Korea: Financial Snapshot

Read more about banking in Korea and expected costs of housing and food.

Expected Apartment Costs
Banking in Korea
Food Costs

Expected Apartment Costs 

There are some English teachers who are not offered accommodations as part of their contract. Although rare, this is more likely to happen in a large urban city like Seoul or for split-shift positions teaching adult students. Positions without accommodations included will typically offer a higher rate of pay or a housing allowance in lieu. In Korea, English teachers typically have a much higher income than that of an average family of four. Finding an apartment and saving some money should be a fairly easy task if one is careful.

Typically, an English teacher should be able to find a single-occupancy studio apartment for between 450,000 - 800,000 Won monthly. Renting an apartment in Seoul could cost a little extra. Most landlords will ask for a 'wolsei' (deposit); the amount is determined by the cost of monthly rent.

Banking in Korea 

Setting up bank accounts for foreign ESL teachers is a typical part of the job for Korean bank employees. Many larger banks try to gain more international business from native English speakers by having on-site translators to ease the communication barrier. It is still best for ESL teachers to bring someone along with them if the bank does not have any staff members that speak English. Many schools will have a bilingual staff member to help their ESL teachers settle into Korea.

Korean banks offer similar services and accounts to other banks around the world, but there are little to no service fees on a Korean bank account, making banking in Korea unique. To set up a bank account ESL teachers should bring a passport, a Certificate of Alien Registration, and their visa. It's important to note that most bank machines close (and are locked) around 10 PM local time. Teachers should also research the location of ATMs that allow international transactions to facilitate withdrawals from North American bank accounts, when necessary, as there may only be one or two such machines in smaller cities.

Food Costs 

One of the best ways to make an ESL teacher's paycheque stretch a little further is by doing some grocery shopping and cooking meals at home. Eating out in a restaurant is a great way to experience Korean cuisine, and can also be an affordable option. Eating in western-style restaurants generally costs much more. A lot of grocery shopping in Korea is done at the local street market, but there are large supermarkets in cities that will also offer a wider variety of food for a higher price. Below are some examples of typical Korean food prices:

    * Coca Cola - 1,830 Won (333 ml bottle)
    * Milk - 2,650 Won (1L)  
    * Cup of Coffee - 4,700 Won  
    * Bottle of Water - 955 Won (333 ml bottle) 
    * Kimbap - 2,000 Won  
    * Beer - 4,000 Won (500 ml domestic bottle)

Other East Asia / Southeast Asia Countries: