Cost Of Living For a Couple in Daejeon 2024

Average monthly spending for couples in Daejeon

How much money does a couple need in a month to survive in Daejeon?

Couples in Daejeon spend around 4.3M KRW per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a couple can survive with a monthly budget as low as 1.4M KRW or as high as 23M KRW. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Couple expenditure to income ratio in Daejeon

Analysing the how affordable it is for couples to live in Daejeon

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Couples usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a couple of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Couples in Daejeon spend around 77% of their monthly income. Some couples spend as low as 70% of their income while some as high as 85%.

How do couples spend their money in Daejeon?

We asked thousands of couples about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for couples

Couples in Daejeon typically spend from 21% to 38% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 28% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 1.5M KRW with expenditure ranging from 490,000 KRW to 7.9M KRW. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for couples

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Daejeon ranges from 5% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average for most couples. The average monthly cost of utilities is 200,000 KRW with 58,000 KRW and 1.3M KRW being the upper and lower limits for a couple of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for couples

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a couple resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a couple would expect to spend from 170,000 KRW to 2.8M KRW in a month on commuting with 520,000 KRW being the norm for most couples. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 10% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 15%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for couples

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical couple in a month in Daejeon is 610,000 KRW. The cost of groceries can range between 200,000 KRW to 3.2M KRW. Couples spend on average about 16% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 11% and 21% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for couples

Couples in Daejeon allocate 7% to 17% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 13%. The range of medical expenses range from 160,000 KRW to 2.5M KRW with 480,000 KRW being the norm for most couples.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for couples

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 87,000 KRW to 1.4M KRW with 260,000 KRW being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most couples.

Education and schooling expenditure for couples

Spending on education can vary drastically between different couples. On average, education constitutes 2% of the monthly expenditure of couples with 1% and 4% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 87,000 KRW per month with 29,000 KRW being the minimum spent amount and 460,000 KRW being the maximum.

What percentage of couples in Daejeon are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of couples that reported their ability to save money

Almost 64% of surveyed couples in Daejeon said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 36% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do couples manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples that are able to save money can put anywhere from 12% to 31% of their monthly income to their savings, with 21% being the average for most couples. The average monthly amount of money that couples can put aside is 1.7M KRW with 570,000 KRW and 9M KRW being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Daejeon

Reasons that make it difficult for couples to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping couples from maximizing their savings in Daejeon. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 6% of the couples said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 9% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 16% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 10% of couples blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 6% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 19% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 12% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for couples in Daejeon

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Daejeon

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked couples one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Daejeon?

Around 69% of surveyed couples think that living in Daejeon is affordable with proper budgeting while 31% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Daejeon

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked couples how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options57%

Few low-cost options43%

Based on the survey, 57% of the couples living in Daejeon have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 43% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Couples

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked couples of Daejeon whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes64%

No36%

Based on the survey, 36% of the couples living in Daejeon said that they don't have an emergency fund while 64% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Korea (South)

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy66%

We asked couple guardians and parents in Daejeon whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 34% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 66% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether couples of Korea (South) have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 39% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 61% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance39%

Easily manages finances61%

Financial goals of couples in Daejeon

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Daejeon, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 7% of couples said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 38% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 9% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 8% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 17% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 8% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 9% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 11% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Daejeon

Percentage of couples who are in debt

According to the survey, 30% of the couples in Daejeon have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 70% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Daejeon

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 27% of a couple's monthly income in Daejeon goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Daejeon pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 15% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 13% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 15% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 13% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Daejeon

11% of debtors in Daejeon confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 27% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 19% of people and personal loans rose at 40%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in Daejeon.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Daejeon

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked couples of Daejeon how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Daejeon

Rent Cost in Daejeon

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

340,000 KRW

500,000 KRW

1.3M KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$250

$380

$1,000

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

500,000 KRW

800,000 KRW

2M KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$380

$600

$1,500

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

670,000 KRW

1M KRW

2.7M KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$500

$750

$2,000

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

800,000 KRW

1.3M KRW

3.7M KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$600

$1,000

$2,700

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

1.6M KRW

4M KRW

8M KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,200

$3,000

$6,000

Townhouse monthly rent cost

1.3M KRW

2M KRW

5.7M KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,000

$1,500

$4,300

House monthly rent cost

1.6M KRW

4M KRW

8M KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,200

$3,000

$6,000

Villa monthly rent cost

2M KRW

5M KRW

8M KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,500

$3,800

$6,000

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Daejeon ranges between 340,000 KRW and 1.3M KRW, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 500,000 KRW to 2M KRW. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 670,000 KRW and 2.7M KRW per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 800,000 KRW to 3.7M KRW. The average rent of a townhouse in Daejeon is around 2M KRW while house rental costs can be as high as 4M KRW per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 2M KRW to 8M KRW per month.

