u/mynameisfee

Hi! I’ll be attending Sungkyunkwan University in Suwon this fall and I recently made a monthly budget plan for my student life there.

I want to ask if the prices and total monthly expenses look realistic for a student living in a dorm on campus. I plan to live quite frugally, cook most of my meals myself, and reduce transportation usage as much as possible.

A few notes:
- Dormitory fee is NOT included in this table
Initial setup costs (blanket, pillow, kitchen tools, etc.) are also NOT included
- Personal expenses such as skincare, shampoo, cosmetics, hobbies, and non-essential shopping will be paid separately by myself and are not included here
- This budget is mainly the amount I plan to request from my father for basic living expenses only

Do you think this monthly estimate is realistic for Suwon/student life in Korea?
Thank you!

I’m a foreign student who has just been accepted to Sungkyunkwan University in Suwon, and I’d like to ask for some tips about living in Korea, especially on how to save on living expenses.

Is 200,000 won per month enough for a university student living in Suwon?
I’m interested in buying a cafeteria pass that offers discounts, but since I’m Muslim and can’t guarantee the food is halal, would cooking for myself be a cheaper option?
I will be living in a university dorm that costs around 800,000 won for 112 nights (about 3 months), which already includes Wi-Fi, electricity, and access to a shared kitchen. Are there any cheaper alternatives?
I heard that students under 19 years old are not allowed to do a part time job. Is this true? I’m 18 yo this year, are there any possible ways to earn money outside campus? I currently do online math tutoring for my juniors, but I feel like the pay is too low compared to the time I spend (about 1 - 1.5 hours per day, every day), and I only earn around 127,000 - 161,000 won per month.

I would also really appreciate it if you could give me other tips on how to save money in SKorea!! Thank u

Living expenses for intl students