Cost of living in Seoul

Hello everyone, I'm a parent with a daughter in 12th grade who plans to apply to Gyeonghee University next year. I'd like to ask international students and teachers about the average monthly cost of living for an international student in Seoul. Besides tuition fees, are living expenses, transportation, and other costs high? I've heard Seoul is expensive, so I'm a little worried. I'd appreciate it if you could share your experiences so I can better prepare for my daughter.

Anonymous Vietnamese Student

8/1/2026

1 Answers

Hello, I've been living in Seoul for almost two years now. On average, I spend about 700,000-900,000 won per month, of which dormitory fees in the school area are usually around 400,000-600,000 won (including management fees), and the rest is for food, transportation, and personal expenses. Cooking at home is more economical, but eating out near the school, like at Gyeonghee University, is quite expensive. Transportation using a transport card costs around 60,000-70,000 won per month. If your child can find a dormitory, it's much cheaper, but they need to register early because rooms fill up quickly. Living in Seoul is indeed much more expensive than in other cities, but it's not unaffordable. If you need more information about scholarships or ways to save money, please feel free to ask.

Anonymous Vietnamese Student

8/1/2026

Translated from Vietnamese

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