Study in Daegu: Living Costs, Universities & Student Life

 → Are you considering studying abroad in Daegu? 

→ Compared to Seoul and Busan, Daegu offers a lower cost of living along with a relatively quiet and stable environment.

→ When considering factors such as its industrial structure, universities, housing costs, and part-time job opportunities, Daegu is regarded as one of the more practical study abroad options.

View of Daegu from Apsan Observatory  
Source: Korea Tourism Organization (Photokorea), Photo by Im Taewon

●●🟧 Daegu

●🟦✓ City Overview

Daegu is South Korea’s third-largest city and a major metropolitan center in the Yeongnam region, with a population of about 2.4 million.
Traditionally known for its textile industry, it is now an industrial city where machinery, medical, and advanced industries are also growing.

Although smaller in scale than Seoul and Busan, it is a self-sustaining city with well-developed commercial, educational, and residential infrastructure.

●🟦✓ Accessibility

By KTX, it takes about 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours to reach Seoul.
Busan can be reached in about 1 hour or less, and Daegu also offers both domestic and international travel through Daegu International Airport.

●🟦✓ Characteristics of Daegu

▶ The main commercial district is centered around Dongseong-ro.
▶ Educational and residential areas are well developed around Suseong-gu.
▶ It has an inland-based industrial city structure.
▶ Its relatively compact urban layout makes getting around easy.
▶ The cost of living is lower than in Seoul.

●🟦✓ Major Universities

▶ National University
Kyungpook National University

▶ Private Universities in Daegu
Keimyung University, Kyungil University, Daegu Haany University

▶ Private Universities in Gyeongsan, a satellite city of Daegu
Yeungnam University, Daegu University, Daegu Catholic University

▶ Junior Colleges
Yeungjin University, known for its high employment rate and hands-on, practice-oriented education, has strengths in technical fields such as IT, electronics, machinery, and semiconductors.
There is also Daegu Health College, which specializes in health and medical fields such as nursing, dental hygiene, radiologic technology, physical therapy, and clinical pathology.

●🟦✓ Housing Environment and Costs

Daegu generally has lower housing costs than Seoul and Busan.

▶ Example of single-person housing (Daegu average)
21㎡ studio apartment (including officetel-style apartments)

Lease deposit: about KRW 2,000,000 ~ KRW 8,000,000
(about USD 1,380 ~ USD 5,520)

Monthly rent: about KRW 350,000 ~ KRW 650,000
(about USD 240 ~ USD 450)

※ Popular areas such as Suseong-gu may be slightly more expensive.

Compared to Seoul, prices are often about 40~60% lower for units of the same size.

●🟦✓ Natural Environment of Daegu

▶ The Geumho River and Nakdong River run through the city, with well-developed waterfront walking trails and parks.

▶ It is close to Palgongsan and Apsan, allowing residents to enjoy both river and mountain scenery even within the city.

▶ Although it is an inland city, it has relatively easy access to both the East Sea and the South Sea, making weekend trips convenient.

●🟦✓ Advantages of Studying in Daegu

▶ Compared to Seoul, the lower cost of living can reduce expenses by about 20~30%.

▶ The city is compact, resulting in shorter commute and travel times and greater daily efficiency.

▶ With well-developed machinery, manufacturing, medical, and textile industries, it offers strong employment opportunities for related majors.

▶ Compared to larger cities, it provides a relatively quiet and stable environment that is ideal for focusing on academics.

▶ With convenient KTX access to Seoul and Busan, it is well positioned for travel to major cities.

●🟦✓ Part-Time Job Environment in Daegu

▶ Daegu has a relatively low cost of living and a high concentration of commercial facilities, making it possible to find a variety of part-time job opportunities.

→ Service-sector jobs such as cafés, restaurants, convenience stores, PC cafés, and cleaning work are relatively easy to find.

▶ In outer areas and industrial complexes, both long-term and short-term jobs are available at factories and logistics centers.

→ In particular, demand for manufacturing and logistics-related jobs tends to increase during school breaks.

▶ In areas near Daegu, some agriculture-related jobs are also available, and short-term positions may arise depending on the season.

▶ Many people also live in nearby satellite cities such as Gyeongsan and Chilgok while commuting to Daegu for part-time work.

●🟦✓ Recommended Majors

▶ Engineering (machinery, electronics, materials, auto parts, etc.)
→ A representative major with strong employment potential due to connections with industrial complexes in Daegu and Gumi.

▶ Defense industry (related to precision machinery, electronics, and precision parts)
→ The presence of defense industry companies connected to machinery and parts industries provides advantages for practical training and employment.

▶ Textiles and Fashion (industrial base including textile materials, dyeing, fabric, clothing, socks, and bedding)
→ Based on Daegu’s traditional industries, this field covers the full industrial structure from raw materials to finished products.

▶ Industrial and Manufacturing-related majors (machinery, production, quality control, etc.)
→ With a high concentration of small and mid-sized companies and manufacturing plants, hands-on experience is readily available.

▶ Medical and Health fields (medicine, nursing, medical devices, biotech)
→ Stable career paths are supported by strong regional medical infrastructure and university hospitals.

▶ IT, AI, and Data (growth sectors centered around advanced industrial complexes)
→ These are future-oriented industries growing alongside the development of Daegu’s advanced industrial complexes.

▶ Business and Trade
→ Employment opportunities are available at small and mid-sized companies and export-oriented firms connected to regional industries.

Main entrance of Keimyung University in Daegu, South Korea  

Source: Korea Tourism Organization (Photokorea), Photo by Yang Ji New Film

●🟦✓ Living Environment for International Students

▶ Compared to Seoul or Busan, Daegu has a lower proportion of foreign residents, offering a quieter and more stable living environment.

