🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,324 in Gwangju versus $1,432 in Le Havre.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,038 in Gwangju versus $2,475 in Le Havre.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,751 in Gwangju versus $3,518 in Le Havre.
🌍Living in Gwangju costs roughly 8% less than in Le Havre, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gwangju is 3% below, Le Havre is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gwangju
Le Havre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.90₩8,128
$14.95€13.03
-60.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.02₩48.3K
$58.5€51.0
-40.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.81₩8,013
$13.92€12.13
-58.26%
Cappuccino
$3.08₩4,251
$2.77€2.42
11.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53₩2,111
$2.44€2.12
-37.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57₩792
$1.56€1.36
-63.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.45₩3,370
$6.95€6.05
-64.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49₩6,191
$5.83€5.08
-22.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gwangju
Le Havre
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71₩2,355
$1.11€0.96
54.05%
White Bread(500g)
$2.38₩3,287
$1.70€1.48
40.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.26₩3,112
$1.71€1.49
32.16%
Eggs
$2.71₩3,732
$3.81€3.32
-28.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.02₩12.4K
$17.18€14.98
-47.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99₩11.0K
$12.49€10.88
-36.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.24₩15.5K
$24.36€21.23
-53.86%
Apples(1kg)
$5.29₩7,288
$2.50€2.18
111.60%
Banana(1kg)
$2.95₩4,065
$2.06€1.79
43.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.82₩5,269
$4.65€4.05
-17.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.03₩4,173
$3.39€2.95
-10.62%
Potato(1kg)
$3.50₩4,821
$0.71€0.62
392.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82₩2,514
$2.03€1.77
-10.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.08₩2,870
$1.13€0.99
84.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29₩1,774
$0.14€0.12
821.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.24₩4,471
$11.61€10.12
-72.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.26₩15.5K
$7.08€6.17
59.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46₩2,015
$3.08€2.69
-52.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20₩3,027
$3.70€3.22
-40.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Gwangju
Le Havre
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03₩1,424
$1.91€1.66
-46.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.9₩93.6K
$35.00€30.51
94.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02₩4,169
$6.87€5.99
-56.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.63₩864
$1.97€1.72
-68.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.93₩10.9K
$46.86€40.85
-83.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20₩1,655
$1.99€1.74
-39.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K₩38.7M
$25.6K€22.3K
9.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2K₩48.6M
$36.2K€31.5K
-2.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gwangju
Le Havre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$212₩291.8K
$160€140
32.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.48₩59.9K
$13.58€11.84
220.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.49₩28.2K
$30.98€27.01
-33.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gwangju
Le Havre
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.6₩78.0K
$30.36€26.47
86.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.73₩16.2K
$9.22€8.03
27.22%
Cinema Ticket
$11.21₩15.4K
$12.80€11.16
-12.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gwangju
Le Havre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303₩417.4K
$519€453
-41.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K₩24.5M
$9,699€8,454
83.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gwangju
Le Havre
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.08₩42.8K
$58.5€51.0
-46.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.41₩36.4K
$29.01€25.29
-8.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.6₩87.6K
$91.0€79.3
-30.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0₩124.0K
$51.0€44.44
76.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gwangju
Le Havre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$510₩702.7K
$773€674
-34.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$363₩500.5K
$420€366
-13.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,181₩1.6M
$1,402€1,222
-15.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716₩986.3K
$1,131€986
-36.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,891₩10.9M
$2,855€2,489
176.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,431₩8.9M
$1,783€1,554
260.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gwangju
Le Havre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,870₩4.0M
$2,432€2,120
17.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.6
3.77
-4.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gwangju: September 13, 2026
Last update for Le Havre: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $510 in Gwangju and $773 in Le Havre. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gwangju pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Gwangju vs $58.0 in Le Havre for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $308 vs $347 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 Le Havre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Le Havre cheaper than Gwangju?
Gwangju is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Gwangju or Le Havre?
Average pay runs 18% higher in Gwangju, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Gwangju and Le Havre?
Rent for a central apartment: $510 in Gwangju versus $773 in Le Havre. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Gwangju or in Le Havre?
Dining out is cheaper in Gwangju – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $58.0 in Le Havre. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Gwangju and in Le Havre?
All in, you'll spend $1,324 per month in Gwangju versus $1,432 in Le Havre – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Gwangju or in Le Havre?
At $1,324 in Gwangju versus $1,432 in Le Havre, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gwangju but tight or insufficient in Le Havre. The gap between the two cities makes Gwangju the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Gwangju or in Le Havre?
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.
Which city is safer, Gwangju or Le Havre?
Safety-wise, Gwangju and Le Havre 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Gwangju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Le Havre. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.