😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,529 in Le Havre versus $1,370 in Gwangju.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,344 in Le Havre versus $2,158 in Gwangju.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,159 in Le Havre versus $2,945 in Gwangju.
😐Living in Le Havre is roughly 12% more expensive than Gwangju, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Le Havre14% above, Gwangju2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.44€14.08
$7.17₩10.6K
129.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.9€48.74
$51.2₩76.0K
11.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.62€9.95
$5.78₩8,576
101.04%
Cappuccino
$2.75€2.36
$3.85₩5,709
-28.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.30
$1.57₩2,321
70.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09€1.79
$0.73₩1,081
186.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.76€5.79
$2.91₩4,322
132.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.63€4.82
$3.65₩5,409
54.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11€0.95
$1.89₩2,810
-41.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.79€1.53
$2.33₩3,449
-23.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78€1.53
$3.13₩4,645
-43.13%
Eggs
$3.81€3.26
$2.63₩3,896
44.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.31€14.82
$7.23₩10.7K
139.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.51€10.71
$7.39₩11.0K
69.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.56€20.16
$34.47₩51.1K
-31.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.53€2.16
$7.91₩11.7K
-68.02%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05€1.75
$3.49₩5,171
-41.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.36€2.02
$5.64₩8,372
-58.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.19€2.73
$5.54₩8,223
-42.42%
Potato(1kg)
$0.77€0.66
$3.82₩5,661
-79.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.77
$2.49₩3,693
-16.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15€0.98
$2.54₩3,761
-54.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.20€0.17
$1.15₩1,700
-82.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.87€10.16
$3.36₩4,986
253.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.93€5.93
$10.29₩15.3K
-32.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.09
$1.64₩2,429
49.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.31€3.69
$2.31₩3,422
86.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.06€1.77
$0.95₩1,406
116.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.84€36.67
$66.6₩98.8K
-35.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.06€6.05
$3.02₩4,484
133.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89€1.62
$0.53₩793
256.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$45.91€39.30
$8.49₩12.6K
440.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10€1.80
$1.23₩1,826
70.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9K€22.1K
$28.2K₩41.9M
-8.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.1K€31.8K
$22.0K₩32.6M
68.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$194€166
$165₩244.1K
18.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41€20.04
$34.96₩51.9K
-33.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.91€25.61
$21.75₩32.3K
37.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.42€23.47
$48.69₩72.2K
-43.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.41€16.61
$14.76₩21.9K
31.50%
Cinema Ticket
$14.24€12.19
$8.58₩12.7K
65.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$529€453
$416₩617.1K
27.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,442€7,226
$23.5K₩34.8M
-64.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4€78.3
$50.9₩75.5K
79.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.85€24.70
$37.05₩55.0K
-22.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.5€68.0
$63.8₩94.6K
24.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.7€45.11
$101₩149.9K
-47.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$519€444
$449₩666.0K
15.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$426€364
$355₩526.2K
19.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978€838
$856₩1.3M
14.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$705€603
$584₩865.7K
20.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,948€2,524
$7,159₩10.6M
-58.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,778€1,522
$5,796₩8.6M
-69.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,161€1,850
$2,608₩3.9M
-17.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.62
3.9
-7.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Le Havre: April 26, 2026
Last update for Gwangju: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $519 in Le Havre and $449 in Gwangju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gwangju pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $57.0 in Le Havre vs $51.0 in Gwangju. Groceries flip the comparison at $335 vs $412, with Le Havre 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
Le Havre vs Gwangju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gwangju cheaper than Le Havre?
Gwangju is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Le Havre or Gwangju?
On paper, Gwangju earns 21% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Le Havre and Gwangju?
Rent for a central apartment: $519 in Le Havre versus $449 in Gwangju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Le Havre or Gwangju?
Dining out is cheaper in Gwangju – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $57.0 in Le Havre. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Le Havre vs Gwangju?
All in, you'll spend $1,529 per month in Le Havre versus $1,370 in Gwangju – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Le Havre or Gwangju?
At $1,370 in Gwangju versus $1,529 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 Le Havre or Gwangju?
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, Le Havre or Gwangju?
Safety-wise, Le Havre 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Gwangju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Le Havre. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.