Study in South Korea: Housing & Living Costs (2024)

FAQs

How much does it cost to live and study in Korea? ›

The estimated cost of living for an international student in South Korea for a month can vary depending on lifestyle, location, and personal choices. On average, you can expect to spend around $800 to $1,200 per month. This includes accommodation, Food, transportation, and other daily expenses.

A: South Korea's living costs vary depending on the city and lifestyle. Students can expect to spend around 14,05,611 KRW (approx. INR 84K) monthly on food, transportation, and other expenses. This amount can be higher or lower depending on the city, accommodation options, and lifestyle choices.

But, generally speaking, it's more affordable than university in the US. A semester at a Korean university will cost you between $1,800 to $6,000 in tuition fees if you enroll directly. Alternatively, studying abroad through a program provider will cost anywhere from $9,000 to $19,000 USD.

The country is home to the world's top-ranked universities, including Seoul National University and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST); they offer excellent academic programs and research opportunities.

The average sale price of a home in the greater Seoul area shot up from 341 million won ($274,000) in May 2017, when Moon was inaugurated, to 626 million won ($503,000) as of March 2022, according to the Korea Real Estate Board.

In February 2021, the average monthly rent for one-bedroom flats in Seoul, South Korea, amounted to around 510,000 South Korean won, up from about 480,000 South Korean won in the previous month. The average monthly rent for one-bedroom apartments in Seoul has shown an upward trend recently.

The highest-paid job in 2021 is a corporate leader (CEO) who will make an average of about 140 million won(110,000 USD) per year. The average annual income increased by 15 million won, moving from 3rd to 1st place in two years.

Minimum monthly house rent in South Korea is around 300,000 KRW (250 USD) for a small officetel studio (5–8 pyeong). On average, however, expect to pay about 500,000 KRW (425 USD) per month for this type of accommodation in big cities.

However, education courses at University are low quality, and often not in English soprofessors ask foreign students to leave. Living in Korea as foreigner is very difficult due to social and cultural differences. The university does not provide any help for foreign students to adjust and understand life in Korea.

What are the cons of living in South Korea? ›

The average cost of living in South Korea is reasonable. It is not as cheap as living in some Asian countries like Laos or China, but it is also not as expensive as Japan or Singapore. In general, the most expensive living costs in the country will be found in the capital, Seoul.

Fees range from US$2,320 to US$3,650 per semester. You'll need to pay your fees in South Korean Won. As its schools are becoming ever more popular, South Korea has a large number of scholarships available to international students.

Tuition per year through direct enrollment:

Chonnam National University: $3,600-$4,800 per year (2023/24) Seoul National University $9,200-$11,600 per year (2023/24) Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST): $5,350 per year (2022/23) Sogang University: $6,400-$8,400 per year (2022/23)

On a national level, a family of four can expect to spend an average of 2,300,000 KRW per month (2,000 USD) in living expenses (excluding rent). A single expat can expect to pay 652,000 KRW (560 USD) per month (excluding rent).

On average, however, expect to pay about 500,000 KRW (425 USD) per month for this type of accommodation in big cities. Bigger apartments in Seoul average around 1 million KRW (850 USD) per month, yet it is not uncommon to see listings with 5–6 million KRW (4,300–5,100 USD) monthly price tags.