Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheongju and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Cheongju: $1,398 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $15,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

68

Cost of Living Index in Cheongju
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Cheongju Living Index
130

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

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Cheongju

🇰🇷 South Korea

$1,398

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,398 in Cheongju versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Cheongju $1,398
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,320 in Cheongju versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Cheongju $2,320
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,241 in Cheongju versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Cheongju $3,241
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Cheongju costs roughly 48% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cheongju 4% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.64 ₩10.2K

$20.77 $20.77

-63.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.79 ₩64.9K

$84.6 $84.6

-42.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 ₩8,153

$12.32 $12.32

-50.24%

Cappuccino

$3.65 ₩4,851

$5.63 $5.63

-35.17%

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

$1.78 ₩2,361

$3.72 $3.72

-52.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 ₩1,873

$2.50 $2.50

-43.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.79 ₩5,033

$8.05 $8.05

-52.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 ₩5,845

$9.01 $9.01

-51.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 ₩3,128

$1.12 $1.12

109.82%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 ₩4,129

$3.75 $3.75

-17.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.14 ₩4,178

$3.26 $3.26

-3.68%

Eggs

$2.71 ₩3,606

$4.17 $4.17

-35.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.18 ₩14.9K

$12.90 $12.90

-13.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.27 ₩13.7K

$14.16 $14.16

-27.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.55 ₩32.6K

$16.22 $16.22

51.36%

Apples (1kg)

$11.41 ₩15.2K

$4.33 $4.33

163.51%

Banana (1kg)

$3.56 ₩4,727

$1.46 $1.46

143.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.30 ₩11.0K

$4.51 $4.51

84.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.91 ₩7,859

$4.34 $4.34

36.18%

Potato (1kg)

$6.14 ₩8,161

$2.58 $2.58

137.98%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 ₩4,336

$2.35 $2.35

38.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 ₩3,637

$1.78 $1.78

53.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₩1,717

$2.22 $2.22

-41.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₩4,413

$9.88 $9.88

-66.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.55 ₩24.7K

$15.08 $15.08

23.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 ₩3,287

$2.92 $2.92

-15.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 ₩4,458

$3.46 $3.46

-3.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 ₩1,450

$1.49 $1.49

-26.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.72 $41.72

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 ₩4,741

$2.73 $2.73

30.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 ₩1,017

$1.66 $1.66

-53.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.65 ₩22.1K

$35.30 $35.30

-52.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ₩1,811

$0.95 $0.95

43.16%

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

$29.5K ₩39.2M

$36.0K $36.0K

-18.12%

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

$33.4K ₩44.4M

$27.1K $27.1K

23.25%

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

$203 ₩269.6K

$229 $229

-11.44%

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

$24.35 ₩32.4K

$59.4 $59.4

-59.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.57 ₩35.3K

$69.9 $69.9

-61.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.5 ₩69.8K

$57.2 $57.2

-8.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.07 ₩16.1K

$16.33 $16.33

-26.09%

Cinema Ticket

$12.10 ₩16.1K

$14.28 $14.28

-15.27%

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

$624 ₩830.0K

$1,506 $1,506

-58.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.3M

$21.5K $21.5K

2.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.95 ₩50.5K

$52.8 $52.8

-28.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.9 ₩86.3K

$43.82 $43.82

48.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.1 ₩126.4K

$84.8 $84.8

12.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₩150.1K

$103 $103

9.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$347 ₩461.0K

$1,907 $1,907

-81.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 ₩354.8K

$1,274 $1,274

-79.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 ₩1.5M

$3,664 $3,664

-68.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$758 ₩1.0M

$2,538 $2,538

-70.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,214 ₩9.6M

$7,614 $7,614

-5.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,577 ₩7.4M

$3,157 $3,157

76.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,595 ₩3.5M

$5,121 $5,121

-49.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

6.79

-37.85%

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

Last update for Cheongju: October 11, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Groceries & Markets

Cheongju

$485 34.7%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 16.6% $81

Accommodation & Living

Cheongju

$267 19.1%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 378% $1K

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Cheongju

$254 18.2%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 41.2% $105

Eating Out

Cheongju

$164 11.7%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 116% $190

Clothing & Footwear

Cheongju

$140 10%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 8.5% $12

Sport & Entertainment

Cheongju

$77 5.5%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 11.9% $9.1

Getting Around

Cheongju

$12 * 0.8%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 400% $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 $347 in Cheongju and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 97% 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: $49.00 in Cheongju vs $85.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $485 vs $405, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇰🇷 Cheongju

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

03:20 3:20 AM

13:20 1:20 PM

14 h behind Cheongju

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

835,669

974,447

💱 Currency

South Korean Won KRW ₩

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD

10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR

1 USD = 0.889 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇰🇷 South Korean Won (₩)

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).

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

USD to KRW in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Cheongju Austin, TX 11,210 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight

From you

Cheongju
Austin, TX

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

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

Cheongju wins on cost – living expenses run 91% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cheongju the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 97% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $347 in Cheongju versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $624 in Cheongju versus $1,506 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Cheongju – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,398 in Cheongju versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cheongju but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Cheongju 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, Cheongju and Austin, TX 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 Cheongju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 91% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.