Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Gyeongju

For one person, living is cheaper in Gyeongju: $1,228 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $17,200 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
59

Cost of Living Index in Gyeongju
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Gyeongju Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Gyeongju

🇰🇷 South Korea

$1,228

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Gyeongju actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $1,228 in Gyeongju.

Austin, TX $2,663
Gyeongju $1,228

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,988 in Gyeongju.

Austin, TX $4,133
Gyeongju $1,988

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $2,748 in Gyeongju.

Austin, TX $5,603
Gyeongju $2,748

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 117% more expensive than in Gyeongju, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Gyeongju is 9% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.77 $20.77

$7.61 ₩10.1K

172.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$48.01 ₩63.8K

76.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$6.51 ₩8,653

89.25%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$3.02 ₩4,012

86.42%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$1.10 ₩1,457

238.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$0.35 ₩469

614.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$2.59 ₩3,442

210.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 $9.01

$4.34 ₩5,764

107.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$2.31 ₩3,073

-51.52%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.47 ₩3,280

51.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.13 ₩4,164

4.15%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$2.60 ₩3,451

60.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

$11.06 ₩14.7K

16.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$10.33 ₩13.7K

37.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$18.49 ₩24.6K

-12.28%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$4.50 ₩5,985

-3.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.57 ₩3,411

-43.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.82 ₩5,075

18.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.67 ₩4,879

18.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.56 ₩3,398

0.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.18 ₩2,897

7.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.19 ₩2,917

-18.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.33 ₩1,766

66.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

$3.44 ₩4,571

187.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$14.77 ₩19.6K

2.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.14 ₩1,515

156.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$2.22 ₩2,949

55.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.06 ₩1,409

40.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.72 $41.72

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.93 ₩3,895

-6.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$0.79 ₩1,046

110.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$16.57 ₩22.0K

113.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.02 ₩1,354

-6.86%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$29.6K ₩39.3M

21.97%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$34.0K ₩45.2M

-20.42%

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

$229 $229

$80.6 ₩107.1K

184.28%

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

$59.4 $59.4

$36.83 ₩49.0K

61.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$27.20 ₩36.2K

157.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 $57.2

$52.1 ₩69.3K

9.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

$11.96 ₩15.9K

36.54%

Cinema Ticket

$14.28 $14.28

$11.04 ₩14.7K

29.35%

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

$1,506 $1,506

$639 ₩849.8K

135.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

$22.2K ₩29.5M

-3.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

$45.34 ₩60.3K

16.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

$22.41 ₩29.8K

95.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

$91.7 ₩121.9K

-7.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$128 ₩170.8K

-19.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

$478 ₩635.9K

298.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 $1,274

$366 ₩486.7K

248.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$1,163 ₩1.5M

215.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,538 $2,538

$732 ₩972.7K

246.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,614 $7,614

$7,249 ₩9.6M

5.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,157 $3,157

$5,416 ₩7.2M

-41.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,121 $5,121

$1,841 ₩2.4M

178.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

4.22

60.90%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Gyeongju: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8%

Gyeongju

$366 29.8% 71.3% $908

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$405 15.2%

Gyeongju

$359 29.2% 11.3% $46

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$358 13.5%

Gyeongju

$145 11.8% 59.6% $214

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$354 13.3%

Gyeongju

$144 11.7% 59.3% $210

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$128 4.8%

Gyeongju

$130 10.6% 1.2% $1.6

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Gyeongju

$74 6% 13.5% $12

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$59 2.2%

Gyeongju

$11 * 0.9% 81.1% $48

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $478 in Gyeongju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 178% 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 $48.00 in Gyeongju for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $359 per month, with Gyeongju cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇰🇷 Gyeongju

🕒 Local time

16:58 4:58 PM

06:58 6:58 AM

14 h ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

258,156

💱 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 →

On the map

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Between locations

Austin, TX Gyeongju 11,180 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Gyeongju

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 Gyeongju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gyeongju wins on cost – living expenses run 117% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gyeongju the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 178% 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 $478 in Gyeongju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,506 in Austin, TX versus $639 in Gyeongju. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Gyeongju – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,228 in Gyeongju versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gyeongju but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Gyeongju 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 Gyeongju 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 Gyeongju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 117% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.