Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Drizzt]

Hello everyone.

I'm new to the Korean boards, but I'm considering moving from Shanghai to South Korea next term, and I'm quite interested in hearing about a cost of living comparison, especially from those who have also lived/been to Shanghai.

Basically, for me to justify such a move, I need to be able to save a significant amount more in Korea than I could in Shanghai. Currently I work like a mad man with two jobs and a total of 28 classes a week and make about close to 11,000 RMB a month (around $1,300). I manage to save slightly more than half, or around $750 a month.

Here is a break down of my current expenses:

Housing = 0 (already provided)

Eating out = $120/month (I eat out almost every meal, but all local food)

Entertainment = $100/month (occasional trip to the cinema, taking gf out to eat at Papa Johns, KTV, etc. I only go out around 2 or 3 times a month however)

Utilities = $40/month (90% of which is electricity)

Chinese lessons = $80/month

Transportation = $40/month

Beer = $20/month (from the supermarket, not in a bar)

Miscellaneous stuff I always forget to account for = $150/month

I would appreciate it if someone could tell me about how much I would spend living a similar lifestyle in Korea in both Seoul and other less expensive cities in South Korea.

If I were to have a job paying 2.0 million won per month with housing provided, how much could I expect to save monthly?

Thanks for any info you can provide!

[Mr Crowley]

With housing provided, around $1000.

[coffeeman]

You shouldn't forget quality of life things like the food.
Food is better in Shanghai than in Korea (unless you like all of your food bathed in red chili sauce). Chinese beer is better too.
You salary is likely to keep rising as China sees more and more business.
I'd hesitate to make the move if I were you.

[Homer]

On 2.0 you can save 1.1 or roughly 1200 CAD per month and live off 800 000 Won.

[ajgeddes]

[pest2]

OK, so I feel a special duty to comment on this one since I lived in both a medium sized korean town and Shanghai all within the last year. I made about what the OP made in Shanghai....


OK, so in Korea, you can save more money. Why? Because there's really nothing to spend it on unless you have some strange hobby or need... However, you are much much more likely to get tired of your 'routine' in Korea and take a vacation... and if you do that, it's a lot more expensive than doing so from SH.

From SH, I got a plane ticket to go to Thailand for 200$US!!! Here in Korea, I haven't seen that same ticket go for less than 500$ Europe from SH and back for 500$ on a good airline like AirFrance. Europe from Seoul and back on a bad airline such as Aeroflot for 900$ etc etc... So if you want to travel, SH is alot cheaper.

Now, living in SH, because SH is just so much more fun that a medium-sized town in Korea, it was way way too easy to go out and blow money I didn't need to blow. SH has tons of nightlife like Zappata's, Fabrique, and Jing-an temple area all within easy access of anywhere in the city (unless you live in Pudong). Seoul has 2 areas: Itaewon and Hongdae. But as far as which fun-places contain people who are more friendly, there's no contest about it... SH wins it by a mile. And then if you move to a mid-sized town in Korea, you'll be asking yourself, "what is nightlife??". But if all you want is to save money that is a good thing. Again, Korea=nothing to spend money on.

SH is a true international city with open acceptance of people of all nationalities and ethnicities. In my personal experience, Chinese people, although being much ruder in the public sphere, are much friendlier, more outgoing, and easier to befriend than Koreans. But I'm sure at least some of that just has to do with my personality or something... but not all of it!
Also, SH just has a greater variety of consumer products to choose from in General.

It is much easier to find a bigger, western style apartment in SH.

SH is definitely dirtier. It can leave you with the feeling of being trapped in a big concrete prison sometimes... I vividly remember seeing the moon one night and coming to the strange realization that I was still on planet earth while I lived there. SH is terrible for outdoors' activities for that reason. Where you go in Korea is likely to have hiking or a nearby beach you can access.(<<this paragraph is why I didnt stay in SH).

My SH saving on 1200 rmb per month was about 600$US AFTER blowing money on fun.

Here in Korea, its more like 1000$US but it would be ZERO if I lived the same lifestyle.

Bottom line: If your goal is to just work and save as much money as possible for some later use and you are capable of just locking yourself away in your 1-room flat for awhile and take hikes now and again, Korea is the way to go. If you want to enjoy more of the life you live while you live it and money-savings isn't an issue, stay in SH.

[Drizzt]

Okay, thanks for the info everyone.

Coffeeman, actually I don't like Shanghai food -- too much fish; I am a fan of hot sauce, so maybe Korean food is for me.

You're right about increasing salaries though...it's a tough choice.

[coffeeman]

[coffeeman]

You could always try SK for a while and go back to Shanghai if SK is not for you.

Pest2 is also right about the environment in SK.` Pretty good. Clean outside of the city. Some nice beaches and excellent hikking.

Koreans are not the most openly friendly people, but give it some time and you'll make some good friends.

[SPINOZA]

[Drizzt]

Thanks for the thorough comparison Pest, that was definitely helpful. I wasn't aware about the travelling expense difference. I don't travel too often, however, so I don't think it will be an issue for me.

I like to go out sometimes, but no more than once a week, and sometimes less than that. Right now I'm trying to focus on saving so I have cash for my master's later, so maybe Korea is for me. Also another poster mentioned the beaches...I haven't been able to see a beach in over two years!

So as far as mid-sized cities go in South Korea, what are my options? Any suggestions?

[coffeeman]

Just to give you a "heads up" if you're going to China. I was reading a Shanghai English newspaper a few months ago. It said that you should avoid the street food sellers selling "beef kebabs". Some of the sellers use cat meat flavored to taste like beef. The article went on to say that there were people catching and beating cats to death in parks and on the street. After skinning the cats, they flavor the meat by cooking it in some kind of mutton soup.

Just to give you the balanced version of the story, there are animal wellfare groups in Shanghai trying to break-up this horrible trade.

[Paji eh Wong]

[paperbag princess]

[anyway]

And why stop there? If it's ok for a cow or cat, why not peppers and onions?