😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,432 in Le Havre versus $1,324 in Gwangju.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,475 in Le Havre versus $2,038 in Gwangju.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,518 in Le Havre versus $2,751 in Gwangju.
🌍Living in Le Havre is roughly 8% more expensive than in Gwangju, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Le Havre is 5% above, Gwangju is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.95€13.03
$5.90₩8,128
153.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5€51.0
$35.02₩48.3K
66.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.92€12.13
$5.81₩8,013
139.59%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.42
$3.08₩4,251
-10.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44€2.12
$1.53₩2,111
59.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.36
$0.57₩792
173.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.95€6.05
$2.45₩3,370
183.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.83€5.08
$4.49₩6,191
29.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11€0.96
$1.71₩2,355
-35.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.70€1.48
$2.38₩3,287
-28.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$2.26₩3,112
-24.34%
Eggs
$3.81€3.32
$2.71₩3,732
40.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.18€14.98
$9.02₩12.4K
90.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.49€10.88
$7.99₩11.0K
56.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.36€21.23
$11.24₩15.5K
116.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.50€2.18
$5.29₩7,288
-52.74%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06€1.79
$2.95₩4,065
-30.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.65€4.05
$3.82₩5,269
21.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.39€2.95
$3.03₩4,173
11.88%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71€0.62
$3.50₩4,821
-79.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.77
$1.82₩2,514
11.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13€0.99
$2.08₩2,870
-45.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.14€0.12
$1.29₩1,774
-89.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.61€10.12
$3.24₩4,471
258.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.08€6.17
$11.26₩15.5K
-37.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.08€2.69
$1.46₩2,015
110.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70€3.22
$2.20₩3,027
68.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.91€1.66
$1.03₩1,424
85.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.00€30.51
$67.9₩93.6K
-48.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.87€5.99
$3.02₩4,169
127.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.97€1.72
$0.63₩864
212.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$46.86€40.85
$7.93₩10.9K
490.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.74
$1.20₩1,655
65.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6K€22.3K
$28.0K₩38.7M
-8.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2K€31.5K
$35.2K₩48.6M
2.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160€140
$212₩291.8K
-24.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.58€11.84
$43.48₩59.9K
-68.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.98€27.01
$20.49₩28.2K
51.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.36€26.47
$56.6₩78.0K
-46.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.22€8.03
$11.73₩16.2K
-21.40%
Cinema Ticket
$12.80€11.16
$11.21₩15.4K
14.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$519€453
$303₩417.4K
71.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,699€8,454
$17.8K₩24.5M
-45.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5€51.0
$31.08₩42.8K
88.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.01€25.29
$26.41₩36.4K
9.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.0€79.3
$63.6₩87.6K
43.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.0€44.44
$90.0₩124.0K
-43.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$773€674
$510₩702.7K
51.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$420€366
$363₩500.5K
15.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,402€1,222
$1,181₩1.6M
18.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,131€986
$716₩986.3K
58.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,855€2,489
$7,891₩10.9M
-63.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,783€1,554
$6,431₩8.9M
-72.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Le Havre
Gwangju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,432€2,120
$2,870₩4.0M
-15.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.77
3.6
4.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Le Havre: September 14, 2026
Last update for Gwangju: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $773 in Le Havre and $510 in Gwangju. 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: $58.0 in Le Havre vs $35.00 in Gwangju for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $347 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
Le Havre vs Gwangju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gwangju cheaper than Le Havre?
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: Le Havre or Gwangju?
On paper, salaries run 18% lower in Gwangju. 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: $773 in Le Havre versus $510 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 in Gwangju?
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 Le Havre and in Gwangju?
All in, you'll spend $1,432 per month in Le Havre versus $1,324 in Gwangju – 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 Le Havre or in Gwangju?
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 Le Havre or in 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 8% less than in Le Havre. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.