Korean Job Discussion Forums

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

Every time I talk about moving to Seoul from another province, people keep telling me, "Oh, you don't want to do that! Seoul is so much more expensive than here."

Really? How much more? I'd like to know. Let's see some numbers. From what I can see the increase is roughly 10 ~ 15%. Everyone please post some numbers. Here are some of mine:

Daegu / Seoul

Subway (cash fare) 800W / 900W

Movie 6500 W / 7000 W

Samgyepsal (1 serving) 5000W / 7000 W

Clothes Moderate / Very Cheap

Taxi (starting price - day) 1,800 W / 2,200 W

Men's Haircut 7000 W / ?????

I am especially curious aboout Busan VS Seoul 'cause I might start working in Busan from September.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

It's not so much that things are more expensive, it's that there are more expensive things that you will probably buy or do. You will probably buy more than you do in a smaller city, maybe buy a bit more Western food since you can, maybe buy more books as you now have the option, etc etc...

Hyeon Een · Joined: 24 Jun 2005

I think it can be cheaper too in some ways.

For example, I lived in a small city and went out drinking a lot. When we were drinking the standard price for a bottled beer was 4,000 won. There was no draft beer, except in some bars where they would make you sit at tables away from the bar. As me and my friends wanted to sit at the bar the only choice was drinking the 4,000won beers at the bar. So on average you'd drink 10-12 of those little beers.. it added up to a lot. If you were living in Seoul however you could go to bars where they'll give you a draft beer for 2,500-4,000 instead. Which is much better value.

Also if you live ina smaller city you might spend a lot of money on transport. I used to visit the next town over a lot, which was a 20,000 won taxi fare away. If I was in Seoul I wouldn't have needed to visit another city to find things to do. (Sure there were buses, but they took an insane country route which made the journey 60minutes plus, as opposed to 15-20minutes in a taxi.

I think things like going to the movies can be more expensive in seoul, but not all that much.

Col.Brandon · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Location: Seoul

You also have to think about the cost of lost opportunities living in a country area. You have to fish where the fish are, as my father often says.

Nemo · Joined: 28 May 2006

The above posts are pretty much on point. Seoul is expensive for some things, but not for others. Depends a lot on your lifestyle.

BTW, Seoul was ranked second in Mercer's Most Expensive Cities in the World Rankings this year (up three from last year).

JLarter · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

I assume those who made this survey have never been to London (or any city in the UK), Paris, New York, Monte Carlo, Los Angeles, Key West,etc

stumptown · Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 4:22 am Post subject:

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

braunshade · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Location: Somewhere better!

Thats right! Seoul does not have to be expensive at all.

Those rankings do not apply to people like us either!!! Those rankings are made for US companies to assemble pay packages for thier workers who will be sent overseas.

freethought · Joined: 13 Mar 2005

I've spent sizeable chunks of time in Seoul and in Cheongju (pop 700,000). There are differences, but as others have said it partially depends on how you choose to live. In a city the size of Cheongju you can get 'fresh' produce cheaper, taxis are cheaper, public transit is cheaper.

But major things are the same. There is a negligible difference in major shopping places such as Carrefour between Cheongju and Seoul, and by that I mean on the order of 100 won. Movies are about the same. Eating at Korea restaurants is a little more expensive in Seoul.

haircuts it depends on where you go.

The key thing is the opportunity to spend money. Shows of various types, foreign restaurants(Indian, Thai, US etc) can drain the pocket book pretty quickly if you partake every day.