Study Abroad Cost Guide | WeBring Korea Study Hub

Nighttime view of downtown Seoul seen from Namsan — Photo: Laurie Nevay · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Overview of Study Costs

The cost of studying in Korea is relatively low compared with English-speaking countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. In addition, you can greatly reduce the actual burden by making use of scholarships, dormitories, part-time work, and more.

Estimated Annual Costs (Seoul basis)

Item	Minimum	Maximum
Tuition (per semester)	2,000,000 KRW	5,000,000 KRW
Living expenses (monthly)	800,000 KRW	1,500,000 KRW
Total annual cost	Approximately 14,000,000 KRW	Approximately 28,000,000 KRW

Cost Comparison of Major Study Destinations (annual, undergraduate basis)

Korea: approximately 14,000,000-28,000,000 KRW (approximately $10,000-$20,000)
United States: approximately $30,000-$70,000 (state universities)
United Kingdom: approximately £15,000-£35,000
Australia: approximately AUD 25,000-55,000
Japan: approximately ¥1,000,000-2,500,000

Guide by Budget Type

Budget (under 800,000 KRW/month): dormitory + school cafeteria + use of scholarships
Average (1,000,000-1,200,000 KRW/month): studio apartment + self-catering + part-time work
Comfortable (1,500,000 KRW/month or more): studio apartment + eating out + leisure activities

Tuition

Tuition at Korean universities varies by public/private status and by major. International students pay the same tuition as Korean students, with no separate surcharge for foreigners.

Public Universities (per semester)

Field	Tuition
Humanities and Social Sciences	1,800,000 - 2,300,000 KRW
Natural Sciences	2,200,000 - 2,800,000 KRW
Engineering	2,500,000 - 3,200,000 KRW
Arts and Physical Education	2,500,000 - 3,500,000 KRW
Medicine	3,500,000 - 5,000,000 KRW

Private Universities (per semester)

Field	Tuition
Humanities and Social Sciences	3,000,000 - 4,000,000 KRW
Natural Sciences	3,800,000 - 4,800,000 KRW
Engineering	4,000,000 - 5,200,000 KRW
Arts and Physical Education	4,300,000 - 5,600,000 KRW
Medicine	6,000,000 - 9,000,000 KRW

Language Institutes (Korean Language Program)

Duration	Tuition
1 term (10 weeks)	1,500,000 - 2,000,000 KRW
1 year (4 terms)	6,000,000 - 8,000,000 KRW

Additional Costs (beyond tuition)

Admission fee: 500,000-1,000,000 KRW (one-time only, at enrollment)
Student union fee: 20,000-50,000 KRW per semester
Club activity fee: 10,000-50,000 KRW per semester
Dormitory fee: separate (200,000-500,000 KRW per month)

Examples of Actual Payment After Scholarships

50% scholarship: private university humanities, 4,000,000 KRW → 2,000,000 KRW/semester
100% scholarship (GKS, etc.): full tuition waiver
TOPIK scholarship: 10-50% reduction depending on your level

Living Expenses in Detail

Monthly Living Expenses (Seoul basis)

Item	Budget	Average	Comfortable
Housing	200,000 KRW	400,000 KRW	700,000 KRW
Food	200,000 KRW	350,000 KRW	500,000 KRW
Transportation	30,000 KRW	50,000 KRW	100,000 KRW
Phone/Internet	20,000 KRW	40,000 KRW	60,000 KRW
Household goods	30,000 KRW	50,000 KRW	100,000 KRW
Leisure/Culture	50,000 KRW	100,000 KRW	200,000 KRW
Other	50,000 KRW	100,000 KRW	150,000 KRW
Total	580,000 KRW	1,090,000 KRW	1,810,000 KRW

Living Cost Comparison by Region

Region	Relative to Seoul	Monthly living expenses
Seoul	100%	1,000,000-1,500,000 KRW
Seoul metropolitan area (Gyeonggi, Incheon)	90~95%	900,000-1,400,000 KRW
Metropolitan cities (Busan, Daegu, etc.)	80~90%	800,000-1,300,000 KRW
Provincial cities	70~80%	700,000-1,100,000 KRW

Housing Costs

Costs by Housing Type (Seoul basis)

Type	Deposit	Monthly rent	Notes
Dormitory	None	200,000-500,000 KRW	Utilities included
Gosiwon	100,000-500,000 KRW	250,000-450,000 KRW	Utilities included
Studio apartment (monthly rent)	5,000,000-20,000,000 KRW	400,000-800,000 KRW	Utilities not included
Studio apartment (jeonse)	50,000,000-100,000,000 KRW	None	Initial funds required
Share house	500,000-2,000,000 KRW	300,000-500,000 KRW	Shared facilities

Studio Apartment Prices by Region (monthly rent)

Region	Deposit	Monthly rent
Seoul Gangnam	10,000,000-20,000,000 KRW	600,000-1,000,000 KRW
Seoul (other areas)	5,000,000-15,000,000 KRW	400,000-700,000 KRW
Gyeonggi Province	3,000,000-10,000,000 KRW	300,000-550,000 KRW
Busan/Daegu	2,000,000-8,000,000 KRW	250,000-450,000 KRW
Provincial cities	1,000,000-5,000,000 KRW	200,000-350,000 KRW

Food

Dining-out costs in Korea vary widely. By using the school cafeteria and cooking for yourself, you can live on as little as around 200,000 KRW a month, but if you mostly eat out, expect 400,000 KRW or more.

