(Part 2-2 covers key features of Korean housing, what to watch out for, and housing types beyond one-room studios.)
●●🟧 How Foreigners Can Find Housing in Korea
●🟦✓ Using a Real Estate Agent (Brokerage Office)▶ This is the most commonly used way to find housing in Korea.
→ In most neighborhoods, real estate brokerage offices are clustered together,
so you can visit in person, explain what you’re looking for, and view available listings.
→ A brokerage fee is charged when you sign a contract.
💊 Notes for Foreigners For foreign residents, brokerage offices with professional-looking signage and relatively younger staff
often have listings that are a better fit for foreigners.
▶ When you are renting your first place, if possible, go with a Korean person,
or with a foreign friend who has experience finding housing in Korea,
and go through the contract in person together for safety.
→ Housing is one of the most expensive essentials in daily life.
If you sign the wrong contract even once,
the financial and emotional impact can be very large,
so rather than rushing alone,
it is recommended that you proceed carefully.
●🟦✓ How to Set the Contract Term
▶ In Korea, residential leases are commonly set for
2 years / 1 year / short-term contracts (2 months).
▶ The shorter the contract term,
the more expensive the monthly rent tends to be,
and fully furnished places also tend to cost more.
▶ For foreigners,
if possible, even if the monthly rent is a bit higher,
it is realistic to start with a 6-month to 1-year contract.
▶ Since many landlords are reluctant to offer a 6-month contract,
one possible option is to adjust the monthly rent by about 50,000–100,000 KRW and negotiate through the broker.
●🟦✓ A Practical Choice About Whether Furniture Is Included
→ Items like a bed, refrigerator, washing machine, and desk
can be purchased and used personally,
and bringing them with you each time you move
can be a good way to reduce costs in the long run.
●🟦✓ How to Use Online Platforms
→ In Korea,
you can check listings in advance through real estate apps and websites.
→ After roughly checking the location, monthly rent, deposit, and maintenance fee,
it is common to make the final decision after an in-person visit.
💊 Photos and the actual condition are often different.
Avoid signing a contract based only on online information, and be sure to see the place in person.
▶ If you make a mistake on a housing contract even once, the financial and emotional impact can be very large.
If possible, visit with a Korean friend,
or someone who has experience finding housing in Korea,
and go through the contract together for safety.
It is recommended to avoid handling a housing contract alone as a foreigner whenever possible.
●🟦✓ Brokerage Fee
The brokerage fee varies depending on the housing type (house/officetel, etc.), the region, and the deposit/monthly rent amount.
The exact amount depends on the contract terms, but for a foreigner renting for the first time, you can use the examples below to get a rough idea.
→ Deposit 5,000,000 KRW (approx. $3,448) / Monthly rent 500,000 KRW (approx. $345)
→ Brokerage fee approx. 220,000–240,000 KRW (approx. $152–$166)
→ Deposit 5,000,000 KRW (approx. $3,448) / Monthly rent 600,000 KRW (approx. $414) → Brokerage fee approx. 280,000 KRW (approx. $193)
→ Deposit 10,000,000 KRW (approx. $6,897) / Monthly rent 600,000 KRW (approx. $414)
→ Brokerage fee approx. 310,000 KRW (approx. $214)
→ Deposit 5,000,000 KRW (approx. $3,448) / Monthly rent 700,000 KRW (approx. $483) → Brokerage fee approx. 330,000 KRW (approx. $228)
※ The brokerage fee includes VAT.
▶ Once you live in Korea, you can easily calculate the exact amount using Naver’s “Brokerage Fee Calculator.”
If you enter only the region / housing type / deposit / monthly rent, you can easily get an accurate amount, so it is not difficult to calculate.
●🟦✓ Rental Price Levels in Korea
▶ In Korea, the listed home size (㎡) includes all usable interior space,
including the room, kitchen, bathroom, and entryway (shoe cabinet),
and the basic calculation method is the same as in the U.S. and Europe.
▶ However, many one-room studios in Korea have an open layout where the kitchen and room are connected,
and the bathroom is also designed to be relatively compact,
so for foreigners, it often feels smaller than the number suggests.
💊 In Korea, residential spaces generally have ceiling heights of about 2.3–2.4 meters, which is relatively low compared to housing in some major cities such as New York, London, and Shanghai.
Because of this, many foreigners say that even with the same floor area, it can feel smaller in person.
→ Therefore, rather than trusting only photos or descriptions,
it is important to decide after seeing the place in person.
▶ In Korea, 30㎡ is considered relatively large for a one-room studio,
and there are also many small studios under 20㎡.
