Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gwangju and Austin, TX

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.

64

Cost of Living Index in Gwangju
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Gwangju Living Index
130

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

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Gwangju

🇰🇷 South Korea

$1,329

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gwangju 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 Gwangju and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Living in Gwangju costs roughly 50% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.98 ₩7,948

$20.77 $20.77

-71.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.07 ₩45.3K

$84.6 $84.6

-59.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ₩8,131

$12.32 $12.32

-50.32%

Cappuccino

$3.25 ₩4,317

$5.63 $5.63

-42.27%

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

$1.60 ₩2,127

$3.72 $3.72

-56.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₩837

$2.50 $2.50

-74.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ₩3,297

$8.05 $8.05

-69.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 ₩6,008

$9.01 $9.01

-49.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ₩2,269

$1.12 $1.12

52.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 ₩3,153

$3.75 $3.75

-36.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.26 ₩3,009

$3.26 $3.26

-30.67%

Eggs

$2.74 ₩3,639

$4.17 $4.17

-34.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.85 ₩11.8K

$12.90 $12.90

-31.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.97 ₩10.6K

$14.16 $14.16

-43.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.26 ₩15.0K

$16.22 $16.22

-30.58%

Apples (1kg)

$5.15 ₩6,854

$4.33 $4.33

18.94%

Banana (1kg)

$3.04 ₩4,037

$1.46 $1.46

108.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 ₩5,002

$4.51 $4.51

-16.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.04 ₩4,037

$4.34 $4.34

-29.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₩4,747

$2.58 $2.58

38.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 ₩2,515

$2.35 $2.35

-19.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 ₩2,663

$1.78 $1.78

12.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₩1,791

$2.22 $2.22

-39.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.45 ₩4,584

$9.88 $9.88

-65.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.10 ₩14.8K

$15.08 $15.08

-26.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₩1,935

$2.92 $2.92

-50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₩3,024

$3.46 $3.46

-34.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ₩1,410

$1.49 $1.49

-28.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.2 ₩90.6K

$41.72 $41.72

63.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 ₩4,223

$2.73 $2.73

16.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₩821

$1.66 $1.66

-62.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ₩10.4K

$35.30 $35.30

-77.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₩1,616

$0.95 $0.95

28.42%

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

$28.0K ₩37.3M

$36.0K $36.0K

-22.24%

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

$35.3K ₩46.9M

$27.1K $27.1K

30.37%

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

$210 ₩279.5K

$229 $229

-8.19%

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

$43.76 ₩58.2K

$59.4 $59.4

-26.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.18 ₩28.2K

$69.9 $69.9

-69.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.7 ₩68.7K

$57.2 $57.2

-9.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.71 ₩15.6K

$16.33 $16.33

-28.29%

Cinema Ticket

$11.25 ₩15.0K

$14.28 $14.28

-21.22%

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

$300 ₩399.0K

$1,506 $1,506

-80.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.9K ₩23.8M

$21.5K $21.5K

-16.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.74 ₩42.2K

$52.8 $52.8

-39.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.01 ₩34.6K

$43.82 $43.82

-40.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.6 ₩84.5K

$84.8 $84.8

-25.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.6 ₩117.8K

$103 $103

-13.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 ₩657.9K

$1,907 $1,907

-74.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 ₩482.7K

$1,274 $1,274

-71.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,164 ₩1.5M

$3,664 $3,664

-68.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$747 ₩992.8K

$2,538 $2,538

-70.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,812 ₩10.4M

$7,614 $7,614

2.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,383 ₩8.5M

$3,157 $3,157

102.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,883 ₩3.8M

$5,121 $5,121

-43.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.6

6.79

-46.98%

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

Last update for Gwangju: October 12, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Gwangju

$363 27.3%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 251% $911

Groceries & Markets

Gwangju

$308 23.2%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 31.4% $97

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Gwangju

$275 20.7%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 30.2% $83

Eating Out

Gwangju

$135 10.2%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 161% $218

Clothing & Footwear

Gwangju

$94 7.1%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 35.5% $34

Getting Around

Gwangju

$79 5.9%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 25.4% $20

Sport & Entertainment

Gwangju

$74 5.6%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 15.6% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $495 in Gwangju and $1,907 in Austin, TX. 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: $34.00 in Gwangju vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $308 vs $405 per month, with Gwangju cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇰🇷 Gwangju

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

06:47 6:47 AM

16:47 4:47 PM

14 h behind Gwangju

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,467,996

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 = 0.89 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 = 0.89 EUR).

USD to KRW in detail →

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Between locations

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

From you

Gwangju
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

Gwangju vs Austin, TX: 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.

On paper, salaries run 78% 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: $495 in Gwangju versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,329 per month in Gwangju versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – 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, Gwangju 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 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.