Cost of Living Comparison Between Gwangju and Irving, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Gwangju and Irving, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,324 in Gwangju versus $2,346 in Irving, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,038 in Gwangju versus $3,435 in Irving, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,751 in Gwangju versus $4,525 in Irving, TX.

Living in Gwangju costs roughly 44% less than in Irving, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Gwangju is 3% below, Irving, TX is 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.90 ₩8,128

$15.06 $15.06

-60.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.02 ₩48.3K

$79.0 $79.0

-55.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.81 ₩8,013

$10.62 $10.62

-45.29%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ₩4,251

$4.69 $4.69

-34.33%

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

$1.53 ₩2,111

$2.66 $2.66

-42.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₩792

$1.74 $1.74

-67.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.45 ₩3,370

$5.03 $5.03

-51.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 ₩6,191

$6.13 $6.13

-26.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ₩2,355

$0.82 $0.82

108.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.38 ₩3,287

$2.80 $2.80

-15.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.26 ₩3,112

$3.89 $3.89

-41.90%

Eggs

$2.71 ₩3,732

$2.92 $2.92

-7.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.02 ₩12.4K

$10.98 $10.98

-17.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 ₩11.0K

$9.53 $9.53

-16.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.24 ₩15.5K

$13.11 $13.11

-14.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.29 ₩7,288

$4.51 $4.51

17.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.95 ₩4,065

$1.56 $1.56

89.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.82 ₩5,269

$4.29 $4.29

-10.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 ₩4,173

$2.80 $2.80

8.21%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 ₩4,821

$2.26 $2.26

54.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 ₩2,514

$1.64 $1.64

10.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 ₩2,870

$1.76 $1.76

18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₩1,774

$1.84 $1.84

-29.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.24 ₩4,471

$8.53 $8.53

-62.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.26 ₩15.5K

$10.57 $10.57

6.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₩2,015

$1.75 $1.75

-16.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 ₩3,027

$3.87 $3.87

-43.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ₩1,424

$3.05 $3.05

-66.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.9 ₩93.6K

$124 $124

-45.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ₩4,169

$10.16 $10.16

-70.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₩864

$1.81 $1.81

-65.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.93 ₩10.9K

$59.1 $59.1

-86.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₩1,655

$0.81 $0.81

48.15%

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

$28.0K ₩38.7M

$35.8K $35.8K

-21.64%

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

$35.2K ₩48.6M

$24.8K $24.8K

41.89%

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

$212 ₩291.8K

$179 $179

18.46%

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

$43.48 ₩59.9K

$36.54 $36.54

18.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.49 ₩28.2K

$52.2 $52.2

-60.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 ₩78.0K

$30.04 $30.04

88.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.73 ₩16.2K

Cinema Ticket

$11.21 ₩15.4K

$11.65 $11.65

-3.78%

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

$303 ₩417.4K

$876 $876

-65.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.8K ₩24.5M

$18.1K $18.1K

-1.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.08 ₩42.8K

$22.06 $22.06

40.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.41 ₩36.4K

$25.12 $25.12

5.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.6 ₩87.6K

$65.0 $65.0

-2.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 ₩124.0K

$95.8 $95.8

-6.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$510 ₩702.7K

$1,505 $1,505

-66.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 ₩500.5K

$1,183 $1,183

-69.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,181 ₩1.6M

$2,714 $2,714

-56.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 ₩986.3K

$1,937 $1,937

-63.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,891 ₩10.9M

$3,743 $3,743

110.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,431 ₩8.9M

$2,461 $2,461

161.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,870 ₩4.0M

$4,464 $4,464

-35.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.6

6.03

-40.30%

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

Last update for Gwangju: September 13, 2026

Last update for Irving, TX: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $510 in Gwangju and $1,505 in Irving, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Irving, TX pays 56% 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: $35.00 in Gwangju vs $79.0 in Irving, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $308 vs $323 per month, with Gwangju cheaper across the board.

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 Irving, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gwangju is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 77% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 56% lower in Irving, 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: $510 in Gwangju versus $1,505 in Irving, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Gwangju – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $79.0 in Irving, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,324 per month in Gwangju versus $2,346 in Irving, TX – a 77% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,324 in Gwangju versus $2,346 in Irving, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gwangju but tight or insufficient in Irving, 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 Irving, 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 77% less than in Irving, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.