Korean Job Discussion Forums

[elltotheoh]

I apologize if there's an existing thread for this subject already -- I searched and found one but it was from 2003 so I figured I might ask for updated information.

I am moving to Korea for the first time in about three weeks. How much should I expect to budget for utilities in a studio apartment? I'll be living in Yongin (Dongbaek), if that matters.

[SeoulNate]

mostly it depends on what kind of apartment building you will be living in.

The costs can vary widely.

Two years ago: I lived in Mokdong in an officetel with 24/h guard: I paid 200+ for utilities (not including internet) a month

Girlfriend lived right outside the city living in a 6 story family owned building paid 60 including internet.

This year we live an officetel near Nowon and pay like 180 a month.

All depends on the building.

[bsrosenfeld]

I live in an officetel 1 hour south of Seoul. My building charges me a monthly fee of 75,000won per month for 'maintenance' which includes elevators, security, basic cable and garbage. On that same bill I also get charged for water and electric. I have a fan running 24 hours a day and this past month I had my A/C on for about 15 hours a day. My final bill was 96,000 (or about 21,000 for electric and water).

I am billed directly by the gas company as well. During the winter months by gas bill was about 60,000won per month. Now in the summer it has dropped to 40,000won.

I also have internet and digital cable. The internet is fast, 1MB per second and the digital cable gives me BBC, CNN, some other international news channels as well as a few other English stations for 63,000won per month.

End of the day, living at your preferred temperature and watching English television, about 200,000won per month.

[uklathemock]

My average utility bill from living in three different places is around 150,000 a month. Please note that building maintenance fees can vary widely. I've had to pay for sleeping security guards, non-cleaning ajumas, elevators, landscaping, etc.

[balzor]

75,000 for building fees + tv, internet /5000-10000 for gas 40,000 for my cell I live in Geumchon-gu

[ttompatz]

In my experience, a one-room in a "villa" runs from 60-100k per month all in (with aircon, cable TV and internet).

An office-tel is 125-200k all in.

An apartment (2-3 bedroom) runs 200-300k all in (again with aircon/summer or heat/winter, cable TV and internet).

.

[Darkeru]

Do you remember what that old thread is called? I've been looking for this (as well as information about other costs - food bills as well as utilities, entertainment, etc). The search comes up with too many unrelated things though.

[elltotheoh]

[Darkeru]