The Real Cost of Utilities and Bills in Suwon (Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You)

okay, so like, i’m running on three hours of sleep and a serious caffeine drip, but i gotta talk about Suwon. seriously. i’ve been here for, what, six weeks now? and it’s… intense. it’s not the postcard-perfect K-drama town everyone thinks it is, you know? it’s gritty, it’s got this weird undercurrent of history and tech, and honestly, the bills are a thing.

seriously, let’s break this down. i’m a touring session drummer, so my expenses are… specific. and Suwon’s not cheap. i found this insane spreadsheet on Reddit (r/Suwon - check it out, it’s actually pretty good, https://www.reddit.com/r/Suwon/) and it’s basically a disaster. but it’s a real disaster.

*Here’s the lowdown (as of today, November 2nd, 2023 - things change faster than my drum fills):

Expense	Estimated Monthly Cost	Notes
Rent (1-bedroom apt)	₩800,000 - ₩1,200,000	Depends heavily on location. Gangnam is insane.
Utilities (Elec, Gas, Water)	₩150,000 - ₩250,000	Korean summers are brutal on the AC.
Internet	₩60,000 - ₩80,000	KT is pretty reliable.
Mobile Data	₩30,000 - ₩50,000	T-Mobile is decent.
Groceries	₩300,000 - ₩450,000	Street food is your friend. Seriously.
Transportation	₩50,000 - ₩100,000	Subway is super efficient.
Entertainment	₩100,000 - ₩200,000	There’s a lot of cheap beer.

Total (Rough Estimate): ₩1,500,000 - ₩2,400,000 (That’s roughly $1100 - $1800 USD. Don’t even think about trying to live on ramen alone.)

Okay, okay, deep breaths. It’s not New York, but it’s definitely a step up from Seoul. I heard from a guy at a dive bar near the train station (don’t ask, it was dark, and he smelled vaguely of kimchi) that you can find decent studios for around ₩700,000 if you’re willing to live a little further out. He also said, and i quote, “Don’t trust the landlords. They’re all snakes.” Drunk advice, obviously.

Speaking of snakes, the job market is… okay. Lots of tech companies, but competition is fierce. I’ve been hitting up LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/ - but it’s mostly just recruiters trying to sell me on software sales. I’m hoping to find some gigs with local bands, but that’s proving difficult. There’s a decent scene, though. I saw a killer band playing in a basement club last week - check out “Echo Bloom” on Spotify.

Here’s a pro-tip (from a guy who’s spent the last three days trying to figure out the Korean payment system): Get a T-money card. Seriously. It’s a lifesaver. And learn a few basic Korean phrases. “Annyeonghaseyo” goes a long way.

Overheard Gossip #1: “The water pressure in my apartment is terrible. Like, you could practically bathe in a puddle.” - A woman at the coffee shop near my place. (TripAdvisor review: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g319495-Suwon_Gyeonggi-Cuisines.html)

Overheard Gossip #2: “I heard they’re building a massive new tech campus just outside the city. Lots of jobs, but also a lot of traffic.” - A guy waiting for the subway.

It’s raining. Like, really raining. It’s this weird, persistent drizzle - not a downpour, just… damp. It’s like the sky is permanently melancholic. It’s not bad, it’s just… Suwon. You can easily take a day trip to Seoul - about an hour by KTX - or head up to the mountains near Pyeongchang (where the Winter Olympics were held) for some seriously stunning views. The air up there is crisp, and the scenery is insane.

Honestly, the biggest surprise? The sheer number of convenience stores. Like, everywhere*. You can buy literally anything you need at a CU or GS25. It’s a bizarre, slightly overwhelming, but ultimately helpful thing.

Anyway, that’s my brain dump for now. I need more coffee. And maybe a new apartment. Seriously, someone send help (and a dehumidifier).

The Real Cost of Utilities and Bills in Suwon (Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You)

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About the author: Emma Hayes

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