Monthly Budget Guide for International Students in Korea

Monthly Budget Summary (Basic vs. Comfortable Living)

ItemBasicComfortable Housing (rent + management fee)KRW 450,000KRW 800,000 FoodKRW 300,000KRW 500,000 TransportationKRW 60,000KRW 100,000 Phone billKRW 30,000KRW 50,000 Health insuranceKRW 50,000KRW 50,000 Leisure/otherKRW 100,000KRW 300,000 TotalKRW 990,000KRW 1,800,000

Tuition is separate (paid per semester).

Tuition (Annual)

• National university undergraduate: KRW 3,000,000–5,000,000/year
• Private university undergraduate: KRW 7,000,000–12,000,000/year
• Graduate school: KRW 5,000,000–10,000,000/year
• Language institute: KRW 1,500,000–2,000,000/semester (10 weeks)

Housing Costs (Monthly Rent Standard)

• Studio (non-Gangnam Seoul): KRW 500,000–700,000
• Dormitory: KRW 300,000–500,000
• Goshiwon: KRW 300,000–450,000
• Share house: KRW 400,000–550,000

Food — Money-Saving Tips

University cafeteria: KRW 4,000–6,000 per meal. Using it 20 times a month costs around KRW 100,000.

Convenience store lunch box: KRW 3,500–5,000 per meal. Good value for the amount.

Cooking at home: Grocery shopping for 1 person costs KRW 150,000–200,000/month.

Eating out: Gimbap KRW 3,500, rice soup KRW 8,000, fried chicken KRW 20,000.

Transportation

Seoul subway base fare: KRW 1,400 (within 10km). Expect KRW 60,000–80,000/month including transfers.

Pro tip: Buy the "Metropolitan Area Pass" with your student ID (KRW 55,000/month, unlimited use).

Phone Bill

Budget mobile plans available to foreigners: KRW 20,000–30,000/month (20GB+).

Major carriers (SKT, KT): KRW 50,000–70,000/month.

Health Insurance — Mandatory

Students with D-2/D-4 visas are required to enroll in health insurance. Approximately KRW 49,000/month (as of 2026). 70% of hospital costs reimbursed.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

• GKS (Global Korea Scholarship): Korean government scholarship — full tuition + KRW 800,000/month living stipend
• University scholarships: 10–50% reduction for academically outstanding international students
• Exchange student agreements: Coming as an exchange student through your home university waives Korean tuition

Part-time Work Income (D-2/D-4)

Possible with TOPIK Level 2+ after 6 months in Korea. Hourly wage KRW 10,000–12,000. At 20 hours/week, that's KRW 800,000–1,000,000/month.

Recommended jobs: Café, convenience store, English tutoring at academies, online tutoring

Total Estimated Study Abroad Costs (1 Year)

ItemNational UniversityPrivate University TuitionKRW 4,000,000KRW 9,000,000 Living expenses (KRW 1,000,000 × 12 months)KRW 12,000,000KRW 12,000,000 TotalKRW 16,000,000KRW 21,000,000