Planning a One-Month Stay in Seoul, South Korea

 One-month stay in Seoul, focusing on housing, food, transportation, communication, and other costs. We’ve compared Gangbuk (northern Seoul) and Gangnam (southern Seoul) to show how prices can vary.

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1. Housing Costs (Monthly or Short-Term)

Housing costs in Seoul can vary significantly depending on location (Gangnam vs. Gangbuk), type of accommodation, and whether you have furniture or amenities included.

Gangbuk Examples (Hongdae, Sinchon, Jongno, Dongdaemun, Eunpyeong, etc.)

1. Goshiwon (Basic Room)

   • Monthly Cost: 250,000 ~ 450,000 KRW
   • Description: Small rooms, usually no deposit, shared bathroom/kitchen
     

     
     
     
     

2. One-Room / Officetel (Short-Term)

   • Monthly Cost: 500,000 ~ 800,000 KRW
   • Description: May have a small deposit or none; includes basic furniture and appliances
3. 

   Share House (Single Room)

   • Monthly Cost: 400,000 ~ 700,000 KRW
   • Description: Shared living room and kitchen; small security deposit
     
     
     

4. Airbnb / Short-Term Rental

   • Monthly Cost: 700,000 ~ 1,500,000 KRW
   • Description: Fully furnished, price varies by location and host rating
     
     
     

5. Hotel (Long-Stay Discount)

   • Monthly Cost: 1,000,000 ~ 2,000,000 KRW
   • Description: Mid-range hotels with housekeeping, linen changes, etc.
     
     
     

Gangnam Examples (Gangnam Station, Yeoksam, Samsung, Seocho, Songpa, etc.)

1. Goshiwon (Basic Room)

   • Monthly Cost: 300,000 ~ 500,000 KRW
   • Description: Similar to Gangbuk but typically 50,000 ~ 100,000 KRW more expensive
     
     
     

2. One-Room / Officetel (Short-Term)

   • Monthly Cost: 600,000 ~ 1,000,000 KRW
   • Description: Higher-end buildings or prime locations can exceed this range
     
     
     

3. Share House (Single Room)

   • Monthly Cost: 500,000 ~ 800,000 KRW
   • Description: Great transport options, often more expensive than Gangbuk
     
     
     

4. Airbnb / Short-Term Rental

   • Monthly Cost: 900,000 ~ 1,800,000 KRW
   • Description: Generally 20–30% higher than similar places in Gangbuk
     
     
     

5. Hotel (Long-Stay Discount)

   • Monthly Cost: 1,500,000 ~ 3,000,000 KRW
   • Description: Mid-range to upscale hotels, often with laundry services
     
     
     

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2. Food Costs

Food costs depend on how often you cook vs. eat out, and where you eat. Gangnam restaurants are usually a bit pricier.

• Cooking at Home: ~300,000 ~ 400,000 KRW/month
• Mixed (Cooking + Eating Out): ~400,000 ~ 700,000 KRW/month
• Eating Out (Cafés, Delivery):
  • Gangbuk: ~500,000 ~ 800,000 KRW/month
  • Gangnam: ~600,000 ~ 1,000,000 KRW/month

Typical Meal Prices

• Simple meals (gimbap, Korean set meals): 6,000 ~ 9,000 KRW (Gangnam can be 1,000 ~ 2,000 KRW more)
• Standard restaurants (Korean, Japanese, etc.): 10,000 ~ 20,000 KRW
• Café drinks: 4,000 ~ 7,000 KRW
  

  
  
  
  
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3. Transportation Costs

Seoul’s subway and bus fares are the same citywide. However, taxi rides or long commutes between Gangnam and Gangbuk can increase costs.

• Subway/Bus Base Fare: ~1,250 ~ 1,400 KRW (with a transit card)
• T-money Commuter Pass: 65,000 KRW for 60 rides (subway only)
• Taxi Base Fare: ~4,800 KRW (extra charges for late night or distance)

Monthly Estimates

• Mostly Public Transport: ~50,000 ~ 100,000 KRW
• Frequent Taxi Use: ~100,000 ~ 200,000+ KRW
  
  
  

If you work and live in Gangnam, you could spend less on transport (short distances). But commuting from Gangbuk to Gangnam (or vice versa) can take longer and cost more if you rely on taxis.