Costs by Dining Option

Option	Per meal	Monthly cost (estimated)
School cafeteria	3,000-5,000 KRW	150,000-250,000 KRW
Convenience store/snack food	3,000-6,000 KRW	200,000-300,000 KRW
Regular restaurant	7,000-12,000 KRW	300,000-500,000 KRW
Cooking yourself	2,000-4,000 KRW	150,000-250,000 KRW

Prices of Common Dishes (as of 2024)

Kimchi jjigae: 8,000-10,000 KRW
Samgyeopsal (per serving): 13,000-18,000 KRW
Fried chicken (whole): 18,000-25,000 KRW
Coffee (café): 4,500-6,000 KRW
Convenience store lunchbox: 3,500-5,500 KRW
Instant noodles (convenience store): 1,500-2,500 KRW

Example Grocery Costs When Self-Catering (1 week)

Rice (5kg): 15,000-25,000 KRW (lasts about 3-4 weeks)
Eggs (30): 6,000-9,000 KRW
Vegetables/fruit: 15,000-25,000 KRW
Meat/fish: 15,000-30,000 KRW
Seasonings/other: 5,000-10,000 KRW

Transportation

Public transportation in Korea is among the cheapest and most convenient in the world. The subway and bus transfer systems are well developed, so transportation costs are low.

Public Transportation Fares (2024)

Mode of transport	Base fare	Notes
Subway	1,400 KRW	Within 10 km
City bus	1,500 KRW	-
Community (village) bus	1,000 KRW	-
Taxi (standard)	4,800 KRW	Base 2 km
KTX (Seoul-Busan)	59,800 KRW	Standard class

Estimated Monthly Transportation Costs

Usage pattern	Monthly cost
Mostly walking + cycling	10,000-30,000 KRW
Regular use of public transport	50,000-80,000 KRW
Commuting + weekend outings	80,000-120,000 KRW

Ways to Save on Transportation

Climate Card: unlimited Seoul subway/bus for 65,000 KRW per month (62,000 KRW for youth)
Ttareungi (Seoul public bikes): 5,000 KRW per month to 30,000 KRW per year
Transfer discount: free when transferring between subway ↔ bus (within 30 minutes)
Commuter pass: 60 rides for 44,000 KRW (approximately 730 KRW per ride)
Living near campus: ZERO transportation cost by walking to school

Essential Transportation Apps

Naver Map/KakaoMap: directions, public transport information
Kakao T: hailing taxis, checking estimated fares
Korail Talk: booking KTX/SRT tickets
Ttareungi/Kakao Bike: bicycle rentals

Insurance

Korea requires foreign nationals staying for 6 months or more to enroll in National Health Insurance. The premiums are a burden, but the medical benefits are substantial, so it actually works in your favor.

National Health Insurance

Item	Details
Who must enroll	Foreign nationals staying 6 months or more (mandatory)
Monthly premium	Approximately 70,000 - 140,000 KRW
Benefits	You pay 30-60% of medical costs out of pocket

Examples of Medical Costs With Health Insurance

Treatment for a cold/indigestion: 5,000-15,000 KRW (out of pocket)
Comprehensive checkup: 100,000-200,000 KRW (over 500,000 KRW without insurance)
Hospitalization (per day): 50,000-100,000 KRW (over 300,000 KRW without insurance)
MRI scan: 100,000-200,000 KRW (500,000-800,000 KRW without insurance)

Student Insurance (Private)

DB Insurance, Samsung Fire and Marine, and others offer plans designed for international students
In the range of 20,000-50,000 KRW per month
For coverage before enrolling in National Health Insurance or as supplementary coverage
Can add coverage for emergency transport, dental, ophthalmology, and more

Ways to Reduce Premiums

International students with no income: the minimum premium applies (around 70,000 KRW)
University group enrollment: some universities offer group discounts
Be careful about reporting part-time income: premiums may rise if you have income

Other Costs

Study-Related

Item	Cost
Textbooks	100,000-300,000 KRW per semester
School supplies	10,000-30,000 KRW per month
Printing/copying	5,000-20,000 KRW per month
Laptop (initial)	800,000-2,000,000 KRW

Living-Related

Item	Cost
Clothing	50,000-150,000 KRW per month
Hair/grooming	10,000-30,000 KRW per month
Leisure/Culture	50,000-150,000 KRW per month
Special occasions/gifts	20,000-50,000 KRW per month