→ The typical layout is
a room + open kitchen + bathroom + entryway (shoe cabinet),
and some places also have a separate balcony (veranda).
▶ Seoul is a global major city, and overall housing costs are very high.
▶ In particular, areas with dense office and commercial facilities—such as Gangnam, Jongno, Yeouido, and Hongdae—
are among the most expensive rental areas even within Seoul.
→ In these areas,
a one-room studio around 30㎡ is typically
Deposit 10,000,000 KRW (approx. $6,897) / Monthly rent 1,300,000–1,800,000 KRW (approx. $897–$1,241).
▶ In outer areas of Seoul, such as Nowon, Gwanak, and Gangdong-gu,
Deposit 10,000,000 KRW (approx. $6,897) / Monthly rent 1,000,000–1,300,000 KRW (approx. $690–$897) is common.
▶ In Gyeonggi Province, Pangyo and Gwacheon are close to Seoul’s Gangnam area, so rent is often similar to Seoul, with monthly rent commonly around 1,200,000–1,500,000 KRW (approx. $828–$1,034).
▶ In cities around Seoul such as Yongin, Gimpo, Dongtan, Uijeongbu, Ansan, Suwon, Incheon, Namyangju, and Misa, prices vary greatly depending on location, proximity to a subway station, and whether it is a new-town development.
→ For new buildings and new-town areas,
Deposit 10,000,000 KRW (approx. $6,897) / Monthly rent 800,000–1,000,000 KRW (approx. $552–$690)
→ In more outlying areas,
Deposit 10,000,000 KRW (approx. $6,897) / Monthly rent 600,000–900,000 KRW (approx. $414–$621) is common.
▶ In major regional cities outside the Seoul area,
there is variation depending on location even for the same 30㎡ size,
but they are often about 20–30% cheaper than Gyeonggi Province.
→ Roughly,
Deposit 10,000,000 KRW (approx. $6,897) / Monthly rent 500,000–800,000 KRW (approx. $345–$552)
▶ Newer buildings are relatively more expensive,
while older buildings tend to be a bit cheaper.
▶ In many cases, the deposit can be adjusted to some extent,
but depending on the landlord’s preferences,
they may not accept a proposal to reduce a 10,000,000 KRW deposit to 5,000,000 KRW at all.
→ Depending on the situation,
it may be possible to negotiate (nego) the monthly rent by about 50,000–100,000 KRW (approx. $35–$69).
💊 Compared to landlords in global cities like New York, London, Paris, and Shanghai, Korean landlords tend to be somewhat more flexible overall.
→ In many cases, negotiating rent or conditions is possible,
and adjusting the deposit is also possible in many situations.
→ Of course, not all landlords are like this,
and there are definitely landlords with very rigid preferences.
→ However, if you make a polite request through a licensed real estate agent,
it is often more likely to be accepted than if you ask directly.
▶ For 15-day to 2-month short-term rentals,
the cost is often 150–200%+ higher than regular monthly rent,
and most of these places come fully furnished.
▶ Ultra short-term rentals of 2 months or less
are convenient but can be expensive,
so it is a good idea to consider your budget carefully before choosing.
▶ Officetels are equipped with a refrigerator, washing machine, closet, and air conditioner.
💊 For foreigners settling in Korea for the first time,
a bed, bedding, basic cooking items (pot, bowls, utensils, etc.),
toiletries, and towels are essential items needed right after move-in.
▶ Items like a refrigerator, washing machine, and air conditioner
are often included in the unit,
so it is best to check the contract details first and then decide whether to purchase them.
💊💊 This guide is continuously updated
based on the questions that first-time visitors to Korea
actually have in real life.
▶ If you want to review what you need to prepare
before entering Korea,
please refer to the guide below.
→ Korea Entry and Settlement Guide (2026) | Part 1 – Preparation Before Entry
▶ After you find housing,
you will need to prepare for the next steps, such as
getting an Alien Registration Card (ARC), setting up a phone plan,
and opening a bank account.
→ Korea Entry and Settlement Guide (2026) | Part 3 – Life Setup After Arrival
(Coming soon)
▶ Practical guides for overall life in Korea, including visas and residency,
are continuously updated on the page below.
→ Korea Life & Settlement Guide
▶ The travel guide is updated
with practical information for visiting and living in Korea,
including accommodations, transportation, and shopping tips.
▶ This blog also organizes information on daily life in Korea,
focusing on real issues foreigners experience, such as
health insurance, how to use hospitals,
seasonal clothing, and guidance on Korean universities.