.72 ₩5,053
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 ₩4,520
$2.16 ₩2,925
$5.04 ₩6,833
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.04 ₩1,412
$0.92 ₩1,243
$1.05 ₩1,425
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.6 ₩4,886
$2.85 ₩3,862
$5.77 ₩7,835
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.83 ₩1,126
$0.69 ₩934
$1.66 ₩2,253
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 ₩22.3K
$14.62 ₩19.8K
$18.29 ₩24.8K
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ₩1,656
$1.17 ₩1,586
$1.24 ₩1,684
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ₩37.6M
$27.7K ₩37.6M
$27.7K ₩37.6M
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K ₩33.3M
$24.6K ₩33.3M
$24.6K ₩33.3M
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 ₩253K
$153 ₩208.1K
$289 ₩391.8K
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.5 ₩68.5K
$24.29 ₩33K
$57.4 ₩77.9K
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.92 ₩37.9K
$22.34 ₩30.3K
$33.51 ₩45.5K
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.87 ₩59.5K
$20.24 ₩27.5K
$52 ₩70.5K
Cinema Ticket
$11.58 ₩15.7K
$10.46 ₩14.2K
$14.93 ₩20.3K
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$484 ₩656.6K
$218 ₩295.5K
$944 ₩1.3M
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ₩19.5M
$13.8K ₩18.7M
$14.9K ₩20.2M
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ₩140.9K
$59.4 ₩80.5K
$111 ₩151K
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.87 ₩65K
$22.19 ₩30.1K
$74 ₩100.4K
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.1 ₩119.5K
$58.7 ₩79.7K
$110 ₩149.4K
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 ₩161.1K
$59.4 ₩80.6K
$148 ₩201.4K
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$461 ₩625.8K
$367 ₩498.1K
$510 ₩692.1K
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 ₩502.8K
$253 ₩343.7K
$434 ₩589.3K
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,067 ₩1.4M
$736 ₩998.9K
$1,215 ₩1.6M
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$713 ₩967.9K
$444 ₩602.8K
$1,025 ₩1.4M
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,203 ₩12.5M
$3,732 ₩5.1M
$9,574 ₩13M
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,939 ₩8.1M
$2,626 ₩3.6M
$7,292 ₩9.9M
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,454 ₩2M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
3.25
6.04
Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
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Cost of Living in Gongju - Frequently Asked Questions
How does Gongju compare in terms of affordability, and who tends to find it good value for a stay?
Gongju offers a gentler tempo than Korea's bigger cities, with a vibe that suits travelers, expats, and digital nomads who want reliability without a sky-high price tag. Its mix of historic sites, a university presence, and nearby nature creates practical balance between work-friendly spaces and leisure. For many, Cost of Living in Gongju, South Korea can feel approachable when you choose mid-range housing, shop at local markets, and use public transport or a bike for daily trips. You will notice smaller dining bills at neighborhood eateries and easier-to-sustain routines than in megacities. Tip: map your week to test routines before committing to a neighborhood.
What does daily life look like in Gongju, in terms of housing search, food options, transport, and coworking or errands?
Daily life centers on practical routines: simple apartments or share houses near the university district, local markets for fresh produce, casual eateries, and reliable buses. For errands and coworking, you will find small libraries, cafes with decent Wi-Fi, and community spaces that welcome hourly or daily passes. Transportation is flexible: buses cover town routes, with bike lanes and walkable cores for short hops. Gongju, South Korea living cost tends to be manageable if you rotate shopping between traditional markets and larger supermarkets, and you plan a mixed approach to meals. Tip: reserve a few hours to visit different neighborhoods and gauge commute times before choosing a base.
What factors influence quality of life and how can you budget effectively, including seasonality and neighborhood fit?
In Gongju, quality of life centers on balance: a predictable pace, safe streets, and access to parks and historic sites. A simple budgeting framework helps: allocate housing, groceries, transit, and leisure, then add a buffer for occasional trips or coworking days. Save by cooking at home, using local markets, and taking advantage of student or public library resources. Seasonality matters: summers are hot and humid, winters cooler; plan wardrobe and energy use accordingly. Neighborhood fit matters too: the historic core offers walkability and nightlife nearby, while newer districts may give quieter mornings. Tip: choose a base with easy transit links to key sites and coworking options.
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