Seoul vs Busan Housing 2025: Long-Term Lease, Share House & Officetel Cost Comparison

Long-Term Lease vs Share House vs Officetel in Korea: Cost Comparison (Seoul & Busan)

Choosing housing in Korea can be overwhelming for foreigners, students, or long-term workers. The three most popular options are long-term lease (전세/월세), share houses, and officetels. In this guide, we compare costs in Seoul and Busan (2025) to help you decide which option fits your budget and lifestyle.

1. Housing Types Explained

  • Long-Term Lease: Traditional option with large deposit (jeonse) or monthly rent contracts. Popular for stability.
  • Share House: Co-living with private bedrooms and shared common areas (kitchen, lounge, bathroom). Lower initial costs.
  • Officetel: Mixed-use building, usually one-room apartments suitable for singles or couples, often located in business districts.

2. Key Cost Factors

When comparing costs across Seoul and Busan, consider:

  • Deposit requirements (전세금 / 보증금)
  • Monthly rent and utility bills
  • Location (city center vs suburban areas)
  • Facilities and management fees
  • Contract terms and flexibility

3. Cost Estimates (Seoul 2025)

  • Long-Term Lease: Deposit ₩10M–₩30M + Rent ₩500k–₩1.5M+
  • Share House: Deposit ₩200k–₩500k + Monthly ₩300k–₩600k
  • Officetel: Deposit ₩5M–₩20M + Rent ₩400k–₩1.2M

4. Cost Estimates (Busan 2025)

  • Long-Term Lease: Deposit ₩5M–₩15M + Rent ₩300k–₩800k
  • Share House: Deposit ₩200k–₩400k + Monthly ₩250k–₩500k
  • Officetel: Deposit ₩3M–₩10M + Rent ₩250k–₩700k

5. Cost Comparison Table

Housing Type Seoul (2025) Busan (2025)
Long-Term Lease Deposit ₩10M–₩30M + Rent ₩500k–₩1.5M+ Deposit ₩5M–₩15M + Rent ₩300k–₩800k
Share House Deposit ₩200k–₩500k + Monthly ₩300k–₩600k Deposit ₩200k–₩400k + Monthly ₩250k–₩500k
Officetel Deposit ₩5M–₩20M + Rent ₩400k–₩1.2M Deposit ₩3M–₩10M + Rent ₩250k–₩700k

6. Pros & Cons

Long-Term Lease

  • ✔ Stability and private space
  • ✘ High deposit requirement

Share House

  • ✔ Low upfront cost, social environment
  • ✘ Limited privacy, shared facilities

Officetel

  • ✔ Central location, convenience
  • ✘ Higher rent + management fees

7. Conclusion

In Seoul and Busan, each housing type offers different trade-offs: leases provide stability but require large deposits, share houses are budget-friendly but limit privacy, and officetels balance convenience with higher costs. Evaluate based on budget, lifestyle, and length of stay.

References & Sources:

  • GoBang Share House listings, Busan (2025) – gobang.kr
  • Blueground Korea furnished apartments – blueground.com
  • SH Seoul Housing – i-sh.co.kr
  • Global Property Guide – Korea rental standards

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