Seoul 2-Person Room vs Single Room: Save ₩550,000 Monthly with a Friend
The question everyone asks: "Should I get my own room or share with a friend?"
The answer might surprise you. Let's break down the real numbers, hidden costs, and quality-of-life differences between single rooms and 2-person rooms in Seoul. Spoiler alert: sharing doesn't just save money—it often gives you a better living experience.
The Numbers: How Much You Actually Save
Monthly Cost Comparison
Room Type | Monthly Rent | Per Person Cost | Space per Person |
|---|---|---|---|
Single Room | ₩1,300,000 | ₩1,300,000 | 8-12㎡ |
2-Person Room | ₩1,500,000 | ₩750,000 | 10-13㎡ |
Difference | +₩200,000 total | -₩550,000 saved | +2-4㎡ more |
Your monthly savings per person: ₩550,000 ($410 USD)
3-Month Stay Breakdown
Duration | Single Room Cost | 2-Person Room (per person) | Total Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
1 Month | ₩1,300,000 | ₩750,000 | ₩550,000 |
2 Months | ₩2,600,000 | ₩1,500,000 | ₩1,100,000 |
3 Months | ₩3,900,000 | ₩2,250,000 | ₩1,650,000 |
That's ₩1,650,000 ($1,225) saved over 3 months.
Beyond the Price Tag: What You're Actually Getting
Single Room: The Reality
Typical Single Room in Seoul (₩1,300,000/month)
Space & Layout:
8-12㎡ total space (about 86-130 sq ft)
Single bed + small desk + compact closet
Often feels cramped with all your belongings
Limited space for guests
Minimal room to move around
What's Usually Included:
Basic furniture (bed, desk, chair, small closet)
Private or semi-private bathroom
Small kitchenette or shared kitchen
Wi-Fi and utilities (sometimes)
Air conditioning/heating
The Hidden Costs:
Deposit: ₩1,300,000-2,600,000 (1-2 months rent)
Utilities (if not included): ₩50,000-80,000/month
Internet (if not included): ₩30,000/month
Initial setup: ₩100,000-200,000 (bedding, kitchen basics)
Total first-month cost: ₩2,780,000-4,180,000
The Solo Living Experience:
Complete privacy and independence
Your own schedule—no coordination needed
Quiet when you need it
But... can feel isolating, especially at first
No one to split errands, cooking, or chores with
All decisions (and problems) are yours alone
2-Person Room: The Reality
Typical 2-Person Room in Seoul (₩1,500,000/month total)
Space & Layout:
18-25㎡ total space (about 194-269 sq ft)
Two separate beds with privacy spacing
Two desks with proper work areas
Two closets or storage units
Actually feels spacious for two people
Common area space for hanging out
What's Usually Included:
Two complete furniture sets (everything × 2)
Private bathroom (bigger than single room)
Kitchenette or kitchen access
Wi-Fi and utilities included
Air conditioning/heating
Often includes cleaning service
The Split Costs:
Deposit per person: ₩375,000-750,000 (half of 1-2 months)
Utilities: Included or split = ₩25,000-40,000 each
Internet: Usually included
Initial setup: ₩50,000-100,000 each (split costs)
Total first-month cost per person: ₩1,200,000-1,650,000
The Shared Living Experience:
Built-in companion for exploring Seoul
Share cooking, cleaning, and daily tasks
Someone to help with language barriers
Split errands and grocery shopping
Emotional support during culture shock
More space per person than you'd expect
Still maintain personal boundaries and privacy
The Real Savings: It's Not Just About Rent
Monthly Cost Comparison: The Full Picture
Expense Category | Single Room | 2-Person Room (per person) | Monthly Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
Rent | ₩1,300,000 | ₩750,000 | ₩550,000 |
Utilities | ₩60,000 | ₩30,000 | ₩30,000 |
Internet | ₩30,000 | ₩15,000 | ₩15,000 |
Cleaning supplies | ₩20,000 | ₩10,000 | ₩10,000 |
Initial setup | ₩200,000 | ₩100,000 | ₩100,000 |
Monthly Total | ₩1,410,000 | ₩805,000 | ₩605,000 |
Adding indirect savings:
Shared groceries: Save ₩150,000/month
Shared meals out: Save ₩75,000/month
Shared transportation: Save ₩30,000/month
Shared entertainment: Save ₩45,000/month
Total monthly savings: ₩905,000 ($673)
That's almost a free month of rent every single month just by sharing.
Real Experiences: Student Testimonials
Sarah & Emma - UCLA Exchange Students (3 months)
Sarah: "I was so worried about sharing a room at 25 years old—I hadn't had a roommate since freshman year of college. But Emma and I figured out a system quickly. We'd give each other 'alone time' signals with our headphones. The money we saved meant we could travel to Japan for a week. Best decision ever."
