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Seoul is the capital of South Korea. It is officially known as Seoul Special City. Seoul, located in extreme East Asia is known for its culture, heritage, cuisine, architecture, technology, business and natural beauty. The average cost of living in Seoul for a single person is around KRW 1,557,110 per month without rent.
Seoul justifies its name as a special city because of all its remarkable features. It offers a perfect balance of modern and traditional culture, excellent quality education and unique life experiences within a reasonable budget. If you wish to know more about the cost of living in Seoul for international students continue reading the blog to find out more!
This Blog Includes:
Cost of Living in Seoul Overview
The average overall cost of living in Seoul for an international student is around KRW 1,557,110 per month excluding the rent. However, the average cost of rent in Seoul is approximately KRW 1,185,105 per month around the city centre. It covers expenses like accommodation, food, transportation, utilities, healthcare, and entertainment under it. Let’s take a look at these individual living costs one by one:
Cost of Transportation in Seoul
The cost of transportation in Seoul depends on your travel duration and average travel time of a month. Usually, Korean spends around KRW 61,000 on the regular monthly pass, which comes under the overall cost of living in Seoul. The cost of purchasing your vehicle depends on the brand of car you are buying. It ranges from KRW 35,000,000 – KRW 38,000,000. Here’s a general breakdown of other transportation costs:
| Mode of Transport | Approx. Cost |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | KRW 1,450 |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | KRW 60,000 |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | KRW 4,800 |
| Taxi 1 km (Normal Tariff) | KRW 900 |
| Taxi 1 hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | KRW 12,000 |
| Gasoline (1 litre) | KRW 1,700 |
Also Read: Cost of Living in Stuttgart: A Comprehensive Guide on Stuttgart’s Expense
Cost of Grocery in Seoul
Seoul follows effectively a healthy lifestyle and is known for its diet culture. The city has the lowest obesity rate. Furthermore, the cost of food in soul at a regular restaurant is around KRW 8,000 and the cost of grocery items ranges between KRW 2,000 to KRW 7,000. These grocery costs can impact the cost of living in Seoul as it is a part of daily expenses. Here’s a list of groceries with their cost:
| Grocery Item | Approx. cost |
| Milk (regular), (1 litre) | KRW 2,920 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500 g) | KRW 4,191 |
| Rice (white), (1 kg) | KRW 4531 |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | KRW 4,392 |
| Local Cheese (1 kg) | KRW 16,240 |
| Apples (1 kg) | KRW 9,357 |
| Banana (1 kg) | KRW 4,790 |
| Oranges (1 kg) | KRW 7,629 |
| Tomato (1 kg) | KRW 8000 |
| Onion (1 kg) | KRW 4,275 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | KRW 3,309 |
| Water (1.5 litre bottle) | KRW 1,516 |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | KRW 25,000 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 litre bottle) | KRW 3,342 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 litre bottle) | KRW 3,863 |
Utility Expenses in Seoul
Seoul being a metropolitan city is comparatively more expensive than other cities in South Korea. The city is still quite affordable than many European cities. Moreover, South Koreans spend around KRW 245,000 on basic utilities (inclusive of all expenses like gas, water, electricity and more). The basic cost of utility in Seoul is relatively low compared to the cost of living in Seoul. Here’s what other utilities cost:
| Utility | Approx. Monthly Cost |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment | KRW 245,357 |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data | KRW 60,000 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | KRW 32,000 |
Accommodation Cost in Seoul
Rent and accommodation expenses depend highly on the location of your stay. Some metropolitan areas are more expensive than others. The average monthly rent of 1 bedroom apartment in Seoul is KRW 1,185,105 in the city area. The accommodation or dormitory expense is around KRW 792,150 – KRW 1,848,350. The accommodation cost in Seoul depends on your budget for the cost of living in Seoul and your lifestyle. Below the table, we have given the average apartment rent in the city and out of the city of Seoul:
| Type of Accommodation | Approx. Monthly Rent |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | KRW 1,185,105 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | KRW 717,391 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | KRW 3,609,932 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | KRW 1,961,776 |
Healthcare Cost in Seoul
Healthcare is one of the most integral factors while living in a foreign country. Seoul enables the residents to choose their own healthcare facilities and providers. There are two types of healthcare insurance schemes in South Korea. However, the cost of purchasing both private and public health insurance schemes is 14,000 KRW, which is included in the cost of living in Seoul’s budget. Below the table, we have given the average Healthcare Cost in Seoul for various categories:
| Category | Approx. Cost |
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | KRW 5,748 |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | KRW 6,336 |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | KRW 32,756 |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob-gyn etc) | KRW 15,753 |
Average Tuition Fees in Seoul
Average tuition fees in Seoul are relatively affordable compared to the US and the UK. On average, tuition fees at a public university in Seoul are around KRW 4,000,000 per semester. However, the average tuition fees will depend on your chosen program and university.