▶ With less day-to-day competition and noise than larger cities, it provides a more focused environment for academic study.

▶ However, foreign communities and English-speaking environments may be relatively limited, so a certain level of Korean proficiency or an adjustment period may be required.

▶ On the other hand, increased interaction with the local community allows for a deeper experience of Korean culture and daily life.

●🟦✓ Satellite Cities of Daegu

▶ Gyeongsan City (Gyeongsan)

→ Gyeongsan is directly adjacent to Daegu. Although it is administratively separate, it is connected by subway lines and road networks, so in practical terms it is considered part of the same living area as Daegu.

Many people commute between Gyeongsan and Daegu, and travel time is about 20–30 minutes by car.

Gyeongsan has a population of about 280,000 and is a representative university city where major institutions such as Yeungnam University, Daegu University, and Daegu Catholic University are concentrated.

It has a high proportion of students, and many live in Gyeongsan while commuting to Daegu for school or part-time work.

Housing costs are generally slightly lower than in Daegu, and student-oriented housing such as studio apartments, officetels, and dormitories is well developed, especially around university areas.

Although the city itself is not large, it has well-developed university-centered commercial districts and everyday infrastructure, making it a relatively convenient place for international students to live.

→ All universities in Gyeongsan are private institutions, including Yeungnam University, Daegu University, and Daegu Catholic University.

→ Housing costs in Gyeongsan are about 10–20% lower than in Daegu.

💊 Gyeongsan has a high concentration of universities, and although it is administratively separate, it shares the same living area as Daegu. As a result, universities in Gyeongsan are often recognized in Korea as part of the broader Daegu university system.

▶ Chilgok County (Chilgok)

Chilgok County, with a population of about 100,000, is located north of Daegu. Although it is administratively part of Gyeongsangbuk-do, it is closely connected to Daegu in daily life and can effectively be considered part of Daegu’s outer living area.

It takes about 20–30 minutes by car to reach downtown Daegu, and some areas are connected to the Daegu subway system, allowing for commuting to work or school.

Rather than being a large industrial city, Chilgok is an area where residential zones and small industrial complexes coexist, and it often functions as a suburban residential area of Daegu.

Housing costs are lower than in Daegu, making it a suitable option for those who prefer a quieter and more stable living environment.

Although there are not many universities, its proximity to Daegu allows students to commute to universities in Daegu or combine their studies with part-time work there.

💊 Housing costs in Chilgok County are relatively lower than in Daegu’s outer areas, and in some cases can be about 20–30% cheaper. Some people choose to live in Chilgok and commute to Daegu to reduce housing expenses.

▶ Gumi (Gumi)

Located about 40 minutes from Daegu, Gumi is an industrial city with a population of about 400,000.

Since the 1970s, the electronics industry has been well developed there, and it was once known as the “Silicon Valley of Korea,” serving as a key center of the country’s electronics industry.

Although some industries declined after the 2000s, it remains a major manufacturing city with numerous factories operated by both large corporations and small to mid-sized companies.

It produces and exports IT devices, semiconductors, LED products, and equipment related to the defense industry, and continues to maintain its position as one of South Korea’s leading industrial cities.

In particular, LG Innotek operates camera module and semiconductor substrate plants there, SK Siltron operates a semiconductor wafer plant, and Samsung Electronics manufactures smartphones, tablet PCs, and 5G telecommunications equipment.

▶ Major Universities in Gumi

Kumoh National Institute of Technology is a national university located in Gumi, along with junior colleges such as Gumi University and Catholic Sangji College.

💊 Housing costs in Gumi are about 20–30% lower than in Daegu, and there are also many part-time job opportunities during school breaks.

→ Gumi is not only an industrial city but also a place where urban life and nature coexist.

City and natural landscape in Gumi, South Korea  

Source: Korea Tourism Organization (Photokorea), Photo by Kang Minhee

Q. I want to major in fashion. Is Daegu also a good choice?

▶ For a fashion major, Seoul offers a more favorable environment, as trends, brands, and the fashion industry are highly concentrated there.

▶ Seoul is known for its fast-changing fashion trends and dense concentration of diverse brands and industries, providing strong access to practical experience and up-to-date information.

▶ However, Daegu has a well-developed textile industry, making it a good environment for understanding and studying the foundational industries related to fabric, dyeing, textile materials, and finished products such as blankets and socks.

▶ Therefore, if your career path focuses on fashion design or brands, Seoul may be a better fit. However, if you want to learn about industrial foundations such as textile materials, production, and related materials, Daegu can still be a very good choice.

Q. I want to study physical therapy. What is Daegu like for that?

▶ For health and medical majors, including physical therapy, Daegu can be a strong option.

▶ Daegu has well-established medical infrastructure and university hospitals, providing an environment where hands-on, practice-based education is possible.

▶ In particular, it is known as a region where education in health-related fields such as physical therapy, nursing, and radiologic technology is actively developed.

▶ However, since medical fields require direct interaction with patients, a certain level of Korean language proficiency may be required.

Q. How much cheaper is Daegu than Seoul?

▶ Compared to Seoul, Daegu generally has a lower overall cost of living, and based on housing costs, savings of about 20–40% are often possible.

▶ In particular, studio apartments and officetels tend to have lower key money deposits and monthly rent, making them less burdensome for international students.

▶ Food and transportation costs are also generally lower than in Seoul, so an overall reduction in living expenses can be expected.

 

→ Guide to essential administrative procedures after entering Korea

→ Housing guide for foreigners in Korea

→ Understanding Korea’s housing system

→ Study in Busan: Cost of Living, Universities & Part-Time Jobs

👉 We plan to introduce and compare major cities in Korea, including Seoul, the Seoul metropolitan area, Busan, Incheon, Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, Ulsan, Jeonju, Cheonan–Asan, and Wonju.