Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Groceries are a bit of a mixed bag. Basically, if it's something produced locally, it's
probably cheaper than it would be in your home country—things like tofu, vegetables,
pork, chicken, and seafood are all relative steals. But there are several exceptions to this
rule—some fruit, such as locally grown pears and melons, are very pricey, especially out
of season, and South Korean beef commands a hefty premium over that imported from the
United States or Australia. Local wet markets have the best bargains on produce but can be
tough to navigate without Korean language skills. Most expatriates end up doing their food
shopping at the nearest branch of a megastore chain like E-mart, which has a wide selection
and fair (if not especially low) prices. Supermarkets specifically geared toward foreigners
are usually more expensive. A grocery budget of 100,000 won per week should be enough
to keep the average expatriate in plenty of food with a limited number of non-Korean lux-
uries such as cheese or wine; double or triple that figure for a family or those who need to
consume a lot of imported comforts.
A SAVER'S GUIDE
South Korea can be a pricey place to live, but as is true anywhere, a bit of planning
can trim your monthly expenses substantially. Here are a few ideas worth considering
to save more of your hard-earned won.
• Housing is usually the biggest single expense expatriates have. If at all possible,
consider adhering to the South Korean style and putting down a large deposit
(
jeonse
) on any house you move into, which will bring rental costs down sub-
stantially. Depending on your visa status, employer, and salary, you may be able
to secure a fairly low-interest loan (usually called
jeonse daechul
) from a local
bank for this purpose.
• If you don't mind a more local living environment, steer clear of expat-heavy areas
such as Seoul's Hannam-dong and Seongbuk-dong, where housing, restaurants,
and even groceries all come at a premium. As the name of a neighborhood can
factor heavily into rental and other prices, often moving to a less-renowned area
just a short bus ride or walk away will allow you to enjoy most of the perks of a
posh part of town without the eye-watering bills.
• Buy your fresh produce at local wet markets or street vendors. The selection is sea-
sonal and often more limited than at department stores or grocery stores, but also
fresher and much, much cheaper.
