Korean Job Discussion Forums

pixel8 · Joined: 29 Mar 2006

Can someone share some examples of consumer prices? I want to budget ahead my cashflow.

Examples :-
Big Mac or Value meal
Typical korean dinner eg. Bibimbap or Bulgogi or set meal
Beer in pubs or restaurants or supermarkets
Burger or ribs in TGIF or Hard Rock Cafe
Movie ticket
Zoo entrance or amusement parks

Thanks in advance

seoulsucker · Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 8:00 pm Post subject:

FF combo meal: 5-7,000��
Korean FF joint: 3-5,000��
Korean sit down grill joint: 7-15,000�� per head, depending the meal and on alcohol consumption
Domestic bottles/draft beer: 2-4,000��
Imported beer: 5,000 and up
Beer is quite a bit cheaper at supermarkets or Family Mart/7-11
A burger at TGI Friday's will run you around 12,000��, a full rack of ribs around 25,000��
Movie tickets are around 8,000�� but be sure to get to the theater EARLY
Amusement parks/zoos can be anywhere from 5,000-25,000��

pixel8 · Joined: 29 Mar 2006

Thanks, seoulsucker.

Seems to be quite high living standards.... similar to US.

What's FF?

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

FF = Fast-food

seoulsucker · Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 9:22 pm Post subject:

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

A traditional Korean meal of bibimbap, soup, noodles, etc. will run you W3000-5000.

Korean food in restaurants is cheap enough to justify eating out for every meal instead of cooking, and many people do.

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

I fall into the 'natural-born cooks' category. Like all men of transcendent genius I've never been taught to cook or read any books on cooking. These things, these talents, pre-existed inside my mind and lay there awaiting discovery.

Not only that though, I soon tired of the FF stuff. I absolutely love chamchee jigae (OP - that's tuna, tomato and fermented cabbage soup basically if you didn't already know that) and eat that at least once per week, but the other dishes mentioned in the thread make me wince with tedium, although they are healthy and delicious. Mind you, I get fed the like for free at school everyday - and it's fantastic quality - so that's had an effect. If OP has any passion for cooking and isn't obsessed with saving money to self-deprivation proportions, he or she will find themself shopping at Emart and the like before long buying fresh seaweed, salmon and other fresh fish, fillet steak, sushi, fresh veg for stir fry and God knows what else. Bibimbap etc soon gets tiresome, trust me - I wouldn't eat it if they were giving it away. And McDonalds? To hell with that excrement.

pixel8 · Joined: 29 Mar 2006

Cooking at home is maybe healthier, no? Outside food eg. korean, has flavourings or preservatives or even MSG, maybe?

Mea · Joined: 24 Mar 2006

Sorry for shifting the discussion a bit, but since the topic is food and budgeting: Are you expected to tip in Korea? At restaurants, for food delivery, etc?

zappadelta · Joined: 31 Aug 2004

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

There've been a lot of threads on tipping, so I'm sure I've said this before. But threads get buried and...

I will tip:

-- cab drivers the remaining fraction of 1,000 won for short trips of under 10,000 won, and 1,000 won for longer trips where the meter exceeds 10,000 won. (as long as he hasn't been unpleasant to me)

-- movers & odd-jobbers

-- once in a while an extra 1,000 won or 500 won to the pizza delivery boys

-- hostesses (though that's hardly voluntary and is mentally recorded as a business expense)