Renting a Home in Seoul: Costs and Tips for Foreign Families
When people ask whether living in Korea is expensive, housing is one of the hardest costs to explain. What a family pays depends on the neighbourhood, the type and size of the home, the deposit and the rental arrangement. A family with children also has very different housing needs from a student or someone living alone. We are a family of four renting a home in Seoul. When we searched for our current home, we were not simply looking for the lowest rent. We needed enough space, but we also wanted to remain close to our children’s schools and my workplace. Going through the search, contract and moving process showed me how many decisions are involved, especially for a foreign family. This post is based on our own experience and the prices we encountered in our area. Housing costs and procedures vary by neighbourhood, building, contract and residence status, so these figures are examples rather than fixed prices for all of Seoul. Residential neighbourhoods in Se...