"It Went Up Again" — Just a Sigh... This Is What Is Forcing People in Their 20s and 30s to Tighten Their Belts

\r\n[The Financial News] Last month, the average monthly rent for one-room apartments in Seoul's multi-family and row-house buildings rose by 40,000 won from the previous month to 710,000 won.
On the 23rd, the real estate information platform Dabang released its March Dabang Monthly Market Report, which analyzed monthly rent and jeonse deposit levels across 25 districts in Seoul for one-room apartments in multi-family and row-house buildings with a floor area of 33 square meters or less, based on March 2026 transactions.
According to the report, the average monthly rent for one-room apartments in Seoul's multi-family and row-house buildings was 710,000 won based on a 10 million won deposit, while the average jeonse deposit stood at 213.86 million won. Compared with February, average monthly rent rose by 40,000 won, or 5.2%, while the average jeonse deposit edged down by 830,000 won, or 0.4%.
By district, Gangnam District had the highest average monthly rent at 141% of the Seoul average. It was followed by Seocho District and Seongdong District at 122%, Yongsan District at 118%, Jungnang-gu at 116%, Gwangjin District and Dongdaemun District at 108%, and Gangseo-gu, Seoul and Yeongdeungpo District at 101%. In total, nine districts posted average monthly rents above the Seoul average.
For average jeonse deposits by district, Seocho District ranked highest at 125% of the Seoul average. It was followed by Jung-gu at 120%, Gangnam District at 119%, Gwangjin District at 113%, Dongjak District at 112%, Yongsan District at 110%, Yeongdeungpo District at 106%, Mapo District at 104%, and Dongdaemun District at 101%. In total, nine districts recorded average jeonse deposits above the Seoul average.
When Seoul's average market price is set as the benchmark at 100%, any figure above 100% means that the one-room market in that district is more expensive than the city average.
Meanwhile, the March Dabang Monthly Market Report covered one-room apartments in multi-family and row-house buildings with a floor area of 33 square meters or less that were traded in Seoul this March. It calculated the average monthly rent and average jeonse deposit based on a 10 million won deposit, reflecting the conversion rate between jeonse and monthly rent. The average monthly rent was based on transactions with deposits below 100 million won, while the average jeonse deposit was calculated from all jeonse transactions.
ming@fnnews.com Jeeon Minkyung Reporter