How much does a small studio in Seoul actually cost? It depends a lot on the district. In July 2026, the average one-room rented for ₩690,000 a month with a ₩10 million deposit. In Gangnam-gu (강남구), the same kind of room averaged ₩970,000. In Dobong-gu (도봉구), it was about ₩480,000.
We mapped all 25 districts (gu, 구) so you can see where your budget fits before you start searching. Below the map, you'll find what the numbers mean, the Korean rental terms you'll run into, and how to protect your deposit as a foreigner.
At a Glance
- A one-room in Seoul averaged ₩690,000 a month in July 2026, with a ₩10 million deposit.
- Gangnam-gu is the most expensive at ₩970,000. The northeast is cheapest: Dobong-gu, Nowon-gu and Seongbuk-gu run about ₩480,000–₩520,000.
- You pay a refundable deposit up front, and a monthly maintenance fee on top of rent.
- After you move in, report your new address within 15 days. That step, plus your ARC, is what protects your deposit.
- Check who owns the room, and what debt is on it, before you send any money.
What the Numbers Mean
These are real contracts, not asking prices. The figures come from Dabang (다방), one of Korea's big rental apps. Each month it analyzes rental deals reported to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (국토교통부). This map uses its July 2026 report, released on September 1, 2026.
The data covers one-rooms of 33㎡ or less (about 355 sq ft) in low-rise row houses and multi-family "villa" buildings (연립·다세대). Officetels and apartments are not included.
Why "on a ₩10 million deposit"? In Korea, deposit and rent move against each other. A bigger deposit usually means lower rent. So Dabang converts every deal to the same ₩10 million (1,000만원) deposit to make districts comparable. Only monthly-rent deals with a deposit under ₩100 million are counted.
One more detail. Dabang published won amounts for the nine priciest districts. For the other 16, it published each district's rent as a percentage of the Seoul average. We multiplied that percentage by ₩690,000 and rounded to the nearest ₩10,000. Those figures carry a "≈" and could be off by about ₩10,000.
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Seoul One-Room Rent by District (July 2026)
Here are all 25 districts, from most to least expensive. The last column shows each district compared with the Seoul average, as Dabang reported it.
| # | District | Avg. monthly rent | vs. Seoul avg. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ● Gangnam-gu (강남구) | ₩970,000 | 141% |
| 2 | ● Yongsan-gu (용산구) | ₩870,000 | 127% |
| 3 | ● Seongdong-gu (성동구) | ₩820,000 | 120% |
| 4 | ● Gwanak-gu (관악구) | ₩810,000 | 117% |
| 5 | ● Mapo-gu (마포구) | ₩770,000 | 112% |
| 6 | ● Seocho-gu (서초구) | ₩750,000 | 110% |
| 7 | ● Gwangjin-gu (광진구) | ₩740,000 | 108% |
| 8 | ● Jungnang-gu (중랑구) | ₩740,000 | 108% |
| 9 | ● Dongdaemun-gu (동대문구) | ₩730,000 | 107% |
| 10 | ● Gangseo-gu (강서구) | ≈₩690,000 | 100% |
| 11 | ● Dongjak-gu (동작구) | ≈₩690,000 | 100% |
| 12 | ● Gangdong-gu (강동구) | ≈₩680,000 | 99% |
| 13 | ● Yeongdeungpo-gu (영등포구) | ≈₩650,000 | 94% |
| 14 | ● Songpa-gu (송파구) | ≈₩640,000 | 93% |
| 15 | ● Seodaemun-gu (서대문구) | ≈₩630,000 | 91% |
| 16 | ● Gangbuk-gu (강북구) | ≈₩610,000 | 89% |
| 17 | ● Yangcheon-gu (양천구) | ≈₩610,000 | 89% |
| 18 | ● Geumcheon-gu (금천구) | ≈₩610,000 | 88% |
| 19 | ● Jongno-gu (종로구) | ≈₩600,000 | 87% |
| 20 | ● Eunpyeong-gu (은평구) | ≈₩590,000 | 85% |
| 21 | ● Jung-gu (중구) | ≈₩570,000 | 83% |
| 22 | ● Guro-gu (구로구) | ≈₩550,000 | 80% |
| 23 | ● Seongbuk-gu (성북구) | ≈₩520,000 | 75% |
| 24 | ● Nowon-gu (노원구) | ≈₩500,000 | 72% |
| 25 | ● Dobong-gu (도봉구) | ≈₩480,000 | 69% |
Red: ₩720,000 or more. Orange: ₩580,000–₩710,000. Blue: under ₩580,000. "≈" = our estimate from Dabang's percentage. All figures on a ₩10 million deposit basis, 33㎡ or smaller.
