How to Prepare Cost of Living in Korea for International Students

Thanks to South Korea's reputation, which has become increasingly famous in the last few decades, many students worldwide have flocked to the country to pursue higher education there. But of course, as immigrants, these international students must prepare a certain budget to live there. Therefore, the issue of preparing the cost of living in Korea has always been hotly discussed.

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Why International Students are Becoming Interested in Korea?  

Just like its neighboring countries, namely China and Japan, South Korea became so popular after the 1980s because of its rapid economic development, the Korean traditional and popular culture which spread throughout the world, and the quality of higher education whose development was seriously supervised by the government.

Due to all the factors above, international students can become very interested in studying in South Korea. They are even willing to prepare a lot of money on the cost of living in Korea with their families.

Preparing Living Costs in Korea  

Suppose you are an international student who has just been accepted to study at one of the well-known universities in South Korea. What should you consider when calculating the cost of living in Korea?

Food and Drinks  

In general, you can choose to buy food and drink at the university canteen or decide to shop on your own when you want to save on expenses for food and beverage needs. Every month, you must prepare costs ranging from 300 to 400 USD for food needs when buying food in the canteen or studying on your own. 

You usually need around 3.2 USD for one meal if you buy food in the canteen. You can outsmart these costs by shopping regularly to prepare your food and drinks.

Housing  

For housing issues, you can choose from living in a dormitory, boarding house, or renting an apartment, usually located outside the university area. If you choose to live in a dormitory, prepare fees ranging from 420 USD to 1,550 USD depending on the capacity of your room and other facilities that you can enjoy from the dorm.

At a boarding house, monthly, you must prepare an average fee from 300 USD to 500 USD. Meanwhile, you can rent an apartment starting from 300 USD per month with a deposit of around 3,000 to 5,000 USD.

Transportation 

Fortunately, South Korea has many bus and train lines that you can use at any time that you can use to save your cost of living in Korea. You can prepare fees ranging from 1 USD to 2.5 USD daily for one trip.

Medical Insurance  

Equally important are health insurance and access to health facilities. Because you are currently living in another country as an international student, you must have access to health facilities and insurance to guarantee safety in case of an emergency.

Generally, you can prepare a fee starting from 20 USD per month to enroll in health insurance for international students, such as insurance by the National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIS).

Internet  

In general, residences such as apartments or dormitories have direct access to the internet that residents can use. However, you have to register to get this access and pay every month so that the access is not interrupted.

Therefore, usually, you need to prepare as much as 20 USD for high-speed internet to help with your educational needs while in South Korea.

Utilities  

When you already live in a dormitory or apartment, the monthly utility price is one that you must calculate in preparing for your cost of living in Korea.

For electricity, water, gas, and so on, you usually need as much as 170 USD per month.

Korean Language Classes  

You don't have an obligation to sign up for a Korean language class when you get there. But it's a good idea to register for the class if you want to speak Korean fluently so that your life there can be more convenient.

For classes for 3 weeks, you can prepare as much as 800 USD. But if you want to continue for a longer time, like 10 weeks, you can set up a fee starting from 1,300 USD.

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By carefully preparing your cost of living in Korea, your life there will be one of your life's most pleasant and unforgettable experiences. Don’t forget to visit our website for other eye-opening information out there!