If you decide to move to Seoul for higher education, the critical thing for you is to calculate the average tuition fees in Seoul’s Universities and the cost of living in Seoul. For your reference, in the table below, we have given the average tuition fee along with the program in Seoul:
| Course Level | Average Tuition Fees/ Semester |
| Bachelors Courses | KRW 2,400,000 to KRW 5,000,000 |
| Masters Courses | KRW 3,270,000 to KRW 5,750,000 |
| Doctorate Courses | KRW 4,000,000 to KRW 6,000,000 |
Cost of Living in Seoul Compared to Other Cities and Countries
In general, compared to many other major metropolitan cities across the globe, the cost of living in Seoul South Korea is reasonable. For your reference, we’ve given the cost of living in Seoul compared to other cities like the US, Tokyo, Singapore, NYC, London, Los Angeles, the Philippines, Canada and Malaysia. So to give you an idea of how affordable it is to live in, Seoul compared to other countries or cities. Please have a look:
| Cost of living city-wise | Approx Costs | Comparison Cost of Living in Seoul |
| Cost of Living in Tokyo | KRW 1286606 | Lower than Seoul |
| Cost of Living in Singapore | KRW 1528744 | Lower than Seoul |
| Cost of Living in NYC | KRW 2268120 | Higher than Seoul |
| Cost of Living in London | KRW 1907993 | Higher than Seoul |
| Cost of Living in Los Angeles | KRW 1830267 | Higher than Seoul |
| Cost of Living in the US | KRW 1593627 | Higher than Seoul |
| Cost of Living in the Philippines | KRW 736533 | Lower than Seoul |
| Cost of Living in Malaysia | KRW 658623 | Lower than Seoul |
| Cost of Living in Canada | KRW 1444195 | Lower than Seoul |
Also Read: Cost of Living in Scotland: A Guide on Expected Expenses
Why Choose Seoul to Study Abroad?
Seoul offers an exceptional range of world-class education programmes at its universities, along with the affordable cost of living in Seoul. The following are a few reasons why I chose Seoul to study abroad:
- South Korean education system is highly esteemed and globally acknowledged
- Seoul is the home of the most popular and high-ranking university, Seoul National University (SNU)
- It offers abundant opportunities in a wide range of fields including engineering, medicine, architecture, business, finance and fashion
- Korean universities are equipped with advanced high-tech facilities to provide students with the perfect study experience
- Another great advantage of studying in Seoul is its cost-effectiveness. Studying in Seoul is comparatively cheaper than in other European cities
- Korean universities and the government offers many scholarships for international students to pursue their education in the country
Things to Consider When Moving to Seoul
While finalising the cost of living in Seoul, you should consider various significant things while moving to Seoul for studies or a job. You have plenty of options to excel academically and professionally, live, be healthy and have fun in Seoul. The following are some crucial things to keep in mind when moving to Seoul:
- People of South Korea are very particular about their culture and traditions. One must read about Korean culture and mannerisms before moving to Korea
- It is important to know about the basics of the Korean language. It differs from the English language in terms of script and addressing people of different ages
- South Korea has a humid climate, sweltering summers and dry and cold winters
- Seoul is a mega city and is densely populated, almost twice as populated as New York. It is quite fast-paced when commuting and getting around the city
- You are likely to experience culture shock living in Seoul in terms of cuisine, greetings and other components
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FAQs
Ans: The average overall cost of living in Seoul for an international student is around 1,557,110 KRW per month excluding rent. However, it can vary depending on living standards, location and your chosen university.
Ans: Living in Seoul could be expensive depending on the location of your stay. However, the city is less expensive than the European cities. The average overall cost of living in Seoul is around KRW 2,698,917 per month in the city area including rent.
Ans: The average salary to live well in Seoul is between the range of KRW 83,000 per month to KRW 17,400,000 per month. The average salary makes the cost of living in Seoul more leisurely for expats.
Ans: The average cost of rent in Seoul city per month is around 1,153,787 KRW for a single person, in the city Centre. This makes the cost of living in Seoul affordable.
We hope this blog has provided you with relevant information on the Cost of Living in Seoul. And if you wish to study abroad, contact Leverage Edu for full assistance. You can also call us at 1800572000 and book a free session today!
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