Site Search:
 
Speak Korean Now!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Is Korea really that cheap?
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  

Is Korea really cheap?
Very cheap
5%
 5%  [ 3 ]
cheap
17%
 17%  [ 10 ]
a little cheap
29%
 29%  [ 17 ]
about the same as my home country
15%
 15%  [ 9 ]
a little more expensive
8%
 8%  [ 5 ]
expensive
14%
 14%  [ 8 ]
very expensive
8%
 8%  [ 5 ]
Total Votes : 57

Author Message
stalinsdad



Joined: 25 Jan 2003
Location: Jeonju

PostPosted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 2:06 am    Post subject: Is Korea really that cheap? Reply with quote

I wondered whether other teachers here believe that Korea is cheap? I always thought it was, but now that I'm returning to the UK I've realised that maybe it isn't as cheap as I thought.
Yes, it is true that service is cheap, in restaurants, bars etc but the basic commodities aren't that cheap and are even more expensive than in a country, the UK, that is deemed "expensive."

I did some homework today and I thought it may be of interest to some teachers, especially longtimers, like myself.

Basic costs in Korea and the UK of items we use!

Korea UK
Petrol=1469W 85p=1500W
Diesel=1290W 83p=1470W
Tin of Tunax2=3900W 2.00=3400W
Sugar 1kg=1300W 72p=1300W
Milk 1 litre= 49p=900W
Bread loaf=2000W 66p=1170W
2 litre coke=1800W 1.36p=2400W
Huggies80naps=28000W 2000x100maxi=38000W
Baby milk(Maeil)x800g=18900 cow&gate=5.35p= 9500W
Mushroomsx100g=1400W 24p=430W
Garlic 1 bulb=100W 20p=350W
Oranges (mandarins) x100g=580W 15p=270W
Steak sirloin (Korean) 100g=8500W 129p=2300W
Pork ribs 100g=1780W 77p=1370W
-----------------------unable to check Korean price-----------
Mackerel (smoked) 100g=80p=1400W
King Prawns not peeled=100p=1800W
Langoustines 100g=77p=1400W
Chicken whole 2.5kg=3.87=6900W
Heinz Spaghetti Bolognaise tin=78p=1388W
Rice American long grain 1 kg=50p=900W
Carrots 100g=7p=125W
Kiwi 1 each=10p=180W
Olive oil extra virgin 1 kg=457p=8200W
Cabbagex1=44p=780W
Doughnut jamx1=12p=210W
All these groceries are fresh unless marked differently.
The prices in Korea above were this week in Carrefour Jeonju, emart prices are similar. I used Tesco Online Shopping to compare the 2 prices and I didn�t go for the cheapest and didn�t include any 2 for 1 offer or buy 1 and get 1 free etc, these are the prices with no discounts.
So is Korea cheap after all?????????????
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
VanIslander



Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!

PostPosted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 2:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

As a newbie you can eat out in a variety of Korean restaurants every night of the week, trying something new each and every night, getting ripe drunk on the local alcohols (soju, wines, etc) and still not spend half your paycheck even if you paid for the other guy as well!

Adapt and change foods, try the hundred-odd Korean dishes that are new to you and skip the sirloin steak, try Korean bbq grill restaurants instead.

After four years here I still am discovering kinds of Korean restaurants I didn't know existed. Their cuisine is much more extensive than some would think.

Gas prices? Take the ultra-cheap buses within and between cities, with good and reliable schedules.

Korea can be as cheap or expensive as you make it to be. Focus on maximizing the value to be had. Or try to live like you do back home and pay the premium. Koreans sure complain at how expensive it is to eat their dishes elsewhere in the world.

Korea is cheap after all!
...
Korea is expensive after all!

...
Both are true.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
stalinsdad



Joined: 25 Jan 2003
Location: Jeonju

PostPosted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 2:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Islander.
I'm no newbie, been here 5 years, but then again I have my own apartment and a wife and a kid. I go out for galbi, samgyapsal, kimchi chigae, yukgayjang etc often but with a child it is limiting, so I buy in.
I agree that it's great for a single guy/gal but eating out can be a drag too, unwanted attention, bad food choices, meat that is probably from a disease ridden drussela cow etc.
I think the life style you are mentioning is limited and unhealthy and as an obese teacher like 80% I have met in Korea it's wise to cook sometimes for yourself. Yes, Sirloin steak is a luxury but one I happened to buy yesterday, the items were from yesterday's shop.
Anyhow thanks for your comments.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
gang ah jee



Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper

PostPosted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 2:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

smokingdrinkingtaxis
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
rocklee



Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 2:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mate, you're comparing UK!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
stalinsdad



Joined: 25 Jan 2003
Location: Jeonju

PostPosted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 3:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, rock lee, how astute of you.
You see I can guess from your reaction that you think the UK is expensive?
I suppose if you go to London for a week and buy your groceries at the nearest pakistani shop it would be very expensive, however most people who live and work use a supermarket like Tesco's. The reason I listed these items was not for Daves esl but for my wife who was worried about cost. I added this topic as an interest to other married/+children British citizens to maybe alay their fear. I also posted because many people of all nationalities have a presumption, usual second hand that the UK is so expensive.
Try getting a room at any 4 star hotel in Seoul, see how much it'll cost!!
Anyhow it is true that accomodation is expensive in the UK, that is why 70% of people are house owners, it's a way of saving. Anyhow if you don't believe me go to tesco's online and see.
As for accomodation, I'm renting for 400 pounds pcm fully furnished with a 40' tv, 3 computers, 3 bedrooms a large garden etc etc, so if you look around you can get a good deal. I just hope others who are thinking about visiting the UK aren't put off by usually second or third hand advice that is usually wrong in the first place.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
HamuHamu



Joined: 01 May 2003
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 3:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The thing is, all you have compared in these prives are some basic groceries / foodstuffs. Oh, and petrol.

