Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pohang and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Pohang: $1,362 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $15,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Pohang
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,362
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pohang and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pohang and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,362 in Pohang versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Pohang $1,362
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,682 in Pohang versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Pohang $1,682
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,002 in Pohang versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Pohang $2,002
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Pohang costs roughly 49% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Pohang 1% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pohang
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 ₩7,857
$20.77 $20.77
-71.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.55 ₩30.0K
$84.6 $84.6
-73.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.52 ₩8,675
$12.32 $12.32
-47.08%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ₩4,012
$5.63 $5.63
-46.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 ₩1,967
$3.72 $3.72
-60.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₩710
$2.50 $2.50
-78.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.64 ₩4,836
$8.05 $8.05
-54.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 ₩5,062
$9.01 $9.01
-57.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pohang
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.36 ₩3,142
$1.12 $1.12
110.71%
White Bread (500g)
$3.25 ₩4,319
$3.75 $3.75
-13.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.46 ₩1,940
$3.26 $3.26
-55.21%
Eggs
$2.73 ₩3,634
$4.17 $4.17
-34.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.95 ₩14.6K
$12.90 $12.90
-15.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.36 ₩13.8K
$14.16 $14.16
-26.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.86 ₩33.1K
$16.22 $16.22
53.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 ₩2,929
$4.33 $4.33
-49.19%
Banana (1kg)
$3.61 ₩4,798
$1.46 $1.46
147.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.91 ₩10.5K
$4.51 $4.51
75.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.92 ₩3,879
$4.34 $4.34
-32.72%
Potato (1kg)
$5.00 ₩6,653
$2.58 $2.58
93.80%
Onion (1kg)
$3.41 ₩4,532
$2.35 $2.35
45.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 ₩3,015
$1.78 $1.78
27.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 ₩1,785
$2.22 $2.22
-39.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.31 ₩4,407
$9.88 $9.88
-66.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.49 ₩8,631
$15.08 $15.08
-56.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 ₩2,031
$2.92 $2.92
-47.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 ₩4,638
$3.46 $3.46
0.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Pohang
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.49 $1.49
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.72 $41.72
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 ₩4,388
$2.73 $2.73
20.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ₩766
$1.66 $1.66
-65.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.64 ₩22.1K
$35.30 $35.30
-52.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ₩1,647
$0.95 $0.95
30.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K ₩39.2M
$36.0K $36.0K
-18.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K ₩37.8M
$27.1K $27.1K
4.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pohang
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ₩136.1K
$229 $229
-55.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.26 ₩48.2K
$59.4 $59.4
-38.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.84 ₩35.7K
$69.9 $69.9
-61.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pohang
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.38 ₩40.4K
$57.2 $57.2
-46.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.43 ₩9,884
$16.33 $16.33
-54.50%
Cinema Ticket
$11.38 ₩15.1K
$14.28 $14.28
-20.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pohang
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$637 ₩847.5K
$1,506 $1,506
-57.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.8K ₩29.0M
$21.5K $21.5K
1.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pohang
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 ₩139.2K
$52.8 $52.8
98.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.3 ₩85.5K
$43.82 $43.82
46.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.5 ₩122.9K
$84.8 $84.8
9.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₩147.9K
$103 $103
7.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pohang
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,907 $1,907
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$447 ₩594.3K
$1,274 $1,274
-64.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,664 $3,664
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,538 $2,538
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,614 $7,614
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,990 ₩4.0M
$3,157 $3,157
-5.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pohang
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,240 ₩3.0M
$5,121 $5,121
-56.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
6.79
-37.85%

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

Last update for Pohang: October 11, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Pohang
$447
Austin, TX
$1.3K 185% $827
Groceries & Markets
Pohang
$386
Austin, TX
$405 4.9% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Pohang
$168
Austin, TX
$128 23.7% $40
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pohang
$165
Austin, TX
$358 117% $193
Eating Out
Pohang
$137
Austin, TX
$354 159% $217
Sport & Entertainment
Pohang
$53
Austin, TX
$86 61.4% $33
Getting Around
Pohang
$6.2 *
Austin, TX
$59 850% $53

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Austin, TX pays 129% 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: $23.00 in Pohang vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $386 vs $405 per month, with Pohang cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Pohang
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
08:26 8:26 AM
18:26 6:26 PM
14 h behind Pohang
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
514,869
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pohang Austin, TX 11,160 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Pohang
  • Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Pohang vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pohang or Austin, TX?
Pohang wins on cost – living expenses run 96% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pohang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Pohang or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 129% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do childcare costs compare in Pohang and in Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $637 in Pohang versus $1,506 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Pohang and in Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Pohang – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Pohang or in Austin, TX?
At $1,362 in Pohang versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pohang but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Pohang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Pohang or Austin, TX?
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.
How safe is Pohang compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Pohang and Austin, TX 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Pohang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Pohang vs other spots: cost of living compared

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