Living
Banking, remittance, phones, housing, driving, cost of living and the paperwork of daily life in Korea.
Latest guides
Living · 5 min readCost of Living in Korea for a Foreigner (2026)A single foreigner in Seoul spends about ₩1.5M a month before rent; a one-room averages ₩820,000. Busan and regional cities run 20–35% lower on rent.
Opening a Korean Bank Account as a Foreigner (2026)With a Residence Card any major bank opens an account, but it starts limited (₩1M/day online) until you show a job. Toss takes foreigners; KakaoBank does not. · 6 min read
Driving in Korea as a Foreigner (2026)An IDP is valid one year from entry. To exchange: 5 countries swap outright, recognised countries skip the written test, others sit a 40-question exam. · 6 min read
Going to the Doctor in Korea as a Foreigner (2026)Korea's system starts small: a clinic (의원) costs a few thousand won with NHIS at 30% co-pay; big hospitals charge 60% and need a referral. Costs and English. · 6 min read
Getting a Korean Phone Number as a Foreigner (2026)A Korean number in your name unlocks bank apps and identity checks. Prepaid needs a passport; postpaid a Residence Card; MVNO plans ₩10,000–30,000 a month. · 5 min read
Korea's Residence Card (ARC) in 2026Stay over 90 days and you must register within 90 days of arrival (₩30,000). Now the Residence Card, with a mobile version since 2025. Deadlines and fines. · 4 min read
Sending Money Home from Korea (2026)Foreign residents can remit US$50,000 a year with no paperwork, and unlimited Korean income with a payslip. The 2026 $100,000 reform is for Koreans only. · 5 min read
Trash, Recycling, Your Address and Utilities in Korea (2026)General waste goes only in your district's paid bag (Seoul 20L ₩490), food waste separately, recycling sorted. Fines, road-name addresses, utilities. · 5 min read