Realistic monthly budget for a student in Seoul?

Here are the numbers our students actually report, per month in Seoul.

Rent is the big variable: goshiwon ₩400,000–650,000, dorm ₩300,000–500,000, one-room ₩500,000–800,000 plus a deposit.

Everything else is fairly predictable:
- Food ₩350,000–500,000 if you mix cooking and eating out. Campus cafeterias run ₩4,000–6,000 a meal.
- Transport ₩60,000–70,000 with a T-money card.
- Phone ₩25,000–40,000 on a normal plan.
- Utilities ₩50,000–100,000, higher in winter — heating in January surprises everyone.

So ₩900,000–1,300,000 a month all-in for most people, before tuition. The ₩600,000 figure you see online is a dorm room, cooking every meal, and no social life.

Budget separately for the first month: deposit, bedding, kitchen basics and a transport card land at once. Set aside about one extra month of costs for that.