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

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

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

Living in Irving, TX is roughly 66% more expensive than Gwangju, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.21 $14.21

$7.17 ₩10.6K

98.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.0 $66.0

$51.2 ₩76.0K

28.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.82 $10.82

$5.78 ₩8,576

87.20%

Cappuccino

$4.86 $4.86

$3.85 ₩5,709

26.23%

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

$2.04 $2.04

$1.57 ₩2,321

29.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 $1.33

$0.73 ₩1,081

82.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.97 $5.97

$2.91 ₩4,322

105.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.96 $5.96

$3.65 ₩5,409

63.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.89 ₩2,810

-50.26%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.33 ₩3,449

17.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.13 ₩4,645

0.96%

Eggs

$2.91 $2.91

$2.63 ₩3,896

10.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.26 $10.26

$7.23 ₩10.7K

41.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.98 $10.98

$7.39 ₩11.0K

48.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.46 $11.46

$34.47 ₩51.1K

-66.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$7.91 ₩11.7K

-54.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$3.49 ₩5,171

-53.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.51 $3.51

$5.64 ₩8,372

-37.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 $4.02

$5.54 ₩8,223

-27.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$3.82 ₩5,661

-49.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.49 ₩3,693

-21.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.54 ₩3,761

-33.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.15 ₩1,700

84.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.06 $9.06

$3.36 ₩4,986

169.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.99 $9.99

$10.29 ₩15.3K

-2.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.64 ₩2,429

7.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.31 ₩3,422

1.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 $2.93

$0.95 ₩1,406

208.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 ₩98.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.02 ₩4,484

-7.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$0.53 ₩793

243.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.47 $30.47

$8.49 ₩12.6K

258.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.23 ₩1,826

-35.77%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$28.2K ₩41.9M

6.88%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$22.0K ₩32.6M

12.77%

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

$198 $198

$165 ₩244.1K

20.28%

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

$37.13 $37.13

$34.96 ₩51.9K

6.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.9 $67.9

$21.75 ₩32.3K

212.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.84 $39.84

$48.69 ₩72.2K

-18.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 ₩21.9K

Cinema Ticket

$15.08 $15.08

$8.58 ₩12.7K

75.76%

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

$1,594 $1,594

$416 ₩617.1K

283.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$23.5K ₩34.8M

-0.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 $55.5

$50.9 ₩75.5K

9.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.85 $24.85

$37.05 ₩55.0K

-32.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.6 $57.6

$63.8 ₩94.6K

-9.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.9 $97.9

$101 ₩149.9K

-3.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 $1,419

$449 ₩666.0K

215.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,217 $1,217

$355 ₩526.2K

243.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,521 $2,521

$856 ₩1.3M

194.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 $2,098

$584 ₩865.7K

259.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,683 $3,683

$7,159 ₩10.6M

-48.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,408 $2,408

$5,796 ₩8.6M

-58.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,554 $4,554

$2,608 ₩3.9M

74.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

3.9

65.38%

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

Last update for Irving, TX: April 25, 2026

Last update for Gwangju: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,419 in Irving, TX and $449 in Gwangju. 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: $66.0 in Irving, TX vs $51.0 in Gwangju. Groceries flip the comparison at $318 vs $412, 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

Irving, TX vs Gwangju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Irving, TX pays 75% more on average, 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: $1,419 in Irving, TX versus $449 in Gwangju. 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 $2,278 per month in Irving, TX versus $1,370 in Gwangju – 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, 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 66% less than in Irving, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.