Korean Job Discussion Forums

[skichick]

Hello
I'm writing from Canada, looking over a contract for a Korean school. Could anyone please give me a realistic run down on the living costs in Korea (Pusan specifically). The contract I'm currently looking at includes accomodation, but how much are things like utilities, food, local transport etc. just the basics be- as I will be trying to save. Any help greatly appreciated!

[Cabbit]

[kricket]

[kimcheeking]

I have to disagree with Cricket. I have been here for 6 years and have managed to save about cdn$90,000. I don't teach privates and I live comfortably.

If you go out drinking every night and travel to different countries every 6 months you may not save much money. I go abroad once a year and enjoy my free time.

Korea is not expensive at all, the only expensive things are housing, gas (for a car), & hard liquor.

[Wishmaster]

I will also disagree with the statement. If you can't save money in Korea, you simply are a spendthrift. The cost of living here is damn cheap in comparison to home. First off, you don't pay any freakin' rent!! The food is much cheaper than any US grocery store and the transit system in Korea is solid. Again, it is all subjective here in Korea. If you are the kind of person that must drink and party every weekend, then that 2 million salary may seem miniscule. But, if you have an iota of intelligence, you learn to balance your life(ie not overspending and being conservative occasionally), you can save a great deal. I can save $1,000 a month US on a 2 million won salary. But I have balance. I don't drink high priced import alcohol and I don't go to any of the Itaewon bars. I travel nearly every weekend. My refrigerator is always stocket. I rent movies. I can afford to purchase things over the internet. Yet, I can still hit a grand a month and live a nice life here. The difference between myself and people that can't save from the 2 million is that I can afford a vacation AFTER I leave Korea and I'll be able to live for awhile back home while looking for a job. To those people that don't save here and party all the time, think of the long term ramifications. What will you have when you get on the airplane??????????

[justagirl]

My Budget:


Send home (loans, savings, etc): 1,000,000

Food: 350,000

Bills in Korea: 125,000 (gas, water, electricity, phone)

Travel: 75,000

Entertainment, buying Stuff, etc: 350, 000


I probably don't have the best budget planning in the world, but I do manage to stick to it almost every month. I keep a small contingency fund and some money stuck aside for medical stuff. I feel like I spend a lot of money and I enjoy doing lots of things. Hope this gives you an idea!

ej

[Rand Al Thor]

[princess]

I only saved about 2000 dollars my second year in Korea. My first year,I saved 50 bucks in change because I hardly ever spend my change. I can't save a smuch as some people.because I like to cook alot at home and I like designer clothes and traveling. I am rewarding myself for growing up working class and not being able to enjoy the good life. Plus,I have to send money home for loans for a useless degree.

[W.T.Carl]

I managed to sock away 10k US, eat out every night, vacation in Thailand over Chusok (remember to book your flight EARLY- May at the latest), travell a good bit around Korea ( that is when I managed to get some time off- which was rare), drink barrels of OB, loan 1.3 mil to a fellow teacher who was down on his luck( I still haven't seen any of this, but I know my karma is clean) and in general have a great time. It can be done. However, this was teaching around 40 classes a week, and COMPLETING my contract.

[justagirl]

In response to the comment about my food budget, I suppose it would have been better said to have put it this way: this is my max I'll spend every month in this part of my budget.

I just thought it'd be good to give a breakdown of costs, rather than say I save 10,000,000 a year and travel a lot.

Of course no one has to spend more than they want on anyt