Korean Job Discussion Forums

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Korea Cheaper Than Japan? Not Anymore
The idea that prices of commodities in Korea are cheaper than Japan is losing credibility.

"I went to a department store to purchase a suit, but I gave up because they were so expensive. What I can buy for 300,000 to 400,000 won in Japan is about 500,000 to 600,000 won here in Korea."

Global brands with standardized service and taste are also more expensive in Korea. The price of a cup of cappuccino (small) at Starbucks is 3,300 won in Korea and 290 yen (approximately 2,465 won) in Japan, where Korea�s cup of coffee is almost 1,000 won more expensive. The price of a McDonalds Big Mac hamburger in Korea is 2,900 won, while in Japan it is 280 yen (approximately 2,380 won).
by Chang-Won Kim and Kwang-Am Cheon, Donga.com (May 27, 2006)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2006052719498

n3ptne · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Location: Poh*A*ng City

why would you go to a department store to buy a suit when you can have one tailored for half the price?

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

What the hell? That writer founds suits in Korea for 500,000 to 600,000 won? I've bought two in Itaewon for 180,000 won each.

I have no idea about massive fastfood chain prices like Starbucks and McDonalds and relations in prices between the two countries - they might be right. But it has no reflection on the cost of living between the two.

Last time I was in Japan (two months ago).. minimum for basic hotel accomodation starts around US$70 and goes up drastically.. the taxis, subways, public transportation are also outrageous - at least double. Beer prices in bars start around US$6-7 and goes up at just basic dive bars. Korea is easily half that all the way around.

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

capebretoncanadian · Joined: 20 Feb 2005

hamburgers...suits and coffee? Does it address real cost of living issues like rent, utilities, real food and transportation?....Hell no.....I got a haircut (with spa like treatment for an hour) today for 7,000 ....I ate dinner for 3,000 and took a twenty minute taxi ride home for 5,000.....can you do THAT in Japan? I'd wager you'd be pushing it to get the taxi ride for that much.

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

VanIslander · Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 2:54 pm Post subject:

I think it's time RR applied to work in a Japanese university. After all, he deserves a higher pay and thinks the country is so much better than here. Seriously, RR. Why haven't you? (perhaps you'd miss having an axe to grind?)

rocklee · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul

VI, how do I enable images on my sig?

VanIslander · Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 3:11 pm Post subject:

Gwangjuboy · Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Location: England

I have noticed that Koreans have become obssessed with becoming the most expensive place on earth. Property is outragiously expensive when considering the per capita income levels here. It's as though they drive up property prices deliberately so they can one day boast "property here is more expensive than Japan." Countless Koreans I have spoken to wax lyrical about property in Daechi dong. Daechi dong isn't close to competing with the likes of Belgravia or the fashionable suburbs Tokyo yet. It's just another injection of we are the usual "(insert adjective in here)est" country in the world. The truth of the matter is that despite their best efforts Korea is not as expensive as Japan. Comparitively, essential services here are dirt cheap. Nowhere else in the western world can one take taxis, public transport, and stay in half decent hotels as cheaply. Why in the article does the reporter use overly priced suits in hyundai department store as a comparison? Get to parkland, or Itaewon and suits are much cheaper. Most Koreans in their twenties could not live without their parents life savings. Considering Korea's comparitively low per capita GDP its people are being ripped off right royaly.

riley · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: where creditors can find me

What should be mentioned is that Koreans love to spend more money on "luxury" goods. There's a thrill from being able to show that you can spend that much money. Why else are luxury cars so popular?

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

red dog · Joined: 31 Oct 2004

I haven't read through the entire thread but I really disagree that Korea is as expensive as Japan. Definitely, the cost of living there is a lot worse than it used to be, but in Japan it's unbelievable. During my time in Korea I managed to pay off my student loans and line of credit, worked my way up to a decent standard of living, and still had money in the bank. But after just two months in Japan, my money is disappearing rapidly. Just the train fare to a major city is astronomical! It's a pretty country, and maybe I'll find a way to start over from the bottom here like I did in Korea. If not, I hope I at least have enough money to leave the country when the year is through ...

marcus · Joined: 12 Sep 2005

Maybe it depends on how you do it. I paid off my student loans after one year in Japan but I find Korea more expensive. Before I came here, a Korean friend of mine kept telling me how much cheaper it was and Japan was so expensive and I'd save so much more money here. The thing is, she's been living in Canada for the past 10 years.

I don't find Korea cheaper at all except in certain areas like bus tickets and business cards. Electronics are more expensive, business clothes are more expensive, casual clothes are more expensive and the selection is far more limited, food costs the same.

Girls are about the same price. They still cost a designer hand bag.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

I think what this shows is that Korea is quickly becoming more expensive in certain areas, and the belief that Japan is just so expensive and Korea so much cheaper is becoming a myth (in certain areas). Nobody said 'everything' was now more expensive in Korea. It was just simply stated, that many things are now more expensive in Korea than they are in Japan.