Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wings]

ok, I have heard a few opposing view points about the avialability/price of items such as coffee, sheets and towels. I�m sure that these things are all avialble in Seoul, but I am wondering what the average price would be. I usually travel with the idea that I will bring home more than I take with me, also when I go somewhere for more than a few months I generally like to fill my extra luggage space with things that are cheaper at home ans that will be used up while I am away, giving me a whole suitcase of extra room for the return trip.

When people talk about the cost of living, everyone says that of course it depends on what you buy etc. So maybe this could be a good place for people to ask for average prices of specific things so that they can have an idea how much they will be spending.



I am looking for an idea of the prices of the following items:

1 kg of ground coffee (not the nice stuff, but your normal, folgers or similar)

can of tuna

1 liter of milk

box of cereal

a dozen eggs

a coffee maker (should I bring my little French press with me?)

Any ideas would be great!

[just because]

1 kg of ground coffee (not the nice stuff, but your normal, folgers or similar)
between 12 to 20 american dollars
can of tuna
about $1.50 - 2.00
1 liter of milk
about $1.50
box of cereal
about $3.50-5.00
a dozen eggs
about $2.00
a coffee maker (should I bring my little French press with me?)
No idea but no cheaper than back home i would imagine

[cruisemonkey]

Koreans think instant coffee is coffee. 'Real' coffee is very expensive here - about $20/kg. I've never seen it as low as $12/kg, but I don't live in a big city; in fact it's not even available in the hick town where I live.

When I renewed my contract, I went home with only a carry-on and came back with two large boxes of checked 'luggage' that were full of food-stuff that is either not availabe, or is extremely expensive in K-land (including 8 kg of coffee grounds).

[Sister Ray]

[SirFink]

Coffee beans at E-Mart are pretty much what I was paying back in the US. They have a grinder there and a nice woman will gladly grind them for you on the spot.

Eggs don't come in dozens here. They're about $1.50 for ten. There's a "premium" egg that's $2.00 for ten. Why it's better I dunno. Free range or something?

Produce is about the same as I was paying back in the States. About $1 for an apple, $1.50 for a really big apple. Almost $5.00 for a pineapple. That said, you can find lots of old ladies setting up road-side stands that will sell you a large sack of apples (6- for $5.

The main thing to be prepared for is the lack of choice. Don't expect to find a dozen different kinds of premium coffee beans. Don't expect to find a dozen varieties of apples: Korea has one kind of apple and it's not very good. But it'll do. That's Korea in a nut-shell.

There are exceptions: fish and mushrooms, for example. Dozens upon dozens of mushrooms and fish and very affordable. Learn to cook your own meals and learn to enjoy mushrooms and seafood and you'll eat well here.

[jeffkim1972]

Korea has the worst coffee in the world.

The absolute worst are from the highway service stops. "Maxwell House".

They taste like fingernail polish remover.

The other option are the "Taster's Choice" packets, but you really have no choice as it's about 80% sugar and only mixed with about a shot glass worth of water. I think it's European style.

But most of the time, it just tastes like hot water.

but if you are used to buying large or x-large Dunkin Donut coffees, they don't have it here.

Yes, buy as much coffee as possible and bring it here.

Koreans just don't know coffee yet.

[crazy_arcade]

ahh...the curse of the misinformed posters.

First, he said Seoul, therefore, your hicktown doesn't matter.

A bag of Mcnaulty regular coffee bad had for between 8-15,000 won depending on the store. I usually pay 10. It's regular basic run of the mill arabica...reminds of the folgers my parents would buy.

You can get quarter kilos and half kilo bags of better coffee for the same price. i.e. I just bought a half kilo bag of Moka Java for 12,000.

You can buy hand grinders and french presses at E-mart. It'll be around 30,000 together.

You can get a electric coffee maker for anywhere from 15,000-a couple hundred thousand...you know the drill.

When I come I usually bring a kilo of organic fare trade coffee.

You don't want to load your baggage weight allowance with useless stuff. Everything you asked is available and affordable.

[crazy_arcade]

[crazy_arcade]

[teachingld2004]

I bring coffee here when I go home to the USA. I get whole beans, and I grind them in the blender. I bought a pretty good blender here for 40,000 won. It crushes ice, and it will gring anything. (the other day I ground barley with a hunk of that green tape....do not ask me how it got in the blender and had to throw out the barley/tape mixture.

Really, I grind coffee beans, and I grind nuts. You do not need a coffee grinder. I have also ground a few cinnamon sticks with the coffee beans, and that is terrific.

I get tuna for 1,000 won a can. I get low fat milk for 1,800 - 2.200.

I like western sheets and pillow cases, so I brought those.

Do not bring a lot of heavy things with you. Buy shoes at home. And if you are a woman (or a cross-dresser) bring bras.

Leave some one at home 200 dollars, and if you can not get something here that you absolutely must have, let them send it.

Yes, bring coffee.

[wings]

Thanks, for all the great feedback, I will definately bring enough coffee and some sort of portable brewing method, to get me through untilI find where I can get my own!