If China or South Korea is on your shortlist, here's what recent listings tell us about salaries and everyday costs in both.
The salaries
🇨🇳
China
¥13,000 – ¥39,000 / mo
£1,430–£4,290 / $1,910–$5,731 / €1,663–€4,989
Average: ¥22,382 (£2,462 / $3,289 / €2,863)
🇰🇷
South Korea
₩2,400,000 – ₩3,358,844 / mo
£1,176–£1,646 / $1,571–$2,199 / €1,368–€1,914
Average: ₩2,630,740 (£1,289 / $1,722 / €1,499)
Take-home pay
| |
🇨🇳 China |
🇰🇷 South Korea |
| Gross average salary |
¥22,382 (£2,462 / $3,289 / €2,863) |
₩2,630,740 (£1,289 / $1,722 / €1,499) |
| Est. effective tax rate |
10% |
5% |
| Est. net take-home |
¥20,144 (£2,216 / $2,960 / €2,577) |
₩2,499,203 (£1,225 / $1,636 / €1,424) |
Tax rates are simplified estimates for a typical foreign teacher's salary bracket, not precise calculations — actual tax owed depends on progressive brackets, tax treaties, residency status, social insurance contributions, and local practice. Treat as a rough planning figure, not tax advice.
Cost of living
Typical monthly costs — single person, modest lifestyle (local currency, GBP / USD / EUR)
Rent — 1-bed city-centre apartment
🇨🇳
¥2,991 (£329 / $440 / €383)
🇰🇷
₩734,694 (£360 / $481 / €419)
Food & groceries
🇨🇳
¥1,327 (£146 / $195 / €170)
🇰🇷
₩465,306 (£228 / $305 / €265)
Local transport
🇨🇳
¥145 (£16 / $21 / €19)
🇰🇷
₩67,347 (£33 / $44 / €38)
Going out & socialising
🇨🇳
¥918 (£101 / $135 / €117)
🇰🇷
₩281,633 (£138 / $184 / €160)
Estimated monthly total
🇨🇳
¥5,382 (£592 / $791 / €688)
🇰🇷
₩1,548,980 (£759 / $1,014 / €883)
Adjusted for city size: China figures averaged across 15 listing cities (NEFU (Heilongjiang province), Hong Kong, Shenyang, Shenzhen/Guangzhou/Xiamen/Ningbo/Suzhou/Shanghai, Ningbo, Chongqing, Shanghai, Beijing, China, Dalian, Xian, Beijing China, datong, Kunming, Multiple Cities) — 63% of the national hub baseline; South Korea figures averaged across 4 listing cities (Multiple locations, South Korea, South Korea (public & private schools nationwide), Daegu Metropolitan City) — 60% of the national hub baseline.
China is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Korea, based on typical rent, food and transport costs.
Cost-of-living figures are indicative estimates compiled from publicly available sources including Numbeo, Mercer Cost of Living, and the Economist Intelligence Unit Worldwide Cost of Living survey, and are not sourced from TEFL.com listings.
Monthly savings potential
| |
🇨🇳 China |
🇰🇷 South Korea |
| Est. net monthly salary |
¥20,144 (£2,216 / $2,960 / €2,577) |
₩2,499,203 (£1,225 / $1,636 / €1,424) |
| Est. monthly living costs |
¥5,382 (£592 / $791 / €688) |
₩1,548,980 (£759 / $1,014 / €883) |
| Est. monthly savings |
¥14,762 (£1,624 / $2,169 / €1,889) |
₩950,223 (£466 / $622 / €542) |
Estimated net salary minus estimated total monthly living costs (rent, food, transport and socialising combined). A negative figure suggests that role/location may need savings brought from home or a lower-cost lifestyle than assumed here — treat as a rough guide, not a budget.
Benefits breakdown
| |
🇨🇳 China |
🇰🇷 South Korea |
| 🏠Accommodation |
24% |
100% |
| ✈Flights |
21% |
100% |
| 🏖Holiday pay |
21% |
50% |
| ⚕Health insurance |
17% |
50% |
| 💉Medical care |
0% |
50% |
| 💕Airport pick-up |
7% |
25% |
| 💰Bonus plan |
7% |
25% |
| 🎁Contract completion gratuity |
3% |
25% |
| 🤝Ongoing support |
3% |
25% |
| 🎓Professional development |
14% |
0% |
| 📚Training support |
14% |
0% |
| 🛂Visa assistance |
14% |
0% |
| 🪪Visa sponsorship |
14% |
0% |
| 🏨Temp hotel accommodation |
7% |
0% |
| 🍴Meals |
3% |
0% |
| 🏦Pension |
3% |
0% |
Each percentage is the share of China's (or South Korea's) included teaching posts whose listing mentioned the benefit. A missing benefit isn't necessarily unavailable, just not stated in that listing.
The verdict
🇨🇳China
China offers earning potential, career growth. Based on recent listings, the average salary comes to ¥24,914 (£2,741 / $3,661 / €3,187)/mo. Salaries here span a notably wider range than South Korea, from entry-level roles up to the top end of the market. The cost of living runs about 56% lower than South Korea.
🇰🇷South Korea
The draw of South Korea is consistent packages, career structure. The average teaching salary works out to around ₩2,630,740 (£1,289 / $1,722 / €1,499)/mo. The pay range is narrower than China — less variation, but more consistency. Day-to-day expenses here outpace China by around 26%.
China or South Korea? Either way, today's TEFL market offers real choice — and real opportunities to build a life abroad on a teacher's salary.
Browse China and South Korea jobs at TEFL.com →
