If you're weighing an ESL teaching year in Korea against one in Japan, the two countries look similar at a glance and very different once you run the numbers. Both are safe, high-income, culturally distinct destinations with mature public-school programs for native English teachers. The practical trade-offs — salary, housing, vacation, visa path, application timing — are where the real choice happens.
This guide compares the two countries side by side using official sources only: EPIK and Korvia for Korea, the JET Programme and Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Japan. All currency figures are approximate and current as of April 2026; exchange rates fluctuate and you should verify the latest figures with the Bank of Korea and Bank of Japan before making a financial decision.
Important
All USD conversions in this article are approximate and based on rates available from the Bank of Korea and the Bank of Japan as of April 2026. Currency markets move — check current rates before budgeting.
Quick Comparison Table
| Category | Korea (EPIK) | Japan (JET) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly salary (base) | ₩2.0M–₩3.5M (~$1,500–$2,600) | ¥230,000–¥280,000 (~$1,500–$1,850) |
| Housing | Usually provided rent-free | Usually allowance only |
| Paid vacation | 26 working days | 10–20 days |
| Visa | E-2 (Foreign Language Instructor) | Instructor / Specialist in Humanities |
| Intake frequency | Twice yearly (spring & fall) | Once yearly |
| Degree required | Bachelor's (any field) | Bachelor's (any field) |
| TEFL required? | Yes (100+ hr) unless Education major | Not required by JET |
1. Salary
In Korea, EPIK publishes an official salary scale with eight levels (A through H) depending on qualifications and teaching experience. Across Seoul (SMOE), Gyeonggi (GEPIK), and the provincial offices (GOE), base monthly pay for a first-year teacher typically ranges from about ₩2,000,000 to ₩3,500,000 — approximately $1,500 to $2,600 USD at April 2026 rates [source: epik.go.kr]. Higher levels (F, G, H) require combinations of advanced degrees, teaching licenses, and multiple years of prior experience.
In Japan, the JET Programme's official remuneration for the 2025–2026 placement year starts at approximately ¥3.36 million per year (first year) and rises with each year of service to a maximum around ¥3.96 million after five years — roughly ¥280,000 per month in the first year, or about $1,850 USD at April 2026 rates [source: jetprogramme.org]. Private eikaiwa and dispatch ALT positions in Japan commonly offer lower base salaries in the ¥230,000–¥250,000 range.
On paper, the two markets are in a similar USD band. The decisive factor isn't the headline salary — it's housing.
2. Housing
Korea (EPIK):EPIK's standard contract provides rent-free housing for the teacher — typically a furnished or semi-furnished studio or one-bedroom apartment near the school. Teachers pay utilities (electricity, gas, water, internet) and a small monthly management fee (관리비), but not rent [source: epik.go.kr].
Japan (JET):JET participants are normally responsible for their own housing costs, though JET's official guidance notes that contracting organizations often assist with apartment searches and may subsidize part of the rent depending on the placement [source: jetprogramme.org]. In practice, rent in Japan for a small apartment ranges widely — roughly ¥40,000 in a rural placement to ¥90,000 or more in Tokyo — and any employer-provided subsidy rarely covers the full amount.
This is where the two countries diverge most in savings potential. A Korea teacher paying zero rent and a Japan teacher paying ¥50,000–¥80,000/month in rent end up with very different take-home figures, even on near-identical base salaries.
3. Vacation
Korea (EPIK):EPIK's standard contract provides 26 paid working days of vacation per year, in addition to Korean national public holidays. Vacation is typically taken during school breaks (winter and summer) [source: epik.go.kr].
Japan (JET): JET participants are generally given 10 to 20 daysof annual paid leave, depending on the contracting organization's policy, plus Japanese national holidays. JET also provides separate special leave categories (sick, bereavement, etc.) [source: jetprogramme.org].
On raw vacation days, Korea is ahead. JET teachers often partly offset this with Japanese national holidays and unscheduled school breaks, but the EPIK baseline is more generous.
