Korean Job Discussion Forums

[brassmnky48]

A search of the most expensive cities in the world turns up Seoul as 5th. How is it still possible to save money in this city? I know they base this ranking on cost of living for food, entertainment, etc...do they take into account the average Korean's salary? How does the average Korean's salary compare to the average western english teacher's salary? I guess what I'm wondering is this; I don't think I could live in NYC right now and survive on 2 grand a month, but somehow I am led to believe that I could in Seoul, a city ranked much higher on lists of expensive cities. Why is this? Please enlighten me

[Papa Smurf]

dont know...all i know is im comfortably saving half my salary of 2.1 in seoul.

[caniff]

Those rankings usually judge how a Western businessperson would live in Seoul as compared to other cities around the world, i.e. corporate hotel accomodations, dining out at mostly high-end places for every meal, limo taxi service, etc.

Frankly, they don't apply (directly) to the ESL community. If you live like a Korean most of the time ( ) the ranking means zip (almost).

[visitorq]

If it's the Mercer survey, then it only applies to executive expat lifestyles and not for average living. That's why Moscow and Seoul were ranked higher than Tokyo and London a few years back, even though the latter two are a good deal more expensive for regular people.

All it means is that real world cities like New York are a better value for the rich expat than Moscow or Seoul are...

[jboney]

I'm living in NYC now and I'm not making anywhere near 2 grand a month. I actually make less than a grand a month and I'm alright.

[jkelly80]

[rumdiary]

[brassmnky48]

[RACETRAITOR]

[Freakstar]

I don't know about that - I've lived in Seoul for over a year now, and while it's not the cheapest city to live in, it's still much more financially viable to live here than in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Tokyo, London, Paris, Shanghai and half of Europe...strictly from my lifestyle point of view, that is. I'm taking into account the average cost of rent and utilities (though my current rent is sky high), dining out (cheap and pricey places), public transportation, and entertainment expenses.

Where did you get your information and what is the criteria they're going on? Was it this Forbes article?

http://www.forbes.com/2008/07/23/cities-expensive-world-forbeslife-cx_zg_0724expensivecities.html

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I've been to many of the 'world's most expensive cities' and some of them deserve to be on the list and some of them don't, from a low-budget point of view. Seoul is one of the ones that doesn't. You can still find plenty of cheap things to eat, wear, and do. Public transport is cheaper than anywhere in NA. The cost of many tourist attractions is almost nominal. It's nothing like, say Oslo or Stockholm or even London.

[princess]

And hahaha...I just saw where Time magazine listed the top 5 cities to visit during a recession. Korea was number 3 on that list. It said visit Seoul, Gwangju and Busan. I don't consider it so cheap ehre. Number one was Iceland, two was Australia, three ws Korea, four was Canada, and five was Great Britain. All are known to be expensive places, so I was very surprised. Maybe the Time people were drunk when they wrote this.

[princess]

[bassexpander]

A few things that make Korea affordable for us, and make it possible for us to save money are:

1. Subway/taxi transportation is cheap. No need for a car. No need for a payment on a car. No need for car insurance.

2. You can still eat cheap here, if you don't mind eating Korean. Eating at western restaurants kills your paycheck -- far more expensive here than in North America.

3. NO RENT! If you school pays for your place, and you just pay utilities, you're saving a lot. If you live in an older place (not a newer apartment or offictell) your utilities will be cheaper. Did you know utility rates are higher in apartments and offictells? It's true. Quite a bit higher... and then you add management fees, etc.. Most first-time teachers are in standard/older villas. They avoid these costs.


If transportation prices go up, we will feel it. If food prices go up at the lower-priced places (this is happening) we feel it. If Koreans decide not to provide housing, they'll cut the teacher pool in half or more.


Korea is QUICKLY losing its appeal for teachers, with the won being so high, and inflation taking its toll on our checks.

[CA-NA-DA-ABC]