Initial Settlement Costs

Item	Cost
Airport → accommodation transportation	10,000-100,000 KRW
Bedding/linens	50,000-200,000 KRW
Household goods	100,000-300,000 KRW
Mobile phone activation	50,000-100,000 KRW
Alien registration fee	35,000 KRW

Proof of Finances

Financial Proof Requirements for Visa Applications

Item	Amount
Language training (D-4), 6 months	Approximately 9,000,000 KRW or more
Degree program (D-2), 1 year	Approximately 15,000,000-20,000,000 KRW or more

Money-Saving Tips

If study costs feel burdensome, make use of the many ways to save. By making good use of scholarships, dormitories, and part-time work, you can live on as little as 500,000 KRW per month or less.

Saving on Tuition

Apply for the GKS scholarship (government scholarship) - full tuition plus living expenses
University's own scholarships (grades, language ability, etc.) - 30-100% reduction
Choose a public university (40-50% cheaper than private)
Choose a provincial university (lower scholarship competition)
Achieve an advanced TOPIK level (scholarship benefits by level)

Saving on Living Expenses

Live in a dormitory (the cheapest housing, utilities included)
Use the school cafeteria (balanced nutrition and inexpensive)
Buy and sell secondhand goods (Karrot, Bunjang, Junggonara)
Use discount apps (Baemin, Coupang, SSG, Market Kurly)
Use a transit commuter pass or the Climate Card
Save on phone bills: use a budget carrier (MVNO) (around 20,000 KRW per month)
Free/discounted cultural activities: use the university library and public facilities

Earning Income

Part-time employment - 25 weekday hours (30 for master’s and doctoral) if you meet the Korean-proficiency standard, 10 hours per week (15 for master’s and doctoral) if you do not
On-campus work-study - 200,000-400,000 KRW per month
Interpretation/translation work - high hourly pay
Tutoring (Korean ↔ your native language) - 20,000-40,000 KRW per hour
Online translation/subtitling work - can be done from home

Estimated Income Based on the Minimum Wage (2026 hourly wage of 10,320 KRW)

Korean-proficiency standard met · associate and bachelor’s — 25 weekday hours × 4 weeks = approximately 1,030,000 KRW per month
Standard met · master’s and doctoral — 30 weekday hours × 4 weeks = approximately 1,240,000 KRW per month
Standard not met — associate and bachelor’s 10 hours/week = approximately 410,000 KRW per month, master’s and doctoral 15 hours/week = approximately 620,000 KRW per month
The FAQ below uses the first line, the most common case (a bachelor’s student who meets the Korean-proficiency standard, 25 weekday hours). Weekends, public holidays and vacations have no hour limit once the standard is met, so no ceiling can be calculated. The permitted hours are set out in the part-time work permit guide.

Example Budget Monthly Plan (provincial university dormitory)

Dormitory: 250,000 KRW (utilities included)
Food: 200,000 KRW (mostly school cafeteria + self-catering)
Transportation: 20,000 KRW (walking + public transport)
Phone/Internet: 20,000 KRW (budget carrier)
Insurance: 70,000 KRW
Other: 50,000 KRW
Total: approximately 610,000 KRW/month

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. How much do I actually need to study in Korea?

A. In Seoul it's about 14,000,000-28,000,000 KRW per year, and in provincial areas about 10,000,000-20,000,000 KRW. With a scholarship it can cost far less than this.

Q. Can I cover my living expenses with part-time work alone?

A. A bachelor’s student who meets the Korean-proficiency standard and works 25 weekday hours earns approximately 1,030,000 KRW per month (at the 2026 minimum wage of 10,320 KRW an hour). If you do not meet the standard, the limit is 10 hours a week, about 410,000 KRW per month. It’s possible if you rely mainly on a dormitory and the school cafeteria, but keep a balance so it doesn’t interfere with your studies.

Q. How much financial proof do I need for a visa application?

A. You need proof of a balance of about 9,000,000 KRW for 6 months of language training (D-4), and about 15,000,000-20,000,000 KRW for 1 year of a degree program (D-2). A scholarship award certificate can also be used instead.

Q. Is the cost difference between Seoul and the provinces large?

A. Yes, especially in housing costs. A studio apartment rents for 500,000-800,000 KRW per month in Seoul versus 250,000-400,000 KRW in the provinces—almost a twofold difference. Overall living expenses are 20-30% cheaper than in Seoul.

Q. The health insurance premium is a burden. Can I skip enrolling?

A. Enrollment is mandatory for stays of 6 months or more. Not enrolling violates the Immigration Act, and using medical services without insurance is very expensive. Enrolling is advantageous in the long run.

Q. How much should I prepare for initial settlement costs?

A. We recommend having about 3,000,000-5,000,000 KRW in reserve funds for a housing deposit, household goods, first-month living expenses, and so on. It can cost less if you live in a dormitory.