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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Psychologic
Joined: 09 Feb 2009
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 Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 12:18 pm Post subject: General Cost of Living in Korea |
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Ok, I'm new here. I just received an offer from Chungdahm learning. It wasn't quite as much as I had hoped( either 2.3 mil Won a month or 28k won/hr), given the exchange rate seems to have changed rather drastically in about a year (they said in their materials that 1000 KRW = 1 USD, not anymore).
I'm willing to accept the less favorable exchange rate if the cost of living really is substantially less than Japan or the US, as my recruiter says it is.
Though I have heard mixed things regarding the cost of living in Korea. This article came out last year and I'm not sure if it is referring to all of Korea or simply Seoul. It seems to contradict much of what I've heard about the cost of living in Korea. But, anyway, here it is: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/asia/korea/2008/08/25/171700/High-South.htm
Any suggestions? Any ideas about what a very small, yet clean apartment would cost in one of the smaller coastal cities? Does my offer seem favorable?
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michaelambling
Joined: 31 Dec 2008
Location: Paradise
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| Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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If you go with CDI, don't accept less than 35k an hour. And go with an hourly rate--there is much greater earnings potential.
Also, rule #1 of Korea: Don't live outside Seoul. |
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poet13
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
Location: Just over there....throwing lemons.
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| Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Don't live outside Seoul? That's silly. I live in a rural area and love it. Many do. It's also much cheaper living outside Seoul. Seoul is one of the most expensive cities in the world. |
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Jeff's Cigarettes
Joined: 27 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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| ^Redneck, hick? |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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| michaelambling wrote: |
| Also, rule #1 of Korea: Don't live outside Seoul. |
Thats nonsense. There are many happy teachers enjoying life outside the mega-urban sprawl. Seoul's a nice place to visit but I'd never care to live there.
The article you link is about corporate manager types trying to sustain consumer patterns identical to their home countries. Inflation is real but its easy to not spend lots on a comfortable lifestyle.
By "coastal cities," if you mean the east coast, spacious newer 1 or 2-bdr apartments can be had for 5 to 10 million down & 300000 a month. Straight-up rent is not so common. Your offer without housing is not that enticing in the current job market. |
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CA-NA-DA-ABC
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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| michaelambling wrote: |
| If you go with CDI, don't accept less than 35k an hour. |
good luck getting that.
| michaelambling wrote: |
| Also, rule #1 of Korea: Don't live outside Seoul. |
an incredibly stupid thing to say.
there are pros and cons to any city.
Seoul may not be the city for people who enjoy outdoor activities. It's a matter of personal preference. |
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bobbybigfoot
Joined: 05 May 2007
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 8:31 am Post subject: |
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| poet13 wrote: |
| Seoul is one of the most expensive cities in the world. |
I keep reading that Seoul is the one of the most expensive cities in the world but I just think that's a load of BS.
The subway is cheap, my apartment bill is cheap, my phone is cheap, eating, although getting more expensive, can be done for 200,000/month. Korean beer is cheap enough. Tons of discount stores.
The one exception is gym memberships. They can get stupid expensive.
As long as you are moderately disciplined, saving 1 million won is easy. |
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DCJames
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:35 pm Post subject: |
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| bobbybigfoot wrote: |
| poet13 wrote: |
| Seoul is one of the most expensive cities in the world. |
I keep reading that Seoul is the one of the most expensive cities in the world but I just think that's a load of BS.
The subway is cheap, my apartment bill is cheap, my phone is cheap, eating, although getting more expensive, can be done for 200,000/month. Korean beer is cheap enough. Tons of discount stores.
The one exception is gym memberships. They can get stupid expensive.
As long as you are moderately disciplined, saving 1 million won is easy. |
Have you tried buying groceries, buying gas for your car, not eating from cheap kimbob restaurants all the time?
People live like monks here then say it's cheap to live here. Try to live a regular lifestyle like you do back home. It's NOT cheap. |
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berrieh
Joined: 10 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:53 pm Post subject: |
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| DCJames wrote: |
| bobbybigfoot wrote: |
| poet13 wrote: |
| Seoul is one of the most expensive cities in the world. |
I keep reading that Seoul is the one of the most expensive cities in the world but I just think that's a load of BS.
The subway is cheap, my apartment bill is cheap, my phone is cheap, eating, although getting more expensive, can be done for 200,000/month. Korean beer is cheap enough. Tons of discount stores.
The one exception is gym memberships. They can get stupid expensive.
As long as you are moderately disciplined, saving 1 million won is easy. |
Have you tried buying groceries, buying gas for your car, not eating from cheap kimbob restaurants all the time?
People live like monks here then say it's cheap to live here. Try to live a regular lifestyle like you do back home. It's NOT cheap. |
How much are gym memberships typically?
You mention groceries. Are groceries more expensive than in the U.S. or are just different things more expensive (i.e. if you want to eat Western food, it's more expensive, but plenty of things that are expensive in the west, are less expensive/more available in Korea)? |
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michaelambling
Joined: 31 Dec 2008
Location: Paradise
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| Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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| CA-NA-DA-ABC wrote: |
| michaelambling wrote: |
| If you go with CDI, don't accept less than 35k an hour. |
good luck getting that.
| michaelambling wrote: |
| Also, rule #1 of Korea: Don't live outside Seoul. |
an incredibly stupid thing to say.
there are pros and cons to any city.
Seoul may not be the city for people who enjoy outdoor activities. It's a matter of personal preference. |
I was offered a LOT more than 35k an hour. Not everyone is fresh out of university with a B.A. in art history from Appalachian U. |
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michaelambling
Joined: 31 Dec 2008
Location: Paradise
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| Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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| berrieh wrote: |
| DCJames wrote: |
| bobbybigfoot wrote: |
| poet13 wrote: |
| Seoul is one of the most expensive cities in the world. |
I keep reading that Seoul is the one of the most expensive cities in the world but I just think that's a load of BS.
