Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Incheon

For one person, living is cheaper in Incheon: $1,373 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $15,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Incheon
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,373
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $1,373 in Incheon.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Incheon $1,373

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $2,106 in Incheon.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Incheon $2,106

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $2,839 in Incheon.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Incheon $2,839

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 94% more expensive than in Incheon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 97% above, Incheon 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Incheon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$5.92 ₩7,874
250.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$34.73 ₩46.2K
143.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$6.55 ₩8,703
88.09%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$3.75 ₩4,988
50.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.61 ₩2,147
131.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.64 ₩851
290.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$3.42 ₩4,544
135.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$4.63 ₩6,162
94.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Incheon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$2.04 ₩2,715
-45.10%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$3.13 ₩4,160
19.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.34 ₩3,109
39.32%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$3.33 ₩4,427
25.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$15.51 ₩20.6K
-16.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$7.88 ₩10.5K
79.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$11.06 ₩14.7K
46.65%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$7.84 ₩10.4K
-44.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$3.16 ₩4,206
-53.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.66 ₩7,529
-20.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$6.38 ₩8,481
-31.97%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$3.45 ₩4,585
-25.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.42 ₩3,213
-2.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.08 ₩2,768
-14.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.15 ₩1,528
93.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$3.47 ₩4,609
184.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$18.82 ₩25.0K
-19.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.20 ₩2,931
32.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$3.24 ₩4,306
6.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Incheon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.06 ₩1,412
40.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$24.53 ₩32.6K
70.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.57 ₩4,752
-23.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.64 ₩852
159.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$9.24 ₩12.3K
282.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.40 ₩1,860
-32.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$29.0K ₩38.6M
24.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$28.6K ₩38.0M
-5.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Incheon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$209 ₩277.2K
9.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$35.24 ₩46.9K
68.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$20.80 ₩27.7K
236.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Incheon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$33.40 ₩44.4K
71.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$38.21 ₩50.8K
-57.26%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$11.26 ₩15.0K
26.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Incheon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$295 ₩392.8K
409.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$18.2K ₩24.1M
18.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Incheon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$57.1 ₩76.0K
-7.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$32.82 ₩43.6K
33.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$69.5 ₩92.4K
21.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$84.3 ₩112.1K
22.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Incheon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$611 ₩812.1K
212.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$361 ₩480.1K
252.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$1,275 ₩1.7M
187.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$693 ₩921.3K
266.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$6,723 ₩8.9M
13.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$5,498 ₩7.3M
-42.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Incheon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$2,411 ₩3.2M
112.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
4.08
66.42%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Incheon: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Incheon
$361 71.7% $913
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Incheon
$399 1.5% $5.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Incheon
$265 26.2% $94
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Incheon
$147 58.3% $206
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Incheon
$110 14.3% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Incheon
$56 34.8% $30
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Incheon
$36 39.4% $23

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $611 in Incheon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 112% 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 $35.00 in Incheon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $399 per month, with Incheon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇰🇷 Incheon
🕒 Local time
11:25 11:25 AM
01:25 1:25 AM
14 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
2,870,545
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KRW, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Incheon 11,180 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Incheon

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 Incheon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Incheon?
Incheon wins on cost – living expenses run 94% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Incheon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Incheon?
Average pay runs 112% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Incheon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $611 in Incheon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Incheon?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,373 in Incheon – a 94% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Incheon?
A monthly transit pass in Incheon runs roughly 70% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Austin, TX or in Incheon?
At $1,373 in Incheon versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Incheon but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Incheon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Incheon?
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.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Incheon?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Incheon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Incheon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Austin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared

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