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4. Communication Expenses

1. Short-Term SIM (Unlimited Data for 1 Month): ~30,000 ~ 50,000 KRW
2. Major Carrier (No Contract, Monthly): ~50,000 ~ 80,000 KRW for unlimited data
3. Internet / Wi-Fi:
   • Often included in share houses, Airbnbs, or hotels
   • If renting a one-room, you may need your own internet (20,000 ~ 30,000 KRW/month)
     
     
     

For a one-month stay, a short-term SIM card and using your accommodation’s Wi-Fi is usually enough.

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5. Other Living Expenses

These can vary a lot depending on your hobbies and lifestyle.

• Café / Desserts: 5,000 ~ 10,000 KRW per visit (specialty cafés in Gangnam can be more)
  
  
  
• Shopping (Clothes, Accessories): 100,000 ~ 500,000 KRW/month (higher for luxury brands)
  

  
  
  
  
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• Culture (Movies, Exhibits, Shows):
  • Movies/Exhibits: 10,000 ~ 30,000 KRW each
  • Concerts/Musicals: 50,000 ~ 100,000 KRW+
    
    
    
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• Gym/Fitness: 50,000 ~ 150,000 KRW/month (depends on location and facilities)
  

  
  
  
  
• Nightlife/Drinking: 20,000 ~ 50,000 KRW per outing (clubs or rooftop bars can cost more)
  
  
  

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6. Sample Budgets: Gangnam vs. Gangbuk

Budget / Moderate / Comfortable Lifestyles

Category	Lifestyle	Gangbuk Estimates	Gangnam Estimates
Housing	Budget	Goshiwon 250k450k, Share House 400k	Goshiwon 300k500k, Share House 500k
	Moderate	One-Room 500k800k, Airbnb 700k	One-Room 600k1,000k, Airbnb 900k
	Comfortable	Hotel 1.0M~2.0M KRW	Hotel 1.5M~3.0M KRW
Food	Budget	Mostly cooking + simple eats: 300k~400k	400k~500k
	Moderate	Mixed (cooking + eating out): 400k~700k	500k~800k
	Comfortable	Mostly eating out/delivery: 800k~1.0M+	1.0M+
Transportation	Public	50k100k/month	50k100k/month
	With Taxi	100k200k+/month	100k200k+/month
Communication	Short-Term SIM	30k~50k	30k~50k
	Wi-Fi/Internet	Usually included	Usually included
Other Living Costs	Budget	100k~200k (minimal café/shopping)	100k~200k
	Moderate	200k~500k (café, movies, basic shopping)	300k~600k
	Comfortable	500k+ (clubs, performances, luxury items)	700k+ (even more upscale options)

(Note: “k” = 1,000 KRW, “M” = 1,000,000 KRW)

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7. Estimated Monthly Totals

• Budget-Friendly

  • Gangbuk: ~800,000 ~ 1,000,000 KRW
    • (e.g., Goshiwon/Share House 300k~400k + Food 300k + Transport 50k + Communication 30k + Other 100k)
  • Gangnam: ~900,000 ~ 1,200,000 KRW
    • (e.g., Goshiwon/Share House 400k~500k + Food 400k + Transport 50k + Communication 30k + Other 100k)

• Moderate

  • Gangbuk: ~1,500,000 ~ 1,800,000 KRW
    • (e.g., One-Room 600k + Food 500k + Transport 80k + Communication 50k + Other 200k)
  • Gangnam: ~1,800,000 ~ 2,200,000 KRW
    • (e.g., One-Room 800k + Food 600k + Transport 100k + Communication 50k + Other 250k)

• Comfortable

  • Gangbuk: ~2,500,000 KRW or more
  • Gangnam: ~3,000,000 KRW or more
    • (High-end hotel/Airbnb, frequent dining out, taxis, shopping, nightlife, etc.)

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Conclusion

1. Gangnam is generally 5–20% more expensive for rent and dining than Gangbuk.
2. Transportation is affordable with public transit, but frequent taxi use can greatly increase costs.
3. Food expenses can stay around 300k~400k KRW/month if you cook at home. Regular dining out or café visits can quickly push this to 800k~1M KRW.
4. For a one-month stay, use a short-term SIM and the accommodation’s Wi-Fi to control communication costs.

If you’re planning a one-month stay in Seoul, decide your budget and lifestyle first. You can save money by living in Gangbuk or enjoy the convenience of Gangnam while cutting back on taxis and eating out. For more detailed comparisons—like specific goshiwons, share houses, or Airbnb listings—consider researching each option thoroughly. If you need further help or a custom estimate, feel free to send an email for more details!

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