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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Irving, TX is roughly 77% more expensive than in Gwangju, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.06 $15.06

$5.90 ₩8,128

155.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.0 $79.0

$35.02 ₩48.3K

125.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.62 $10.62

$5.81 ₩8,013

82.79%

Cappuccino

$4.69 $4.69

$3.08 ₩4,251

52.27%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$1.53 ₩2,111

73.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$0.57 ₩792

205.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.03 $5.03

$2.45 ₩3,370

105.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.13 $6.13

$4.49 ₩6,191

36.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.71 ₩2,355

-52.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.38 ₩3,287

17.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.26 ₩3,112

72.12%

Eggs

$2.92 $2.92

$2.71 ₩3,732

7.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.98 $10.98

$9.02 ₩12.4K

21.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.53 $9.53

$7.99 ₩11.0K

19.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.11 $13.11

$11.24 ₩15.5K

16.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.29 ₩7,288

-14.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$2.95 ₩4,065

-47.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.82 ₩5,269

12.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.03 ₩4,173

-7.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$3.50 ₩4,821

-35.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.82 ₩2,514

-9.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.08 ₩2,870

-15.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.29 ₩1,774

42.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.53 $8.53

$3.24 ₩4,471

163.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.57 $10.57

$11.26 ₩15.5K

-6.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.46 ₩2,015

19.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.20 ₩3,027

75.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.03 ₩1,424

196.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$124 $124

$67.9 ₩93.6K

82.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.16 $10.16

$3.02 ₩4,169

236.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$0.63 ₩864

187.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$59.1 $59.1

$7.93 ₩10.9K

645.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.20 ₩1,655

-32.50%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$28.0K ₩38.7M

27.61%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$35.2K ₩48.6M

-29.52%

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

$179 $179

$212 ₩291.8K

-15.58%

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

$36.54 $36.54

$43.48 ₩59.9K

-15.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.2 $52.2

$20.49 ₩28.2K

154.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.04 $30.04

$56.6 ₩78.0K

-46.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.73 ₩16.2K

Cinema Ticket

$11.65 $11.65

$11.21 ₩15.4K

3.93%

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

$876 $876

$303 ₩417.4K

189.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.1K $18.1K

$17.8K ₩24.5M

1.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.06 $22.06

$31.08 ₩42.8K

-29.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.12 $25.12

$26.41 ₩36.4K

-4.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 $65.0

$63.6 ₩87.6K

2.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.8 $95.8

$90.0 ₩124.0K

6.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,505 $1,505

$510 ₩702.7K

195.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,183 $1,183

$363 ₩500.5K

225.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,714 $2,714

$1,181 ₩1.6M

129.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,937 $1,937

$716 ₩986.3K

170.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,743 $3,743

$7,891 ₩10.9M

-52.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,461 $2,461

$6,431 ₩8.9M

-61.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,464 $4,464

$2,870 ₩4.0M

55.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.03

3.6

67.50%

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

Last update for Irving, TX: September 13, 2026

Last update for Gwangju: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,505 in Irving, TX and $510 in Gwangju. 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: $79.0 in Irving, TX vs $35.00 in Gwangju for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $308 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

Irving, TX vs Gwangju: 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.

Average pay runs 56% higher in Irving, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,505 in Irving, TX versus $510 in Gwangju. 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 $2,346 per month in Irving, TX versus $1,324 in Gwangju – 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, Irving, TX and Gwangju 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.