Korean Job Discussion Forums

[YAHF]

This was stated in a travel programme in Oz last week. Tokyo and London were much further down the list. Moscow was the most expensive.
No criteria given. What do the locals think of this, is it true?

[butlerian]

It's mostly due to the cost of accommodation, but since most ESL-teachers get this free as part of their contract, it's not that important. Some useful things, like the subway, are much cheaper than places like London.

[sjrm]

but still more expensive than places like London, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc.??!! that's ridiculous!!

[seoulman1]

depends where you live. If you live in the outer suburbs then supermarkets are cheaper. Places like Jamsil you pay double for your food and goods.

[SuperFly]

They nickel and dime you do death

[lastat06513]

I found that to be total BS.
You know, I found Seoul to be more affordable than if I were to live in NYC?
I could find reasonably sized housing at an affordable price compared to the shoeboxes you would find in either NYC or Tokyo for that matter....

We make enough to live well in Korea, even if we were to take only part time work.

[RACETRAITOR]

Moscow is expensive? Jeez, that list seems a little suspect.

[kat2]

I remember reading about this survey when it came out a few months ago. It had something to do with cost in relation to local average earnings. So the reason seoul and moscow are at the top is that local citizens don't actually make that much money compared to hte cost of food, housing, and other things. NY, London, etc are down b/c they are expensive, but workers make a good bit too.

[bobbyhanlon]

don't believe the hype... these surveys always come out with this kind of nonsense.. seoul may be the second most expensive for the overseas businessman, who stays in tower palace and eats expensive western food every day, but for the average person, seoul is really not that expensive.
look at it this way- i earn less than my friends in london, but i save more than them, whilst still going out and boozing it up fairly often. the reason is that seoul is actually not an expensive place to live.

[Dev]

I can see what people mean by saying that Seoul is expensive. I just got back from Canada. I had been thinking that Korea is so much cheaper, but it isn't. Even clothes aren't all that cheap here. In Canada high quality Gildan t-shirts are selling for $5 CDN (about 4000 won).

Groceries are way cheaper in Canada. The only thing left in Korea that's a bargain is transportation (bus, subway, taxi, train..) largely because it's heavily subsidised.

[Okibum]

It's crazy how much my apartment costs. I don't even live in that nice of an area.

[willneverteachagain]

what list?

[DCJames]

[Satori]

You don't need to eat low quality food to save in Seoul, just eat Korean food. Western food is like triple what it's worth. I found I could save tons of cash easily in Seoul while not curtailing my lifestyle at all ...

[Gwangjuboy]

It's a survey that ccompanies use when deciding how much allowance they should give their workers who are on overseas business. Some such surveys have put the capital of Angola at the top of the list. Compared to London housing, tax, public transportation, dining in restaraunts, and taxis are considerably cheaper in Seoul. And before anyone mentions how expensive apartments are in Daechi dong; compare them to apartments in Belgravia. I have a really nice officetel in one of the best parts of Seoul with brand new fittings which was built only last year. It's only costing me 300 pounds a month. (after putting down 5 million won deposit) I hate to think how much a place like that in an equivilent area in London would cost.