Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Carl_00]

I'm just trying to figure how much I can afford to send home each month, and so, how much I'll have to live off. To begin with a figure: would it be difficult to live off 1-1.2M KRW each month?

I'm not a regular drinker, won't be buying expensive coffees, and will be trying to avoid Paris Baguette as much as possible .



To the Brits: Do any of you organise your UK finances online from Korea? Have you had any difficulties? Any cock-ups?

[redaxe]

If you're able to resist spending your money on beer, western food, and girls for a whole year. then yeah you can do it. I couldn't, though. If you take away all the drinking and the girls, Korea is pretty boring.

I don't know what your salary is. I think most teachers try to save close to a million won a month, but it's hard to do that in your first year.

[jlb]

I almost can't believe that anyone teaching ESL in Korea would spend more than 1 mill Won/month. I just can't really fathom it. You'd have to be drinking every night, or hitting up Outback more than once/week, or going clubbing in Seoul every Fri/Sat night, or buying electronics like they're going out of style to spend this much.

[kardisa]

I spent ~950,000 won my first month here.

210,000 - 8 weeks of Korean classes
45,000 - Cell phone deposit + first month's bill (the phone was free with my plan)
350,000 - Food. I eat breakfast at home and Korean food during the week. I usually hit up western restaurants or an Indian place on the weekends.
150,000 - Clothes (I didn't bring many with me)
50,000 - Books
30,000 - Public transport
100,000 - Utilities
~75,000 - Going out with friends

edit: forgot to add the 50,000 R4 card for my DS.

To put it simply, I have no idea how you could spend more than 1,000,000 won a month, especially if you don't drink like a fish.

[Yahowho]

[kardisa]

[Yahowho]

[kardisa]

[cdninkorea]

I spend a tad more than a million won per month, and I shop at Costco monthly, EMart weekly, and do buy expensive coffees several times weekly. I'd so it's do-able unless you're highly active on the dating scene (I'm married).

[Peter258]

Surprised to hear people comment on how drinking will drain your budget.

Soju is only 3 bucks per bottle in the bars, as far as I can remember.

Do teachers like to pregame?

I feel like I'm the only one in the group who likes to try to save money by pregaming.

[Kurtz]

[Afghankush]

I'd say if you are male then the best think Korea has to offer is way
thin and HAWT K-Girls. And if you ever want to get anywhere with them
then you better lay out some coin. If you're a mover and a shaker and
have two dates a week and drop 100K for dinner and then drinks, then
right there that is 800K. Then meeting the boys in Itaewon on an off
day will be another 100K. So, only social life is 900K+

[Man on Street]

If you stick with one woman, exercise outdoors in your free time, drink ony once in awhile, eat mostly food that you have cooked yourself, and use a computer or read often and maybe take one small trip within the country then you can live on a max. of 600,000 - 800,000 per month.

Chasing tail, doing everything you think you have to do to be cool, or trying to have luxuries will do the most damage. Trust me, I have been in that world myself and now live a healthier, albeit more whipped lifestyle for the time being.

[sallymonster]

As long as you don't party every night, you can live comfortably off 1,000,000 won per month. However, I should mention that you probably won't be traveling outside of Korea on that budget (until you're done with your contract and go back home of course).

[air76]

1,000,000 won per month is the perfect amount if you want to have a good time and not have to worry at all about money. If you're spending more than a million a month then you're pissing your money away. You should be able to do 800,000-900,000 without too much effort.

My girlfriend and I spend 1 million won per month for the 2 of us...it's tough, but doable, and we still eat out plenty and go out drinking (without having to drink the poison that is soju)...but we don't travel much at all, stick to a strict budget, and temper more expensive days with days that we stay at home and literally spend nothing.