Dig up the cost comparisons for --

a pint of lager
a pack of cigs
a one night DVD rental
monthly electricity bill
coffee & a muffin at an avg cafe
subway fare
a new tea kettle
school uniforms
etc etc

Food costs are important but they aren't the only thing that is worth comparing.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
whitebeagle



Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Location: UK

PostPosted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 3:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

stalinsdad wrote:

As for accomodation, I'm renting for 400 pounds pcm fully furnished with a 40' tv, 3 computers, 3 bedrooms a large garden etc etc, so if you look around you can get a good deal. I just hope others who are thinking about visiting the UK aren't put off by usually second or third hand advice that is usually wrong in the first place.


Where do you live? I live in London at the moment, can't even get a tiny bedsit for that price, believe me, I've looked long and hard! But I agree with you on the supermarket prices, they have good offers and are mostly well priced. I certainly enjoy the cheap musical/theatre tickets on the weekends, now the tube is another topic altogether...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
mack the knife



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: standing right behind you...

PostPosted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 3:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Three of the world's ten costliest cities are in Asia, with Seoul moving up from 5th to second place [in 2006].


There's your answer.

That's intel from Mercer, in case you were wondering.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
DCJames



Joined: 27 Jul 2006

PostPosted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 3:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you live like a monk and eat small cheap unutritious Korean meals, it can be cheap.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
stalinsdad



Joined: 25 Jan 2003
Location: Jeonju

PostPosted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 3:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree London is expensive but who the hell wants to live there anyway. London also pays more but I don't think it offsets the cost of beer, cinema, tube, travel etc.
The guy said how about beer etc..
Well I don't drink and when I very occasionally do it's at home. Ciggies are totally overpriced in the UK but I'm glad because I need to give up anyway. The tube well, that's London for you. The last time I was there there weren't any Londoners in London that I could find. I shall be going to the sticks to play golf, walk and go fishing on my 30 foot motor cruiser. Not a bad life, ps the club fees are only 560 pounds a year, can play 7 days a week, watch out Tiger Woods!!!!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Ya-ta Boy



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994

PostPosted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 5:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Have you found anyone in London who will fly you half-way around the world on their dime and pay for your housing for a year?

Except in Korea, those are known as sugar daddies.

Now roll over and be quiet.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
stalinsdad



Joined: 25 Jan 2003
Location: Jeonju

PostPosted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not sure who or why you are directing your comment to, but living in a 1 bedroom is hardly my idea of success, it's called survival.
Now roll over and be quiet!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
europe2seoul



Joined: 12 Sep 2005
Location: Seoul, Korea

PostPosted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 7:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

VanIslander wrote:
As a newbie you can eat out in a variety of Korean restaurants every night of the week, trying something new each and every night, getting ripe drunk on the local alcohols (soju, wines, etc) and still not spend half your paycheck even if you paid for the other guy as well!


As other mentioned, it all depends on your lifestyle. However, even eating out there are good and there are bad restaurants. A simple Korean dinner can be 4000, 5000 and also 8000-9000 won. However, the more expensive one tastes much much better. And I am not talking about the interior design of the restaurant.
Therefore, when discussing costs related to food we should keep that in mind.

For example, a generic store-brand hot dog in a US supermarket is 3-4 times cheaper than say Hummel or even Hebrew National. Both are hot dogs though, however they simply can't be compared quality and taste wise.

So adopting Korean food doesn't mean you will save money. Also, if you cook at home, you can cook western food - most of the ingredients Koreans use in their cooking anyway. However, there is a distinctive taste difference between "jeju black pig" pork and regular pork, between australian cheaper beef than korean beef, etc.

Hence why lower income bracket in US is getting unhealthier and more fat every day with their 99 cents/gallon juice compared with upper middle class that shops at more upscale stores with a $3.99/8 oz juice.

And soju as an impure alcoholic drink which is made by chemichals only gives health problems in the long-term, to the digestive system, brain and nervous system. At some stores its even cheaper than water.

Thus, saving money at all costs also comes at a cost sooner or later. Remember, you are LIVING here and working here. Your job is here. Your house is here. I guess your friends are here too.
So - just simply relax and live.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
whitebeagle



Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Location: UK

PostPosted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 9:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
the nearest paki shop


Im embarrassed that the OP is even from the UK. Your casual racism is appalling.

Its not 1970.

Idiot.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
Page 1 of 3

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe
TEFL Courses, TESOL Course, English Teaching Jobs - TEFL International