Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Jinju

For one person, living is cheaper in Jinju: $1,448 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $15,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,698
/mo nomad
Jinju
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,448
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,698 in Austin, TX versus $1,448 in Jinju.

  • Austin, TX $2,698
  • Jinju $1,448

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,160 in Austin, TX versus $2,429 in Jinju.

  • Austin, TX $4,160
  • Jinju $2,429

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,622 in Austin, TX versus $3,410 in Jinju.

  • Austin, TX $5,622
  • Jinju $3,410

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 86% more expensive than in Jinju, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 99% above, Jinju 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Jinju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.63 $20.63
$8.79 ₩11.7K
134.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$67.2 ₩89.3K
25.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.07 $12.07
$7.33 ₩9,746
64.67%
Cappuccino
$5.48 $5.48
$4.04 ₩5,378
35.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 $3.80
$1.63 ₩2,164
133.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$0.79 ₩1,049
212.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$3.85 ₩5,117
109.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.88 $8.88
$5.96 ₩7,928
48.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Jinju
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$2.03 ₩2,701
-45.32%
White Bread (500g)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.14 ₩4,173
18.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.37 $3.37
$4.40 ₩5,850
-23.41%
Eggs
$4.32 $4.32
$3.65 ₩4,850
18.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.13 $13.13
$17.53 ₩23.3K
-25.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.15 $14.15
$10.42 ₩13.9K
35.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.33 $16.33
$25.81 ₩34.3K
-36.73%
Apples (1kg)
$4.55 $4.55
$7.61 ₩10.1K
-40.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$3.38 ₩4,495
-56.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$5.69 ₩7,570
-17.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$6.44 ₩8,568
-35.56%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$3.74 ₩4,968
-31.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.60 ₩3,455
-9.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.87 ₩3,822
-38.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.15 ₩1,524
86.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.10 $10.10
$3.28 ₩4,367
207.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.19 $15.19
$18.58 ₩24.7K
-18.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$2.36 ₩3,144
19.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.20 ₩4,258
7.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Jinju
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.15 ₩1,527
33.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.99 $40.99
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.80 $2.80
$3.63 ₩4,823
-22.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 $1.60
$0.64 ₩846
150.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.34 $34.34
$8.81 ₩11.7K
289.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.49 ₩1,982
-36.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K $34.0K
$29.0K ₩38.6M
17.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$28.1K ₩37.4M
-4.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Jinju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 $223
$217 ₩288.6K
2.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$35.79 ₩47.6K
64.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6 $70.6
$20.79 ₩27.6K
239.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Jinju
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.7 $57.7
$55.1 ₩73.2K
4.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.53 $16.53
$13.25 ₩17.6K
24.75%
Cinema Ticket
$14.26 $14.26
$11.24 ₩15.0K
26.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Jinju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,511 $1,511
$371 ₩493.2K
307.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.9K $20.9K
$22.7K ₩30.2M
-8.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Jinju
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 $51.3
$57.7 ₩76.7K
-11.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.17 $44.17
$32.31 ₩43.0K
36.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.0 $87.0
$70.2 ₩93.3K
23.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$81.9 ₩108.9K
27.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Jinju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,940 $1,940
$453 ₩602.1K
328.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 $1,316
$318 ₩423.4K
313.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$1,162 ₩1.5M
215.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,565 $2,565
$860 ₩1.1M
198.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,354 $7,354
$6,219 ₩8.3M
18.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,129 $3,129
$6,161 ₩8.2M
-49.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Jinju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,286 $5,286
-
-
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 19, 2026

Last update for Jinju: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Jinju
$318 75.8% $998
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$406
Jinju
$476 17.4% $70
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$352
Jinju
$274 22.3% $78
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$350
Jinju
$182 48.1% $168
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$129
Jinju
$109 15.6% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Jinju
$78 10.1% $8.7
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$58
Jinju
$11 * 80.3% $47

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 $1,940 in Austin, TX and $453 in Jinju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $67.0 in Jinju. Groceries flip the comparison at $406 vs $476, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇰🇷 Jinju
🕒 Local time
15:00 3:00 PM
05:00 5:00 AM
14 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
340,548
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KRW, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 20, 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 Jinju 11,300 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Jinju

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 Jinju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Jinju?
Jinju wins on cost – living expenses run 86% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jinju the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Jinju?
You'd need roughly $4,046 in Austin, TX and $2,172 in Jinju to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Jinju?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,940 in Austin, TX versus $453 in Jinju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Austin, TX and in Jinju?
Childcare runs $1,511 in Austin, TX versus $371 in Jinju. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Austin, TX and in Jinju?
Dining out is cheaper in Jinju – a meal for two runs $67.0 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Austin, TX or in Jinju?
At $1,448 in Jinju versus $2,698 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jinju but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Jinju the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Jinju?
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 Jinju?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Jinju 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 Jinju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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