4. Cost of Living
Both countries have similar cost profiles for food, transit, and entertainment — enough so that the decisive driver of monthly savings is housing (covered above), not day-to-day costs. A few practical comparisons based on public data:
- Public transit:a monthly transit card is inexpensive in both countries. Korea's T-money system and Japan's IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA) both run pay-as-you-go.
- Groceries: fresh produce and meat are comparable to Western grocery prices in both countries; imported goods cost more.
- Eating out: Korea tends to be slightly cheaper for mid-range restaurant meals; Japan has a wider price spread, with very cheap chain options and very expensive specialty dining.
- Internet and phone: both countries have strong, cheap mobile and home internet — typically well under $50/month for either.
5. Visa Paths
Korea: native English teachers enter on the E-2 (Foreign Language Instructor) visa, sponsored by a specific employer at a specific location. Requirements include a bachelor's degree from a designated English-speaking country, a clean national-level criminal background check (apostilled), and passport-based eligibility [source: hikorea.go.kr].
Japan: JET participants typically receive a Specialist in Humanities / International Services or Instructorresidence status. Requirements include a bachelor's degree and a sponsoring employer (the prefecture or municipal government for JET) [source: mofa.go.jp]. Private eikaiwa employers sponsor the same visa categories on their own timelines.
6. Teaching Style Differences
Both countries use a team-teaching model in public schools, but the flavor differs:
- Korea: the Native English Teacher (NET) and Korean English co-teacher share the classroom, with clear shared responsibility for lesson content. See our Korean co-teacher relationship guide. Korean public schools generally expect NETs to be active partners in lesson design.
- Japan:JET teachers are placed as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) alongside a Japanese Teacher of English (JTE). ALTs assist the JTE, who is typically the lesson lead; the dynamic is more explicitly support-oriented than Korea's co-teaching model.
7. Application Timing
Korea (EPIK):two intakes per year. The spring intake has placements in February/March with applications opening in late summer of the prior year. The fall intake has placements in August/September/October with applications opening around February. Korvia is EPIK's exclusive international recruitment partner — see our EPIK Fall 2026 application timeline.
Japan (JET): one intake per year. Applications typically open in September/October and close in November for placement the following July/August — roughly a 9–10 month lead time from application to arrival [source: jetprogramme.org].
Which Should You Choose?
The right answer depends on what you're optimizing for.
Choose Korea if:
- Savings are a priority — rent-free housing is the single biggest financial lever in either country.
- You want a faster timeline from application to arrival, or a second intake window to apply to if you miss one.
- You want more paid vacation on paper (26 working days vs 10–20).
- You want to be a full teaching partner rather than an assistant.
Choose Japan if:
- You specifically want to live in Japan and learn Japanese — that cultural preference is valid and hard to beat.
- You prefer the ALT (assistant) dynamic to co-teaching.
- You're open to rural placements — JET's placements lean more rural than EPIK's on average, which some teachers strongly prefer.
- You don't have a 100+ hour TEFL certificate and don't want to get one (JET doesn't require it; EPIK does for non-Education majors).
Korvia Tip
You don't have to choose forever. Many teachers do a year in one country and then switch — and prior overseas teaching experience counts positively toward hiring and placement in both EPIK and JET. Treat the first year as the decision, not the career.
Honest Caveats
- Exchange rates move. Every USD figure in this article is approximate as of April 2026. The ¥/USD and ₩/USD rates can shift several percent in a month; check the Bank of Korea and Bank of Japan before budgeting.
- Salary ranges are averages.EPIK's A-H levels and JET's year-1 to year-5 steps produce real variation. Your qualifications place you on a specific point on each scale, not the midpoint.
- Private-sector jobs are different. This guide compares EPIK (public) in Korea to JET (public) in Japan. Hagwons in Korea and eikaiwa / dispatch ALT companies in Japan have their own pay, housing, and contract terms that can be better or worse than the public equivalents. See our Hagwon vs EPIK guide for the Korea side.
Ready to Apply to Korea?
If Korea is the right call for you, submit your Korvia application to get started. You can also browse our full overview of Korean public-school programs at Teach English in Korea, or see the specific programs for EPIK, GEPIK, and provincial offices (GOE).