Gangnam is almost exactly double Dobong. Gangnam-gu has had Seoul's highest one-room rent for 14 months in a row, according to Dabang. Coverage of the report points to the usual drivers: big business districts, universities and good transit access.
Gwanak-gu (관악구) may surprise you. It's home to Seoul National University and lots of small student rooms, yet in July it came in fourth, at ₩810,000. When you compare districts, go by the current numbers, not a neighborhood's old image.
Keep in mind that one month can swing. In June 2026, the Seoul average was ₩640,000 and Gangnam was ₩1,020,000. A few new, expensive buildings in a small district can move its average a lot. Use the map for rough budgeting, then check real listings.
Renting vs Buying: What an Apartment Costs in Each District
Seocho-gu (서초구) is Seoul's most expensive place to buy, at ₩2.48 billion for an average 24-pyeong apartment in September 2026. Gangnam-gu (강남구) is close behind at ₩2.38 billion, followed by Yongsan-gu (₩1.93 billion) and Songpa-gu (₩1.89 billion). The cheapest are Dobong-gu (도봉구) and Geumcheon-gu (금천구), both at about ₩590 million.
The gap is much wider for buyers than for renters. A one-room in Gangnam rents for about twice what it does in Dobong. An apartment in Seocho costs about four times as much as one in Dobong.
Districts that are expensive to rent are usually expensive to buy. Gangnam, Yongsan, Seongdong and Mapo sit near the top of both maps, and Dobong and Nowon sit near the bottom. There are exceptions. Gwanak-gu has the fourth-highest one-room rent but an average apartment price of only ₩830 million.
A pyeong (평) is about 3.3㎡. A "24-pyeong" apartment is Korea's standard family-size unit: about 80㎡ including shared space, or about 59㎡ of usable floor area. These prices are district averages, so treat them as a rough guide. Prices within one district can vary widely by building age and subway access.
Korean Rental Terms, in One Line Each
- One-room (원룸, wonrum): a studio. One main room with a small kitchen area and your own bathroom.
- Officetel (오피스텔): a studio in a building zoned for both offices and homes, often newer and with building management.
- Goshiwon (고시원): a very small private room, often with a shared kitchen or bathroom. Originally built for exam students, now a common low-budget option.
- Wolse (월세): monthly rent. You pay a deposit plus rent every month. This is what the map shows.
- Jeonse (전세): a large lump-sum deposit instead of monthly rent. You get it back when the lease ends.
- Deposit (보증금, bojeunggeum): money you pay up front. The landlord returns it when you move out.
- Maintenance fee (관리비, gwallibi): a monthly building fee paid on top of rent. What it covers varies, so ask.
How to read a listing: Korean listings usually show deposit first, then rent, in units of 10,000 won (만원). So "500/50" means a ₩5 million deposit and ₩500,000 a month.
Living Near a University: What Students Pay
The average around 10 major Seoul universities was ₩625,000 a month in July 2026, plus ₩84,000 in maintenance fees. That's Dabang again, on the same ₩10 million deposit basis for rooms of 33㎡ or less. Both numbers were up from a year earlier: rent by 7.7%, fees by 10.9%.
- Ewha Womans University (이화여대) area: the most expensive, at ₩767,000 plus ₩103,000 in fees.
- Seoul National University (서울대) area: ₩533,000, but up 26% in a year, the fastest rise.
- Sungkyunkwan University (성균관대) area: ₩550,000, the only one that got cheaper (down 4.5%).
So being near campus doesn't always mean cheap. If you have a flexible commute, compare with the blue districts on the map.
Money Up Front: Deposit, Fees and Broker Commission
Plan for three costs before move-in: the deposit, the first month's rent, and the broker's commission (중개보수, junggae bosu) if you use a real estate office.
Broker fees have a legal cap in Seoul. For a monthly-rent home, the "deal amount" is the deposit plus rent × 100. If that total is under ₩50 million, you use rent × 70 instead. Then a cap applies:
- Under ₩50 million: up to 0.5%, max ₩200,000
- ₩50 million to under ₩100 million: up to 0.4%, max ₩300,000
An example with the Seoul average: a ₩10 million deposit and ₩690,000 rent. That's ₩10 million + ₩69 million = ₩79 million. At 0.4%, you'd get ₩316,000, so the ₩300,000 cap kicks in. VAT is charged on top, and the fee is negotiable within the cap.
Visa, ARC and Registering Your Address
If you'll stay in Korea longer than 90 days, you register as a foreign resident within 90 days of arrival and get an Alien Registration Card (ARC, 외국인등록증).
