Korean Job Discussion Forums

[little_kitty]

My boyfriend and I are trying to decide between living in affluent Bundang or not-quite-as-such Busan. One of our main focuses in South Korea will be saving money. We did a year of teaching in Osaka, Japan two years ago--so we know how to live cheap. Is there a huge cost of living difference between Bundang and Busan, or is it negligable?

Thanks for any help!

[Maneki Neko]

Commodity prices in Korea are all pretty much the same nationwide.

I am assuming you do not need to pay for housing?

Bear in mind that Busan is the 2nd largest city in Korea, I really cannot imagine there to be a huge cost difference. May be 1,000 won here or there.

[Gnawbert]

I can't comment on Busan at all since I haven't lived there, but I've been in Bundang for almost 18 months now. My girlfriend and I live in a rather large officetel at Yatap and are able to save quite a bit, especially when we curb our spending habits. Usually at least half our paycheck if we avoid going really wild spending wise. Sometimes less, sometimes more. This month we're down because we switched schools and are redecorating our place. During last winter we saved like 90% of our paychecks from nov - feb since we did nothing but go to the gym, play WoW, and hibernate.

Some people I know saved a load in Bundang, others blow through it fast.

Ballpark prices:
-big bottle of beer, 5000 won
-200g of bbq galbi 8000-9000 won
-Cass on tap at a small bar, 3000 - 5000 won
-Chicken at Kim's Club: 5000-6000 won
-Milk 2000-3000 won.
-gym membership 70,000 won
-kimbab 2000 won'ish, mandoo w/ steamed buns 5000
-average monthly gas/electricity/whatever bill (A/C, computer on 24/7) 160,000

Is that expensive? Probably. We could do a lot to curb our spending habits but we still save roughly 50% of our paycheck a month so it's good enough for us.

[little_kitty]

Thanks for the answers.

School will be paying for housing, so no problem there. I guess my main concerns are utilities, gym memberships, and the occasional night out.

For anyone living in Busan: Are your utilities more than/less than 160,000 won per month? Is the average gym membership more than/less than 70,000 won?

Thanks again!

[hydrogonian]

An off-on topic comment:

Bundang kind of sucked for another reason than finances, which were average. Ie: It was boring as hell. To long to Seoul and too small and commercial to be interesting in the slightest. I would go to Busan if I had this choice to make, without question. You will at least be in a city. And a more manageable one than seoul at that.

[bassexpander]

Probably similar but busan a tad cheaper. I would have to think fruit would be cheaper because you don't have to pay to truck it to Seoul, maybe? Computer parts are more in busan. Housing in much of busan is nearly half, but that's not your concern.

[luffy]