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Note: Prices
Change! |
The Cost of Living
in Korea
Living in Korea
can be much less expensive than in many English
speaking countries. Most schools or institutes pay for
the cost of housing,
which is a major monthly expense in most countries.
Because of this, many
foreign teachers in Korea are able to pay off old debts
and student loans quickly, even
while still maintaining a comfortable lifestyle.
Utilities
One can expect to pay between 70,000 and 125,000
Korean won per
month for
utilities (electricity, water, phone, sewer, gas). The
utility expense is
seasonal, with gas usage increasing substantially during
winter
months and electric cost increasing during summer months
(especially with air conditioning).
Cable TV and
Internet connection
can add another 60,000 to 70,000 won a month, depending
on the
package opted for.
Food
You can expect to pay between 200,000 to 300,000 won per
month on
food cooked at home. This is for basics: meat, chicken,
rice,
vegetable, bread, fruit, canned goods, etc. Generally,
anything
imported is going to cost more than local items. Most
beef and many
fruits and vegetables imported, so expect to pay a
little more than
you would at home. Obviously it could cost a lot more
than stated
above if you have exotic tastes.
A typical meal at a Korean restaurant can run between
5,000 and
10,000 won per person. Pizza and spaghetti are popular
dishes in
Korea and even most small towns have restaurants that
serve these
dishes. A plate of spaghetti will cost between 5,000-
7,000 won and a
large pizza around 12,000 won. A Big Mac meal in
McDonalds or a
Twister meal from KFC will cost about 4,500 won.
Soft drinks cost between 400 to 700 won a can in a shop
and up to
3,000 won a glass or more in an expensive bar or
restaurant.
A large bottle
of Korean beer in a supermarket ranges from 1,500 won to
1,800 won. In a restaurant or bar expect to pay from
2,000 to 3,000 won for a the same beer. Imported beers
are more
expensive,
with prices ranging from 5,000 to 12,000 won per bottle.
A large bottle of Chivas Regal costs about 42,000 won at
a
supermarket and between 70,000 to 260,000 in a bar.
A small bottle of soju from a supermarket costs between
800-1000
for a bottle and about 3,000 Won in a bar.
A bottle of wine in a supermarket will cost 5,000 won or
more
depending on whether it is Korean or imported.
Below is a
partial list of commonly purchased items and their
approximate
cost. These items can come in a wide range of local and
imported brands.
Soap: 1,000 won
Shampoo: 6,000won for a pack of two
Toothpaste: 2,000 won
Toothbrushes: 1,800 won
Toilet paper: 2,500 won for ten
Deodorant: 11,000 won
Cigarettes: local brands around 2,000 won, imported
brands
2,500 won
Books: between 10,000 to 20,000 won
Videotape rentals: between 1,000 - 2,000 won
C. D.'s: 15,000 won
TV (12 or 14 inch): 200,00 won
Video players: 100,000 won
CD players: 100,000 won
Haircut: men’s– 8,000 won, woman’s– 60,000 won
There is a wide range clothing labels available, and
prices vary
depending on quality, brand name, and where purchased.
The prices
below are for local items only.
Work shirt: 10,000 - 50,000 won
Work trousers: 15,000 - 60,000 won
Skirts: 10,000 - 70,000 won
T-shirts: 8,000 won
Buses - Intra city buses can range from 450 won to 900
won,
depending on whether they are local or long distance
busses. Bus
fares between cities can range from 1, 000 to 9,000 won,
depending
on distance traveled.
Taxis - Flag fall is between 1,300-1,600 for the first
two kilometers
and about 500 for every kilometer after that.
Subways - cost about 800 won for most distances, but
could cost up
to 1,400 won if traveling to outer cities of the largest metropolitan areas
of Seoul, Pusan, Daejon and Daegu (the
cities with a
subway system).
Trains- The
price of a regular train ticket for two hours of travel
is
about 6,000 won.
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