The Cost of Renting in Seoul: Deposits, Fees & Monthly Costs
Rent is only part of what you pay to live in Seoul. This guide breaks down every cost of renting an apartment or officetel — the deposit, monthly rent, the maintenance fee, the agent's fee, and utilities — so there are no surprises.
Upfront vs ongoing
When you rent, you pay some costs once and others every month:
- Up front: the deposit, the first month's rent, and the agent's fee.
- Ongoing: monthly rent, the maintenance fee (관리비), and utilities.
The deposit (보증금)
Your deposit is fully refundable at the end of the lease. How big it is depends on the lease type: wolse uses a smaller deposit (often a few million to tens of millions of won) plus monthly rent, while jeonse uses a very large deposit — often 50–80% of the home's value — with no monthly rent at all. Whichever you choose, protect the deposit with 전입신고 and 확정일자 on move-in (see our jeonse-vs-wolse guide).
Monthly rent and the maintenance fee (관리비)
These are two separate monthly charges. On top of rent you pay 관리비, a building-management fee that covers upkeep and sometimes water, internet, heating or cleaning. Officetels often have a higher 관리비 than apartments because of shared facilities and security, so always ask exactly what is included before you sign.
The agent / brokerage fee (중개보수)
A one-time fee paid to the licensed agent, capped by law under the Licensed Real Estate Agents Act. As a rough guide, the cap for a lease is around 0.3–0.4% of the transaction value, and for a purchase it ranges up to 0.4–0.7% depending on the price. The exact figure is agreed within the legal cap, so ask your agent for the number before you commit.
Utilities
Electricity, gas, water and internet — some of these may already be bundled into your 관리비, and some are billed separately. Confirm what 관리비 covers, then budget a monthly amount for the rest.
A simple budgeting checklist
- Deposit (refundable)
- First month's rent
- Agent fee (one-time, capped)
- Every month: rent + 관리비 + utilities
- For jeonse: consider deposit-guarantee insurance
What about buying?
Buying adds acquisition tax, registration and scrivener fees, the (capped) agent fee, and ongoing property taxes — and, in Seoul, the foreigner land-transaction permit. See our guide on buying property in Seoul as a foreigner.
How Seoul Homes helps
Every listing shows the price and, where available, the 관리비, and your verified, English-speaking realtor gives you the all-in number — deposit, rent and fees — before you decide. Browse listings or send an inquiry to get started.
Browse verified Seoul listings with English-speaking realtors.
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What are the upfront costs of renting in Seoul?
Up front you pay the deposit, the first month's rent, and a one-time agent fee (which is capped by law). After that, your monthly costs are rent, the 관리비 maintenance fee, and utilities.
What is 관리비 and is it included in the rent?
관리비 is a separate monthly building-management fee, not part of the rent. It covers building upkeep and sometimes water, internet or heating. Officetels usually have a higher 관리비 than apartments, so always confirm what it includes.
How much is the real-estate agent fee?
The brokerage fee is capped by law. As a rough guide it is around 0.3–0.4% of the transaction value for a lease, and up to 0.4–0.7% for a purchase depending on price. The exact amount is agreed within the cap — ask your agent before committing.
Is my rental deposit refundable?
Yes — the deposit (보증금) is fully refundable at the end of the lease. Protect it by completing 전입신고 and 확정일자 on move-in, which give it legal priority.
How does jeonse cost compare with wolse?
Jeonse requires a very large refundable deposit (often 50–80% of the home's value) and no monthly rent. Wolse uses a smaller deposit plus monthly rent. Jeonse ties up far more cash up front; wolse spreads the cost monthly.
What extra costs come with buying instead of renting?
Buying adds acquisition tax, registration and scrivener fees, the capped agent fee, and ongoing property taxes — plus, in Seoul, the foreigner land-transaction permit. See our buying guide for the full picture.
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Last updated: 2026-06-15