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Jeju vs Ulsan cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ฐ๐ท Jeju
๐ฐ๐ท Ulsan
At a glance
- Where Ulsan is clearly cheaper: Half-day tour (90%โ), Entry ticket (60%โ), Scooter rental (50%โ)
- Where Jeju is clearly cheaper: Transit (20%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Both cities are about equally easy to travel. Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Jeju 2 vs Ulsan 1. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Jeju | Ulsan | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โฉ 10,000$7.25 | โฉ 10,000$7.25 | similar |
| Street food1 item | โฉ 5,000$3.62 | โฉ 4,000$2.9 | Ulsan โ20% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โฉ 30,000$21.7 | โฉ 25,000$18.1 | Ulsan โ17% |
| Coffeeone cup | โฉ 5,500$3.99 | โฉ 4,800$3.48 | Ulsan โ13% |
| Beerone bottle | โฉ 5,500$3.99 | โฉ 5,000$3.62 | Ulsan โ9% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โฉ 13,000$9.42 | โฉ 12,000$8.7 | Ulsan โ8% |
| Bottled water | โฉ 1,000$0.72 | โฉ 1,100$0.8 | Jeju โ9% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โฉ 2,000$1.45 | โฉ 2,000$1.45 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | โฉ 7,500$5.43 | โฉ 7,500$5.43 | similar |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โฉ 4,500$3.26 | โฉ 4,500$3.26 | similar |
| Transitone ride | โฉ 1,200$0.87 | โฉ 1,500$1.09 | Jeju โ20% |
| Scooter rentalper day | โฉ 30,000$21.7 | โฉ 15,000$10.9 | Ulsan โ50% |
| Hotel night3-star | โฉ 90,000$65.2 | โฉ 70,000$50.7 | Ulsan โ22% |
| Studio rent (month) | โฉ 550,000$399 | โฉ 550,000$399 | similar |
| Laundry | โฉ 9,000$6.52 | โฉ 9,000$6.52 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | โฉ 30,000$21.7 | โฉ 30,000$21.7 | similar |
| Haircutcut | โฉ 18,000$13 | โฉ 15,000$10.9 | Ulsan โ17% |
| Massage1 hour | โฉ 70,000$50.7 | โฉ 60,000$43.5 | Ulsan โ14% |
| Half-day tourper person | โฉ 50,000$36.2 | โฉ 5,000$3.62 | Ulsan โ90% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โฉ 5,000$3.62 | โฉ 2,000$1.45 | Ulsan โ60% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Jeju or Ulsan?
Ulsan is 13% cheaper than Jeju. Daily budget $133 vs $113; a month $2,168 vs $1,942.
Which is easier to travel, Jeju or Ulsan?
About the same: Jeju 2.0/5, Ulsan 1.8/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Jeju and Ulsan?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Jeju is about $2,168 and Ulsan about $1,942 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.