Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Seoul Named Costliest City in Asia

[PeteJB]

Huray?

[Real Reality]

[sojourner1]

I must say that beer, food, and other things command unprecedented high prices in Seoul as well as the rest of the country, but Seoul has great food and beer for sale such as Erdinger with fish and chips in Itaewon. Of course, if you're living outside of Seoul, you're saving more money, because beer, food, and necessities don't cost as much as in Seoul, but selection is severely limited. For example, a bottle of Budweiser beer costs like 1,200 won in a small town convenience store while it costs like 2,200 win a convenience store like 7-11 in Seoul.

[Ilsanman]

I wonder once again where they get these statistics from.

When you see a discussion about teaching English in Japan vs Korea, everyone talks about how 'you can't save money in Japan'. What gives?

If the study is basically saying that Koreans screw over foreign businessmen with overpriced everything, I somehow believe it.

I think living here is much cheaper, but of course it depends on the person. If some joker insists on living in Kangnam and eats at TGI's everyday and commutes by taxi, of course it's more money.

That same bottle of Bud may be 2,200 in 7-Eleven, but it's about 970 won in E-Mart. Since it's bottled by OB, it's not even considered an import.

[tigerbluekitty]

I've lived in both Seoul and Tokyo, so I gotta say this article is pretty accurate. Though foreign teachers probably make more in Seoul, the quality of life and the food is lower.

Speaking of beer, there's a countless variety of it in Japan that are cheaper and tastier IMO.

[DCJames]

Food, the most basic necessity is ridiculously priced here.

If you don't eat kimbap rolls everyday and try to eat normally like you do back home, you'll spend ALOT of money. I always get sick if I skimp out on the quality of food I eat. I'm healthy, but poor now.

Also, owning a car is another drain on the wallet.

Live like a monk and eat ramen and kimbap everyday while you take the subway/bus everywhere. Then Seoul is cheap, but then again EVERYWHERE is cheap if you do that.