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: $1,370 in Gwangju versus $2,278 in Irving, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,158 in Gwangju versus $3,359 in Irving, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,945 in Gwangju versus $4,440 in Irving, TX.

Living in Gwangju costs roughly 40% less than in Irving, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gwangju 2% above, Irving, TX 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.17 ₩10.6K

$14.21 $14.21

-49.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.2 ₩76.0K

$66.0 $66.0

-22.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.78 ₩8,576

$10.82 $10.82

-46.58%

Cappuccino

$3.85 ₩5,709

$4.86 $4.86

-20.78%

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

$1.57 ₩2,321

$2.04 $2.04

-23.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₩1,081

$1.33 $1.33

-45.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 ₩4,322

$5.97 $5.97

-51.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 ₩5,409

$5.96 $5.96

-38.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₩2,810

$0.94 $0.94

101.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 ₩3,449

$2.73 $2.73

-14.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 ₩4,645

$3.16 $3.16

-0.95%

Eggs

$2.63 ₩3,896

$2.91 $2.91

-9.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 ₩10.7K

$10.26 $10.26

-29.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.39 ₩11.0K

$10.98 $10.98

-32.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.47 ₩51.1K

$11.46 $11.46

200.79%

Apples (1kg)

$7.91 ₩11.7K

$3.61 $3.61

119.11%

Banana (1kg)

$3.49 ₩5,171

$1.63 $1.63

114.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.64 ₩8,372

$3.51 $3.51

60.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.54 ₩8,223

$4.02 $4.02

37.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.82 ₩5,661

$1.92 $1.92

98.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 ₩3,693

$1.96 $1.96

27.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.54 ₩3,761

$1.70 $1.70

49.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₩1,700

$2.12 $2.12

-45.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₩4,986

$9.06 $9.06

-62.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 ₩15.3K

$9.99 $9.99

3.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₩2,429

$1.77 $1.77

-7.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₩3,422

$2.34 $2.34

-1.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₩1,406

$2.93 $2.93

-67.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 ₩98.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ₩4,484

$2.80 $2.80

7.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ₩793

$1.82 $1.82

-70.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.49 ₩12.6K

$30.47 $30.47

-72.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₩1,826

$0.79 $0.79

55.70%

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

$28.2K ₩41.9M

$30.2K $30.2K

-6.44%

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

$22.0K ₩32.6M

$24.8K $24.8K

-11.33%

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

$165 ₩244.1K

$198 $198

-16.86%

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

$34.96 ₩51.9K

$37.13 $37.13

-5.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.75 ₩32.3K

$67.9 $67.9

-67.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.69 ₩72.2K

$39.84 $39.84

22.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 ₩21.9K

Cinema Ticket

$8.58 ₩12.7K

$15.08 $15.08

-43.10%

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

$416 ₩617.1K

$1,594 $1,594

-73.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K ₩34.8M

$23.3K $23.3K

0.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 ₩75.5K

$55.5 $55.5

-8.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.05 ₩55.0K

$24.85 $24.85

49.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.8 ₩94.6K

$57.6 $57.6

10.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ₩149.9K

$97.9 $97.9

3.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 ₩666.0K

$1,419 $1,419

-68.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$355 ₩526.2K

$1,217 $1,217

-70.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$856 ₩1.3M

$2,521 $2,521

-66.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$584 ₩865.7K

$2,098 $2,098

-72.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,159 ₩10.6M

$3,683 $3,683

94.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,796 ₩8.6M

$2,408 $2,408

140.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,608 ₩3.9M

$4,554 $4,554

-42.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.9

6.45

-39.53%

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

Last update for Gwangju: April 27, 2026

Last update for Irving, TX: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $449 in Gwangju and $1,419 in Irving, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Irving, TX pays 75% 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: $51.0 in Gwangju vs $66.0 in Irving, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $412 vs $318, with Irving, TX cheaper for home cooking.

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 Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 66% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Irving, TX earns 75% less. 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: $449 in Gwangju versus $1,419 in Irving, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Irving, TX pay roughly 29% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,370 per month in Gwangju versus $2,278 in Irving, TX – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,370 in Gwangju versus $2,278 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 66% less than in Irving, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.