Emma: "The funny thing? Sarah actually got more 'me time' in our 2-person room than I did in my single apartment back in LA. When one of us wanted alone time, the other would just go to a cafe. In LA, I felt obligated to stay home. Here, we gave each other permission to have space."
Savings: ₩550,000/month each = Used for Japan trip
James - Australian Gap Year Student (6 months)
First 3 months (single goshiwon): "I thought I wanted privacy, so I got my own goshiwon for ₩800,000/month. It was tiny, lonely, and depressing. I spent most of my time in cafes because my room was so cramped. I was also constantly worried about money."
Last 3 months (2-person room): "My friend Tom joined me for the second half. We got a 2-person room for ₩1,400,000 total (₩700,000 each). Even though I was paying ₩100,000 less, the space felt BIGGER because it was designed for two. Plus, coming home to a friend made all the difference. I actually enjoyed being in my room."
Key insight: Better space + companionship + savings = happier experience
Priya & Maya - Indian Language Students (2 months)
Priya: "We're cousins who decided to learn Korean together. Our families were worried about us being so far from home, but sharing a room made the transition so much easier. When I was homesick, Maya was there. When she was stressed about Korean grammar, I helped. We split everything—groceries, cooking, even studying—and it felt manageable."
Maya: "The financial aspect was huge for us. Our parents were paying for the trip, and by sharing, we cut the accommodation cost by 40%. That meant our parents were more comfortable with us staying longer. We extended our 2-month plan to 3 months because of the savings."
Result: Extended their stay due to savings + better experience together
Marcus - German Solo Traveler → Shared Room Convert
Marcus: "I'll be honest—I booked a 2-person room with my friend purely for money reasons. I'm an introvert and thought I'd hate sharing. But you know what? It was fine. We respected each other's space, used headphones, and had a simple system. The apartment had enough room that we weren't on top of each other."
"More importantly, having someone to explore Seoul with made me way more social than I would've been alone. We'd push each other to try new restaurants, go to events, and make plans. Solo, I probably would've stayed in more. The shared room actually made me more extroverted."
Unexpected benefit: Social motivation + still had introvert recharge space
The Financial Reality: 3-Month Case Study
Let's follow two fictional students with the same ₩5,000,000 budget for 3 months in Seoul.
Alex - Single Room (₩1,300,000/month)
Month 1: ₩1,300,000 (room) + ₩60,000 (utilities) + ₩200,000 (setup) = ₩1,560,000
Month 2: ₩1,360,000
Month 3: ₩1,360,000
Total accommodation: ₩4,280,000
Remaining budget: ₩720,000 for food, transport, activities (₩240,000/month)
Reality check: ₩240,000/month for everything else is extremely tight
Food alone: ₩450,000/month minimum
Transport: ₩90,000/month
Activities: ₩150,000/month minimum
Alex's experience: Constantly stressed about money, couldn't do many activities, ate cheap convenience store food, missed out on travel opportunities, returned home with regrets about "not fully experiencing Seoul."
Jordan & Sam - 2-Person Room (₩750,000/month each)
Month 1: ₩750,000 (room) + ₩30,000 (utilities) + ₩100,000 (setup) = ₩880,000
Month 2: ₩780,000
Month 3: ₩780,000
Total accommodation: ₩2,440,000
Remaining budget: ₩2,560,000 for food, transport, activities (₩853,000/month)
Reality check: ₩853,000/month for everything else is comfortable
Food: ₩400,000/month (shared cooking + eating out)
Transport: ₩90,000/month
Activities: ₩300,000/month (concerts, trips, experiences)
Savings: ₩63,000/month buffer
Jordan & Sam's experience: Relaxed about money, tried every Korean food, took weekend trips to Busan and Jeju, attended K-pop concert, bought plenty of souvenirs, returned home with incredible memories and still had emergency fund left over.
Same ₩5,000,000 budget. Completely different experiences.
Ready to Experience Seoul the Smart Way?
Mangrove offers thoughtfully designed 2-person rooms perfect for friends looking to maximize their Seoul experience while minimizing costs. Located in vibrant neighborhoods with easy access to subway stations, our rooms feature:
✨ Thoughtfully designed spaces with optimal bed placement for privacy
🪑 Two of everything - separate desks, storage units, and personal space
💰 All-inclusive pricing - Wi-Fi, utilities, and cleaning service included
🏢 Prime locations in Hongdae, Sinchon, and other popular areas
🤝 Flexible booking - Perfect for 1-3 month stays with no complicated contracts
🌐 English support - Easy communication from booking to check-out
Special offer: Book 28 nights or more and get 40% off!