Share house vs. goshiwon vs. officetel: which room fits you in Seoul?

Compare goshiwon, share houses, one-rooms and officetels in Seoul by deposit, monthly cost, privacy and contract length, with safety checks and tips for choosing by budget and length of stay.

Updated Oct 21, 2026As of Oct 20265 min read

In Seoul, students and new workers usually look at four room types: goshiwon, share house, one-room and officetel. They are very different in deposit, privacy and contract length. The prices below are examples only. Real prices vary by area, building, room size and season.

Type	Deposit (example)	Monthly (example)	Privacy	Contract length	Best for
Goshiwon (고시원)	Low or none	₩300,000–550,000	Low: very small room, kitchen and often bathroom shared	Monthly	Short stays, very tight budget
Share house	Often about 1 month’s rent	₩400,000–700,000	Medium: private or shared room, shared living space	Varies by house; short contracts are often possible	A cheaper start and living with others
One-room (원룸)	About ₩3–10 million	₩450,000–700,000 + maintenance fee	High: your own studio	Usually 1–2 years	Stays of a year or more
Officetel (오피스텔)	About ₩5–10 million or more	₩600,000–900,000 or more	High: studio in a mixed-use building	Usually 1–2 years	Longer stays, bigger budget, convenience

Swipe to see the whole table

All amounts are examples, not quotes. Always ask what is included: maintenance fee, internet, utilities and cleaning.

Pros and cons

Goshiwon — Pros: low cost, little or no deposit, quick move-in, you can stay month by month. Cons: very small, thin walls, some rooms have no window, and many places share the kitchen and bathroom.
Share house — Pros: furnished, small deposit, easy to make friends, and some include utilities. Cons: less privacy and house rules. Cleanliness and noise depend on your housemates.
One-room — Pros: your own space, kitchen and bathroom, and more choice of areas. Cons: bigger deposit, you pay the maintenance fee and utilities separately, and the contract is usually longer.
Officetel — Pros: often newer buildings, good security and facilities, many are near stations. Cons: the highest cost, a higher maintenance fee and a bigger deposit.

Safety checks for a goshiwon

Check for sprinklers in the room and corridor, a fire detector and fire extinguishers.
Make sure the emergency exit route and exit signs are clear, and the corridors are not blocked.
Look for a window that opens to the outside. Rooms with windows often cost more, but they are better for fresh air and in an emergency.
Check that your door locks, there is CCTV at the entrance and you can contact a manager.
Look at the shared kitchen and bathrooms, and ask how often they are cleaned.

A goshiwon and some share houses may not be ordinary housing leases. You often sign a use agreement with an operator, not a lease with the owner. So the usual deposit protection, such as the address report and the fixed-date stamp, may not work the same way. Keep the deposit small, get a written contract, pay only to an account in the name of the person or business on the contract, and get a receipt.

How to choose

Staying less than about 3 months: a goshiwon, or a share house with a short contract.
Staying about 6–12 months: a share house, or a one-room if you can find a shorter contract.
Staying a year or more with money for a deposit: a one-room or an officetel.
On a tight budget: compare the total monthly cost (rent, maintenance fee and utilities), not only the rent.
For any type: see the room first, and check the contract before you pay.

Official sources

We link to the original source so you can check it yourself.

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