The subway is cheap, my apartment bill is cheap, my phone is cheap, eating, although getting more expensive, can be done for 200,000/month. Korean beer is cheap enough. Tons of discount stores.
The one exception is gym memberships. They can get stupid expensive.
As long as you are moderately disciplined, saving 1 million won is easy. |
Have you tried buying groceries, buying gas for your car, not eating from cheap kimbob restaurants all the time?
People live like monks here then say it's cheap to live here. Try to live a regular lifestyle like you do back home. It's NOT cheap. |
How much are gym memberships typically?
You mention groceries. Are groceries more expensive than in the U.S. or are just different things more expensive (i.e. if you want to eat Western food, it's more expensive, but plenty of things that are expensive in the west, are less expensive/more available in Korea)? |
I get a free gym with my university, so I can't help you with that. Some groceries are cheaper, some are more expensive; chicken breast is about half the price here than in America, but beef is more expensive. Learn to live without cheese and try to buy from local markets--they're much cheaper. |
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Morgen
Joined: 02 Jul 2008
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| Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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I'm financially incontinent but I spend less than half my salary without trying. There's no question that living in a semi-rural town helps, but I go out to dinner often and spend quite a lot on western groceries and books. I don't have a gym membership but the one nearby is 60k a month.
There are plenty of reasons to live outside Seoul, but not frittering away money on useless crap is a good one. I would not, however, accept a 2.3 million job anywhere that didn't include housing. |
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berrieh
Joined: 10 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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| michaelambling wrote: |
| berrieh wrote: |
| DCJames wrote: |
| bobbybigfoot wrote: |
| poet13 wrote: |
| Seoul is one of the most expensive cities in the world. |
I keep reading that Seoul is the one of the most expensive cities in the world but I just think that's a load of BS.
The subway is cheap, my apartment bill is cheap, my phone is cheap, eating, although getting more expensive, can be done for 200,000/month. Korean beer is cheap enough. Tons of discount stores.
The one exception is gym memberships. They can get stupid expensive.
As long as you are moderately disciplined, saving 1 million won is easy. |
Have you tried buying groceries, buying gas for your car, not eating from cheap kimbob restaurants all the time?
People live like monks here then say it's cheap to live here. Try to live a regular lifestyle like you do back home. It's NOT cheap. |
How much are gym memberships typically?
You mention groceries. Are groceries more expensive than in the U.S. or are just different things more expensive (i.e. if you want to eat Western food, it's more expensive, but plenty of things that are expensive in the west, are less expensive/more available in Korea)? |
I get a free gym with my university, so I can't help you with that. Some groceries are cheaper, some are more expensive; chicken breast is about half the price here than in America, but beef is more expensive. Learn to live without cheese and try to buy from local markets--they're much cheaper. |
Chicken is cheaper! That's terribly good news. I would much rather eat chicken than steak. Is fish/seafood less or more expensive? I primarily eat fish and chicken for meat, and not terribly much meat. I don't mind pork or beef, but I could do without them and have for years at a time. For a long time, I actively disliked them. Now, I like them on occasion, though eating beef in any quantity makes me feel sick.
I eat things with cheese, but I don't particularly love them. From what I've heard so far, I think I'll miss real coffee, cottage cheese and sour cream, but not cheese or beef.
Are fruits and vegetables reasonably affordable if you're willing to eat what's in season? I buy a lot of things from farmer's markets here because they're cheaper and better, but it's hard to get to the farmer's markets since they're mostly on Sunday, when I work.
Last edited by berrieh on Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:36 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Misera
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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| berrieh wrote: |
How much are gym memberships typically?
You mention groceries. Are groceries more expensive than in the U.S. or are just different things more expensive (i.e. if you want to eat Western food, it's more expensive, but plenty of things that are expensive in the west, are less expensive/more available in Korea)? |
The gym membership my coteacher has is 60,000 a month for 3 day a week membership that includes pool usage. The tiny tiny 1 floor gym in some business building near my school charges 30,000 a month for using their machines (basic machines). But if all you like to do is run, there's plenty of trails/places to run by rivers and stuff.
Groceries are generally more expensive than in the U.S. Even the Korean stuff is kinda expensive. It's almost cheaper to eat out sometimes than cook at home. I've found that all the veggies are more expensive and of course the fruit is more expensive (just like elsewhere in Asia). Korea imports a lot less and is smaller so less ability to grow/raise things so ingredients are more expensive. They also believe what they grow themselves is better and the Koreans will pay more for that, so that also makes groceries more expensive. Eating out (Korean food) is very cheap. Western/anything else ranges from cheap to outrageously expensive  Umm but in general, things are less available in Korea.
Public transportation is super cheap though. I have to take the bus to and from my school (unless I walk 30 mins) and go into Seoul every weekend but it's still not bad. Seoul is expensive, but you'll be able to save much more than if you went to Japan. |
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Ilsanman
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Bucheon, Korea
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| Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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DCJames is exactly correct. You can live on $500 a month but you won't be living well at all.
Pretty much all food here is overpriced, and it's because of middlemen.
Even a bag of ichiban noodles is like 75 cents. 25 cents back at home. And our ones are better.
The other day I found a nice hand of bananas at E-mart. There were 7 of them, and quite a good size. 5000 won. I didn't buy them.
Eating in Korean-style fast food restaurants and public transportation are cheap. Almost everything else is more expensive than back at home. |
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