cities in South Korea
In Korea the right to work part-time is earned through Korean-language proficiency, not granted with the visa. That single rule shapes every plan to fund your own study here.
A D-2 student visa does not, by itself, let you work. You must apply for permission, and the number of hours you are allowed depends on your TOPIK level — the standardised Korean proficiency test — and on maintaining satisfactory academic standing.
For a Nepali student planning to fund living costs through part-time work, that makes Korean-language study a financial necessity rather than a cultural bonus. Arriving with no Korean means arriving with restricted earning capacity in an expensive country.
What the city changes is cost, the shape of the job market, and how much English you can get by on. Tap a pin to open a city.
costs more / mid-range / costs less compare these cities to each other, not to anywhere else. They are our reading of the spread across South Korea, not a published index — the sourced money figures are on the costs page.
What changes between Korean cities.
TOPIK controls your hours
National rule. Higher Korean proficiency means more permitted part-time hours. It is the single biggest lever on your budget.
Cost of living
Seoul is far more expensive than anywhere else, housing above all. Daejeon and Busan are substantially cheaper.
The job market
Seoul holds most corporate employment. Daejeon is government research and science; Busan is port, logistics and tourism.
Housing deposits
Korean rentals often demand a large refundable deposit. University dormitories avoid it — apply early, they are the cheapest option by far.