Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Gwangju

For one person, living is cheaper in Gwangju: $1,329 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $16,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index
64

Cost of Living Index in Gwangju
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Gwangju Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Gwangju

🇰🇷 South Korea

$1,329

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Gwangju

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Gwangju actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $1,329 in Gwangju.

Austin, TX $2,663
Gwangju $1,329

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $2,038 in Gwangju.

Austin, TX $4,133
Gwangju $2,038

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $2,747 in Gwangju.

Austin, TX $5,603
Gwangju $2,747

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 100% more expensive than in Gwangju, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Gwangju is 2% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.77 $20.77

$5.98 ₩7,948

247.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$34.07 ₩45.3K

148.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$6.12 ₩8,131

101.31%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$3.25 ₩4,317

73.23%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$1.60 ₩2,127

132.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$0.63 ₩837

296.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$2.48 ₩3,297

224.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 $9.01

$4.52 ₩6,008

99.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.71 ₩2,269

-34.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.37 ₩3,153

58.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.26 ₩3,009

44.25%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$2.74 ₩3,639

52.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

$8.85 ₩11.8K

45.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$7.97 ₩10.6K

77.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$11.26 ₩15.0K

44.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$5.15 ₩6,854

-15.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$3.04 ₩4,037

-51.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.76 ₩5,002

19.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.04 ₩4,037

42.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.57 ₩4,747

-27.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.89 ₩2,515

24.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.00 ₩2,663

-11.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.35 ₩1,791

64.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

$3.45 ₩4,584

186.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$11.10 ₩14.8K

35.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.46 ₩1,935

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$2.27 ₩3,024

52.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.06 ₩1,410

40.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.72 $41.72

$68.2 ₩90.6K

-38.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

$3.18 ₩4,223

-14.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$0.62 ₩821

167.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$7.79 ₩10.4K

353.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.22 ₩1,616

-22.13%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$28.0K ₩37.3M

28.60%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$35.3K ₩46.9M

-23.29%

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

$229 $229

$210 ₩279.5K

8.92%

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

$59.4 $59.4

$43.76 ₩58.2K

35.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$21.18 ₩28.2K

230.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 $57.2

$51.7 ₩68.7K

10.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

$11.71 ₩15.6K

39.45%

Cinema Ticket

$14.28 $14.28

$11.25 ₩15.0K

26.93%

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

$1,506 $1,506

$300 ₩399.0K

401.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

$17.9K ₩23.8M

19.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

$31.74 ₩42.2K

66.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

$26.01 ₩34.6K

68.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

$63.6 ₩84.5K

33.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$88.6 ₩117.8K

16.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

$495 ₩657.9K

285.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 $1,274

$363 ₩482.7K

250.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$1,164 ₩1.5M

214.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,538 $2,538

$747 ₩992.8K

239.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,614 $7,614

$7,812 ₩10.4M

-2.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,157 $3,157

$6,383 ₩8.5M

-50.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,121 $5,121

$2,883 ₩3.8M

77.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

3.6

88.61%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Gwangju: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8%

Gwangju

$363 27.3% 71.5% $911

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$405 15.2%

Gwangju

$308 23.2% 23.9% $97

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$358 13.5%

Gwangju

$275 20.7% 23.2% $83

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$354 13.3%

Gwangju

$135 10.2% 61.7% $218

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$128 4.8%

Gwangju

$94 7.1% 26.2% $34

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Gwangju

$74 5.6% 13.5% $12

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$59 2.2%

Gwangju

$79 5.9% 34% $20

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $495 in Gwangju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 78% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $34.00 in Gwangju for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $308 per month, with Gwangju cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇰🇷 Gwangju

🕒 Local time

16:44 4:44 PM

06:44 6:44 AM

14 h ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

1,467,996

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

South Korean Won KRW ₩

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD

10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

KRW, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇰🇷 South Korean Won (₩)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

KRW to USD in detail →

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Between locations

Austin, TX Gwangju 11,370 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Gwangju

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Austin, TX vs Gwangju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gwangju wins on cost – living expenses run 100% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gwangju the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 78% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $495 in Gwangju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,329 in Gwangju – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Gwangju runs roughly 63% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,329 in Gwangju versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gwangju but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Gwangju the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Gwangju are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Gwangju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.