How much money will I spend in South Korea per month?

Question

Planning on going to Teach English in South Korea and was wondering how much my monthly expenses will add up to.

Answer 1

Depends on your lifestyle. If you live like a Korean (Korean food, etc.), it can be inexpensive. On the other hand, if you want western food, nice restaurants, and department store shopping, you can easily spend lots of money. It also depends on where you will live. Many popular areas in Seoul are quite expensive, but outside of Seoul is cheaper.

I guess I'd say $1000 a month is safe (not including rent). You can certainly spend less, but you want extra just in case.

Also, I wouldn't recommend coming here unless you can afford to buy yourself a plane ticket home. I have had a great experience teaching here, but some people don't, and you always want to be able to leave if things go sour.

Answer 2

I don't have accomodation fees, and I can get by on 700,000won a month.
That's not going crazy, just my cell phone bill, and some shopping. Eating out can be cheap, or hella expensive, depending on your tastes.

Im not exactly sure on your situation, but most people get paid monthly. If you're not used to that, then you might need to have some money put aside, to get you by until the first pay day.
Transport in Korea is cheap, even taxis are cheap.
Clothing is cheap... but again depends where you are from initially.
Cell phones are cheap, as long as you can get on a good plan, and try to avoid all the stupid setting up fees.

If you have to pay for your own accomodation and stuff like that, there are many different options.
Also depends on which city you are in.
There are motels which hire out monthly rooms, but you dont get a kitchen, can be anywhere from $200-$500 a month.
Apartments, you generally need a HUGE deposit, and then either a monthly fee, or nothing, if you pay thousands and thousands of dollars, which you get back at the end.

Anyway email me if you need anymore questions answered.
Im not too sure about the running of english schools and stuff, so just living expenses haha.

Answer 3

not much usually. most schools should be paying or supply you with a room right? they should at least but not all do. if they do, you'll just pay for utilities and food bascially. you can expect to pay around $200 for utilities and food is around 3-4 hundred maybe. dpending on your eating. but for the mot part, your salary should be able to hold you off as their tax rate is only 5% compared to our 24% here in the states. you will be strapped the first couple of months or so, you know, just samplng the goods around town. but after that you'll get the hang of things there. whereabouts in korea will you be teaching? have they given you an area yet? most likely it will be in the vicinity of seoul but there are other areas that you might be sent to as well. further away from seoul you get, things will tend to be cheaper.

Answer 4

If u work on 20 000 per week day and a 100 000 for weekends you should be fine. (You can get by on much less, but what fun is that?)