Every time you move, report your new address within 15 days. This is called a change of residence report (체류지 변경신고). You can do it at your district office (구청), your local community service center (주민센터) or an immigration office. Bring your ARC and your lease. Online filing is also possible if you apply yourself.
This step protects your deposit. Korea's Supreme Court has ruled that a foreigner's registration and address report count the same as a Korean's move-in report under the Housing Lease Protection Act. Once you've moved in and reported, you can claim your deposit even if the building is sold. Protection starts from midnight the next day.
Also get a fixed-date stamp (확정일자, hwakjeong ilja) on your lease. Community service centers do this. It gives you priority over later creditors if the property is ever auctioned.
How to Search: Dabang, Zigbang and English-Speaking Agents
- Dabang (다방): in September 2026 it announced a section for foreign users with real-time translation in 30+ languages. Listing details, deposit, rent and maintenance fees show in your language, and email questions to agents are translated both ways.
- Zigbang (직방): the other major rental app. It's mainly in Korean, so keep a translation app ready. Our Korea tech essentials guide covers the translation apps that work best.
- Seoul Global Real Estate Brokerage Offices (글로벌 부동산중개사무소): agents designated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government who can consult in English and other languages. They explain lease terms, deposits and registry checks. Seoul had 239 of them in 2024 and was selecting about 35 more in 2026.
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Five Checks Before You Pay a Deposit
- Read the property register (등기사항전부증명서, often called 등기부등본). Anyone can view it on the Supreme Court's Internet Registry Office (인터넷등기소). Check that the owner's name matches your landlord, and look for mortgages.
- Use a licensed broker. A licensed office must follow the fee cap and explain the property to you. If you need English, start with a Seoul-designated global brokerage office.
- Send money only to the registered owner's bank account. Not to a relative, a "manager" or the broker personally, unless the owner's authority is documented.
- Understand every line of the contract. Ask for special terms (특약, teugyak) in writing, such as repairs or when the deposit comes back.
- Report your address and get the fixed-date stamp right after moving in. Don't wait until the 15-day deadline.
If a room is far cheaper than its district on the map, ask why. Sometimes it's a basement or rooftop unit. Sometimes the building carries a lot of debt.
FAQ
Q. What is the average one-room rent in Seoul in 2026?
₩690,000 a month in July 2026, with a ₩10 million deposit, for rooms of 33㎡ or less in low-rise buildings. That's Dabang's figure based on government deal records.
Q. Which Seoul districts are cheapest for a one-room?
Dobong-gu (about ₩480,000), Nowon-gu (about ₩500,000), Seongbuk-gu (about ₩520,000) and Guro-gu (about ₩550,000), based on Dabang's July 2026 data.
Q. Is the maintenance fee included in the rent?
No. It's a separate monthly charge. Near major universities, it averaged ₩84,000 in July 2026. Ask what it covers, because utilities are often extra.
Q. Is my deposit protected if I'm a foreigner?
Yes, if you've moved in, hold an ARC and have reported your new address. Courts treat that like a Korean's move-in report. Add a fixed-date stamp on your lease for priority repayment.
Q. How much is the real estate agent's fee?
In Seoul, it's capped by law. For a ₩10 million deposit and ₩690,000 rent, the most an agent can charge is ₩300,000 plus VAT.
Sources
- Seoul Economic Daily: July 2026 Dabang one-room report (Gangnam ₩970,000; Seoul average ₩690,000), Sept 1, 2026
- Newspim: "July Dabang Yeojido" (7월 다방여지도), 25-district one-room analysis, Sept 1, 2026
- Dokyung Channel: July 2026 Dabang map with all 25 districts as % of Seoul average
- Dong-A Ilbo: June 2026 Dabang report (Seoul ₩640,000; Gangnam ₩1,020,000)
- Newspim: Dabang university-area one-room rents, July 2026
- Seoul Economic Daily (English): Dabang launches foreign-language portal, Sept 8, 2026
- Seoul Real Estate Information Plaza: brokerage fee caps (Seoul ordinance)
- Government24: Foreigner change of residence report (15 days)
- Korea Law Information Center: Supreme Court ruling 2015Da14136 (foreigner registration and lease protection)
- Easylaw (찾기쉬운 생활법령정보): lease protection and fixed-date stamp
- Seoul Metropolitan Government: Global Real Estate Brokerage Offices
- Yonhap: Seoul recruits more global brokerage offices (239 offices), Aug 2024
- Exchange rate for the map's US$ figures: ₩1,357 per US$ (ExchangeRate-API, Sept 26, 2026).
- Korea Insight Now: 24-pyeong apartment average sale price by district, compiled Sep 2026 (map in the "Renting vs Buying" section).
- Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors, credited under each image.