Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between South Korea and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in South Korea: $1,543 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $13,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,543
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
🙂 Solo nomad: South Korea is 18.9% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 42.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: South Korea is 21.5% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 38% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Korea
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.67 ₩10.3K
$20.22 $20.22
-62.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.23 ₩60.6K
$85.0 $85.0
-46.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.43 ₩8,617
$12.35 $12.35
-47.94%
Cappuccino
$3.92 ₩5,254
$5.47 $5.47
-28.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ₩2,194
$3.82 $3.82
-57.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ₩1,115
$2.50 $2.50
-66.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.63 ₩4,863
$8.06 $8.06
-54.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 ₩6,098
$8.99 $8.99
-49.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Korea
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.09 ₩2,804
$1.13 $1.13
84.96%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₩4,051
$3.78 $3.78
-20.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.38 ₩4,534
$3.25 $3.25
4.00%
Eggs
$3.22 ₩4,311
$4.14 $4.14
-22.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.53 ₩18.1K
$13.08 $13.08
3.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.81 ₩11.8K
$14.31 $14.31
-38.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.06 ₩34.9K
$15.96 $15.96
63.28%
Apples (1kg)
$8.59 ₩11.5K
$4.38 $4.38
96.12%
Banana (1kg)
$3.38 ₩4,535
$1.45 $1.45
133.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.23 ₩8,345
$4.54 $4.54
37.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.09 ₩8,166
$4.19 $4.19
45.35%
Potato (1kg)
$3.97 ₩5,319
$2.63 $2.63
50.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 ₩3,645
$2.36 $2.36
15.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.60 ₩3,484
$1.76 $1.76
47.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 ₩1,608
$2.16 $2.16
-44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₩4,531
$9.81 $9.81
-65.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.90 ₩21.3K
$14.72 $14.72
8.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 ₩2,706
$2.78 $2.78
-27.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 ₩3,866
$3.48 $3.48
-16.95%
🚌 Getting Around
South Korea
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.14 ₩1,529
$1.49 $1.49
-23.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.85 ₩62.8K
$40.51 $40.51
15.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 ₩4,599
$2.67 $2.67
28.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₩860
$1.58 $1.58
-59.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.10 ₩12.2K
$35.29 $35.29
-74.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 ₩1,852
$0.99 $0.99
39.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K ₩39.9M
$35.8K $35.8K
-16.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K ₩40.1M
$27.2K $27.2K
10.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Korea
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 ₩275.7K
$219 $219
-6.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.21 ₩52.5K
$58.0 $58.0
-32.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.22 ₩31.1K
$68.4 $68.4
-66.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Korea
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 ₩70.7K
$57.9 $57.9
-8.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.59 ₩22.2K
$14.82 $14.82
11.94%
Cinema Ticket
$10.99 ₩14.7K
$14.13 $14.13
-22.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Korea
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$906 ₩1.2M
$1,509 $1,509
-39.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K ₩31.2M
$21.5K $21.5K
8.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Korea
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 ₩76.0K
$51.7 $51.7
9.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.14 ₩57.8K
$44.05 $44.05
-2.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 ₩106.6K
$85.1 $85.1
-6.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 ₩128.8K
$105 $105
-8.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Korea
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$593 ₩794.3K
$1,932 $1,932
-69.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$423 ₩566.8K
$1,272 $1,272
-66.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,531 ₩2.1M
$3,670 $3,670
-58.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$922 ₩1.2M
$2,525 $2,525
-63.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$16.5K ₩22.1M
$7,617 $7,617
116.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,341 ₩11.2M
$3,199 $3,199
160.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Korea
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,293 ₩3.1M
$5,105 $5,105
-55.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.23
6.79
-37.70%

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

Last update for South Korea: October 4, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
South Korea
$449
Austin, TX
$403 10.2% $46
Accommodation & Living
South Korea
$423
Austin, TX
$1.3K 201% $849
Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Korea
$268
Austin, TX
$346 28.9% $77
Eating Out
South Korea
$165
Austin, TX
$348 111% $183
Clothing & Footwear
South Korea
$124
Austin, TX
$129 3.8% $4.8
Sport & Entertainment
South Korea
$75
Austin, TX
$86 15.2% $11
Getting Around
South Korea
$58
Austin, TX
$57 1.8% $1.1
Good to know
🇰🇷 South Korea
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
13:41 1:41 PM
23:41 11:41 PM
14 h behind South Korea
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
51,466,201
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,340 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.46 USD). 1 EUR = 1,503 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.65 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • South Korea Austin, TX 11,150 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • South Korea
  • 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

South Korea vs other spots: cost of living compared

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