Goshiwon or One-Room Apartment: Which Saves More on Living Costs?

A goshiwon (budget rooming house) trades away quality of life in exchange for saving 300,000–500,000 won per month.

In the Seoul metropolitan area, a goshiwon's monthly fixed costs run about 250,000–550,000 won, while a one-room apartment, with maintenance and utility fees included, costs roughly 600,000–1.1 million won. Over a year, that adds up to a gap of 4–6 million won. On the other hand, the upfront costs of moving into a one-room apartment are far heavier. Here is a breakdown of the cost structures of the two housing types, item by item, to determine which option pays off under which conditions.

Upfront Costs: 'One Backpack' for a Goshiwon, Millions of Won for a One-Room

The Deposit and Brokerage Fee Gap

A goshiwon typically requires no deposit, or one of around 1 million won—just the monthly rent and you can move in right away. A one-room apartment is different. A security deposit of 3–10 million won is standard, and a jeonse (lump-sum lease) requires tens of millions of won. On top of that comes a brokerage fee, legally capped at a maximum of 0.9%, calculated based on the deposit and monthly rent.

Moving Costs and Appliance/Furniture Expenses

With a goshiwon, there's virtually no moving cost since you have little to bring. Many provide a bed, desk, and refrigerator as standard. A one-room apartment starts with moving costs of 200,000–500,000 won, plus 500,000–1.5 million won to purchase your own bed, desk, TV, and more. Refrigerators and washing machines are often provided by the building, but the burden grows if the unit is unfurnished.

Monthly Fixed Costs: Judging by Face-Value Rent Alone Leads You Astray

True Costs Must Include Maintenance, Internet, and Heating

Monthly rent for goshiwons in the metropolitan area ranges from 250,000 to 550,000 won, compared with 450,000 to 800,000 won for one-room apartments. New buildings or units near subway stations exceed 800,000 won. The real issue lies in costs beyond rent. One-room apartments charge separate maintenance fees of 80,000–200,000 won; installing internet under your own name adds about 20,000 won a month, with the possibility of contract cancellation penalties. Winter gas heating bills can soar to 30,000–150,000 won. For goshiwons, maintenance fees are usually included in the rent, but some charge electricity separately, so it's important to confirm what's included before signing.

The Reversal in Food Costs

Goshiwons have limited or no shared kitchens, allowing only rice-cooker-level cooking. Growing reliance on dining out and convenience stores makes food expenses climb easily. With a one-room apartment, you can cook for yourself, yielding significant savings on food. This difference partially offsets the rent gap.

Hidden Costs and Risks

Goshiwon Noise and the Renovated-Building Trap

No housing type offers complete soundproofing, but goshiwons are especially vulnerable to noise due to thin walls. Over a long stay, stress can lead to increased spending on dining out and leisure, or expenses for cafés and gyms as you seek more comfortable spaces. Many residents who have lived alone warn that buildings created by dividing existing multi-unit homes or villas into multiple rooms have poor soundproofing and insulation due to their brick construction, resulting in wasted heating costs. It's best to avoid such listings.

Deposit Risks of One-Room Apartments

One-room apartments often see disputes over deposit increases at lease renewal or renewed brokerage fees. With jeonse leases, you're exposed to deposit refund issues. Jeonse deposit insurance can protect you, at a fairly affordable 15,000–25,000 won per year. A goshiwon's advantage is that its deposit is so small that these risks are minimal.

So Who Benefits from Which?

Short-Term Stays or Tight Budgets: Goshiwon

If you're job hunting, studying for exams, staying temporarily for under 6 months to a year, and have initial capital of 1 million won or less, the goshiwon wins by a landslide. The upfront savings of several million won more than offset a monthly rent difference of 100,000–300,000 won within a year. It's worth prioritizing women-only or newly built goshiwons and trying to negotiate the rent for a longer stay.

Staying 2+ Years or Working from Home: One-Room Apartment

If you plan to stay long-term and value quality of life—cooking, working from home, and so on—a one-room apartment's real cost-effectiveness rises. For remote workers especially, a goshiwon's noise and space constraints carry a cost that's hard to put a number on. Effective strategies include moving during the off-season to cut brokerage and moving fees, and taking out jeonse deposit insurance to guard against deposit risk.

What to Check Before Signing

For a goshiwon, check whether maintenance fees are included, the rules for using the kitchen and laundry room, and the soundproofing. For a one-room apartment, confirm whether internet is included in the maintenance fee, whether the mortgage-to-deposit ratio on the official registry is safe, and whether the brokerage fee is within the legal cap. Since market rates vary greatly by region and time, comparing directly on portals like Zigbang, Dabang, Naver Real Estate, and Goshiwon Nara is the most accurate approach.

A phased approach—'6 months in a goshiwon, then switch to a one-room'—is also a realistic option. Use the goshiwon's low fixed costs while you build up initial capital, then move to a one-room apartment once your funds are ready. Your length of stay and the money in your hand ultimately decide the answer.