Apartment and house prices in Daejeon

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

67M KRW

100M KRW

200M KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$50,000

$75,000

$150,000

1-bedroom apartment price

80M KRW

130M KRW

500M KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$60,000

$100,000

$380,000

2-bedroom apartment price

130M KRW

400M KRW

800M KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$100,000

$300,000

$600,000

3-bedroom apartment price

450M KRW

670M KRW

2,000M KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$330,000

$500,000

$1.5M

Townhouse price

570M KRW

1,300M KRW

5,000M KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$430,000

$1M

$3.8M

House price

670M KRW

4,000M KRW

5,700M KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$500,000

$3M

$4.3M

Villa price

800M KRW

4,500M KRW

6,700M KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$600,000

$3.3M

$5M

The average price of a studio apartment in Daejeon can range from 67M KRW to 200M KRW depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 80M KRW to 500M KRW. A villa can cost you 4,500M KRW on average with prices ranging from 800M KRW to 6,700M KRW.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Daejeon can be x118 to x207 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x118 multiples of the average monthly salary in Daejeon.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Daejeon is around 31%. This means that people pay 31% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 22% to 41% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Daejeon

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Daejeon

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

58,000 KRW

200,000 KRW

1.3M KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$43

$150

$950

Internet and cable cost

20,000 KRW

39,000 KRW

53,000 KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$15

$30

$39

Mobile phone bill and charges

16,000 KRW

26,000 KRW

79,000 KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$12

$20

$59

The average monthly energy and water consumption of couples is around 200,000 KRW. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 20,000 KRW to 53,000 KRW with 39,000 KRW being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 26,000 KRW but can range between 16,000 KRW and 79,000 KRW depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Daejeon is around 4.9%. This means that people pay 4.9% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2% to 8.8% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Daejeon

Prices and cost of goods and services in Daejeon

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

3,900 KRW

7,900 KRW

13,000 KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3

$5.9

$9.8

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Daejeon is approximatly 7,900 KRW with meal cost ranging from 3,900 KRW to 13,000 KRW. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

13,000 KRW

20,000 KRW

40,000 KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$9.9

$15

$30

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 13,000 KRW and 40,000 KRW with 20,000 KRW being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Daejeon.

Fine dining meal for one price

27,000 KRW

40,000 KRW

160,000 KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$20

$30

$120

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 27,000 KRW to 160,000 KRW with the average cost being 40,000 KRW for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Daejeon.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

3,300 KRW

5,300 KRW

7,900 KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.5

$3.9

$5.9

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Daejeon is around 5,300 KRW. Price ranges between 3,300 KRW and 7,900 KRW depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

2,600 KRW

3,200 KRW

3,900 KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2

$2.4

$3

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Daejeon is 3,200 KRW. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 3,900 KRW and the minimum being 2,600 KRW depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

2,000 KRW

2,600 KRW

3,900 KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.5

$2

$3

A dozen eggs costs around 2,600 KRW on average with 2,000 KRW and 3,900 KRW being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

4,500 KRW

5,800 KRW

8,200 KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.4

$4.3

$6.1

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Daejeon is between 4,500 KRW and 8,200 KRW depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 5,800 KRW.

Pack of beef price

5,300 KRW

7,900 KRW

16,000 KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.9

$5.9

$12

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 7,900 KRW. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

2,100 KRW

2,900 KRW

4,100 KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.6

$2.2

$3.1

A bag of rice in Daejeon costs around 2,900 KRW on average with prices rangeing between 2,100 KRW and 4,100 KRW depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

790 KRW

1,100 KRW

2,000 KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.59

$0.79

$1.5

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 790 KRW to 2,000 KRW. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

1,400 KRW

1,800 KRW

3,000 KRW

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.4

$2.3

A bag of apples costs 1,800 KRW on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Daejeon is around 24%. This means that couples spend 24% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 17% to 30% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for couples