Korean Job Discussion Forums

[madoka]

Seoul placed # 21:

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/10/06/0622_most_expensive_cities/21.htm

FOOD: Lunch at a restaurant: $20
Can of beer from grocer: $2.21
One kg of rice: $6.07
One dozen eggs: $4.11

ENTERTAINMENT: Movie ticket: $7.50

APPLIANCES: Washing machine: $1,113

Seoul jumped more than 80 places from last year�s list, to No. 20, as the Korean won strengthened against the dollar.

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The most expensive US city, New York, placed #29:

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/10/06/0622_most_expensive_cities/30.htm

FOOD: Lunch at a restaurant: $23
Can of beer from grocer: $1.31
One kg of rice: $4.79
One dozen eggs: $2.96

ENTERTAINMENT: Movie ticket: $13

APPLIANCES: Washing machine: $837

The weakened U.S. dollar caused New York to fall from No. 18 in last year�s ranking to 29th place. The city is the most expensive in the U.S. and the only American city on the list. While expenses were lower than in other cities, rent remains high�at least $2,600 for a two-bedroom apartment, according to EuroCost International.

*Note: Prices are for Manhattan only.

[nukeday]

well, the mention about it jumping 80 places due to the US dollar/won exchange basically means that article is bunk for those of us living and working in korea. that's only meaningful for someone earning dollars. so if the won completely tanks, that means the "cost of living" for koreans/expats is low? nonsense.

[mt01ap]

bu-bu-bu-bu-bu-bu-bu bullcrap!!!
lunch at a restaurant $20???
Who has EVER paid $20 for a typical lunch in Seoul?

[madoka]

[the ireland]

$4.11 for a dozen eggs? I get a dozen eggs for 1800won and I could get them cheaper in homeplus. sure I don't live in seoul but i'd imagine homeplus prices are pretty standard

[lichtarbeiter]

$2.21 for a can of beer? I've been away from Seoul for a while, but isn't a can of beer 1,300 won? And I'm sure transportation is much cheaper in Seoul whether it's on a bus, subway, or taxi. As far as the lunch goes, you can get a delicious galbi meal that fills you up for around 5,000 won.

[fl4mers]

No way those prices are right! I've been away from Seoul for a year now but last time I was there I got 30 eggs for about 5200 won at grandmart and one kg of brown rice for just over 2000 won... Don't really know about business lunches and I know foreign beer can be a bit on the expensive side but according to this picture:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Korean_beer_and_takju-01.jpg/800px-Korean_beer_and_takju-01.jpg

it's still only about 1250 won for a bottle of cass or hite...

[moosehead]

those ratings are always bogus.

they are meant to help support the concept that only people with means and $$$ can live and work in a certain area; the most notable are the real estate prices.

realtors don't want people thinking they can find something cheaper when they point to something like this and say see this is what it costs, it's not too much.

and no, even a business lunch doesn't have to cost that much - like all the people who work in an office don't count??? do you think they spend that much on lunch??

give me a freakin' break already

what's also interesting is I was under the impression Hawaii was the most expensive place to live in the U.S.

[gordo]

If you go to a kimbap place, it is hard to even find anything on the menu over 6000 or 7000 won... If you feel like a better meal like galbi or shabu shabu, your still paying under 10000 won.

More importantly, NO tax or tip (unless you pay some tax at a foreign restaurant which is next to nothing). On a 20 dollar meal in another country, you would be tipping at least 3 extra dollars if you tip the standard 15%... or closer to 25% if she is good lookin

[NYC_Gal]

I agree with the business lunch price in Seoul, but the eggs, beer, and rice are way off.

NYC is by far the more expensive city.

Don't forget rent:

Tiny studio in NYC= upwards of $2,000 (this was 2 or 3 years ago) monthly.

[chellovek]

[rollo]

Yeah yanks are he ones who live in new York and it is expensive. Lots of money there, but it takes a lot of money to live. Seoul isnt even close to what it costs to live in New York.

[AsiaESLbound]

It's difficult to compare the cost of living in Seoul to New York as Seoul is not in a Western country. Because it's not a Western country, food a Westerner enjoys is expensive and the Westerner might be dropping in to a MiniStop to base his price of eggs. Now if you take Korean group eating and drinking style in sit on the floor restaurants, we are talking just a few dollars a day to live. It's the rent deposits that would make Seoul prohibitively expensive if we were expected to pay that. Seems that entertainment, taxis, and sit down restaurants are prohibitively pricey in Manhatton unless walking and using subway to locals kind of places like Tom's Restaurant. I didn't have to pay tourist prices, because if you are American, it's easy to figure out how locals do it. Locals don't pay hundreds of dollars to see a show.

[pkang0202]

[NYC_Gal]