Living Costs in Seoul, Korea

Hardly a day goes by without someone asking me something that makes me tell myself that I really should write about living costs in Seoul in case anyone wants to know. So here is it, my best approximation, as a fool-hardy, cost-uncaring Malaysian on how much it would cost you to do stuff for a few days here (note: this piece is best viewed through the eyes of a tourist intending for a short stay, for migration, e-migration, transit and other space/time altered visit, google more).

Rough Currency Conversion
1000 won = 1 USD (the won is slightly stronger, but not high enough to make too much of an impact)

Travel

• Cabs start at 1900 won. A 15 minute ride with moderate traffic and the occasional corner cutting would put you back 6000 won. Cabs are relatively easy to get, although most cabbies won't speak English. If you have a map, address or name of the place you're going, it should be okay (trusty GPS finder will guide you there!)
• Bus starts at 900 won with bus/subway card or 1000 won without. There are also small subway shuttle busses that start at 600 won. Busses are quick in Seoul (they bulldoze through special bus lanes). Understanding how they work might take a little time though. There are English announcements in most busses (of each bus stop), or at least of the name of the stop (which is often a subway station, so that's easily recognized). Easiest to use a bus to get to a subway station or central point, for example tons (quite literally) of busses go to Seoul Station from everywhere.
• Subway is fast and easy. You can get maps in English and there are English announcements and signs. A ride starts at 900 won (with card, without card 1000). All intra city travelling is pretty much 900 won.
• The best plan is to get a bus card which you can use for both subway and busses. If you transfer from one subway line to another and/or to the bus within the same zone, you don't have to pay extra. Get your home location written in Korean so you can show it to a cabby.
• Summary, you can travel around quite easily for quite cheap.
  

Food

• The cost of food varies greatly depending on where you eat (big/small, parts of the city) and what you eat (korean food cheap, foreign food not). Downside is usually the cheapest places (and often yummiest) have no Korean menus. So unless you can learn Korean on the flight over (hey, I did it!) then you might have to pay a little more, make local friends, or eat randomly from the menu.
• A big bowl of Ramen noodles : 2500 to 3500 won
• Kimchi fried rice : 2500 to 3500 won
• Big Mac Meal : 4500 won (I think, usually inebriated when purchasing said item)
  
• Beer (yes, it's food!) : 2500 to 3500 won a mug of local brews in local average pub. Don't know about expensive places because, well, they're expensive! You can also get beer in pitchers, 2000 cc about 7000 - 9000 won and 3000 cc 10000 - 140000 won.
• Soju - 1500 won a bottle. A small price to pay for happiness.
• Smokes - 2500 a pack
• One Apple - 800 to 1000 won

okay, I'm getting hungry. Will complete this later.