Cost Of Living In Korea

Typical Salary & Other Benefits

Typical ESL/EFL Teacher's salary is between 1,900,000 won to 2,200,000 won.
The tax rate is between 5% and 10% (some universities are tax exempt).
Teachers receive subsidized housing and severance pay equal to one month's pay at the completion of the contract.

Tipping

Tipping is not a custom in Korea. Some restaurants in Korea charge a 10% service charge on top of the bill.

Conclusion: Typical Cost of Living & Savings Potential

Although the salary seems low by Western standards, Korea offers a lot of savings potential because of the sponsored housing and low tax rate. Once can live comfortably on 10,000 won per day, spend 100,000 each week on entertainment and other expenses, and still manage to put away at least 1,000,000 won into the bank. (If you are a die-hard saver, you could curb the entertainment expenses and save much more!)

Price List (2004)

Supermarket Essentials

Bread (toast 1 loaf) 1500

Oranges (6 pack) 2,500

Ham (processed) 2200

Cheese (processed) 2500

Eggs (dozen) 2,000

Butter 2700

Jam (340g) 2500

Spam 4000

Tuna (165g can) 1400

Milk (1 litre) 1400

Fast Food

Zinger Burger (KFC) 2,800

Pizza Hut / Dominos (large) 25,000

Burger King (Reg. whopper meal) 4,900

Western Food Restaurants

Bennigan's (Steak, 250g) 28,300

31,500 (set)

Bennigan's (Ribs) 28,200

31,900 (set)

TGI Friday's (lunch set) 17,500

TGI Fridays steak (new York) 27,200

Drink

Starbucks Coffee (short cappuccino) 3,000

Dunkin Doughnuts Coffee (regular) 1,900

Milk (1 liter) 1,400

Beer (can 270ml) 1,500

Beer (bottle 270) 3,000+ (restaurant / bar)

Imported bear 2800 (shop) 5,000+ (bar)

Transport - (Adult Fares only)

Seoul Subway 700+

Seoul Bus - City 700+

Seoul Bus - Local 400

Train - Seoul to Busan (Express) 33,100 (seating)

Train - Seoul to Busan (KTX express) 45,000 (seating)

Train - Seoul to Busan (non-express) 22,300 (seating)

Taxi - Genral 1600 basic fee for 2 km, then 100 won / 168 meters.

If taxi is going less than 15km/h, 100 won / 45

seconds is added.

Taxi - Deluxe 4000 basic fee for 3 km, then 200 won / 205 meters.

If taxi is going less than 15km/h, 200 won / 50

seconds is added.

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By HiTeacher.com - http://hiteacher.com/

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