"Business trip housing — isn’t there an alternative to hotels?"
This is the first thought when a month-long trip comes up.
Hotels are convenient but cost too much for a month; signing a regular one-room lease means a big deposit and a 1-year commitment.
Recently, SamSam M2 and plott LIFE–style short-term rental platforms have become a solid alternative for business-trip housing.
In this article, we’ll compare hotels and short-term rentals on a realistic monthly-cost basis.
Long-stay hotels — how much for one month?
Monthly costs for business hotels in Seoul.
Grade | Per night | Monthly (30 nights) |
|---|---|---|
3-star business hotel | ₩80,000–₩120,000 | ₩2,400,000–₩3,600,000 |
4-star hotel | ₩150,000–₩250,000 | ₩4,500,000–₩7,500,000 |
If you add eating out for every meal and laundry fees, your actual monthly spending goes up.
Because most hotels don’t have cooking facilities, food alone often adds ₩300,000–₩500,000 per month.
Short-term rentals for business trips — what do they really cost?
Monthly (4-week) rent for plott LIFE direct listings.
Area | Listing | Size | 4-week rate |
|---|---|---|---|
Seoul, Gangnam·Seocho | Studio | 24㎡ (≈7 pyeong) | From ₩2,800,000 |
Seoul, Jongno·Euljiro | Studio | 18–19㎡ (≈5–6 pyeong) | From ₩2,800,000 |
Busan, Seomyeon | Studio | 16㎡ (≈5 pyeong) | From ₩960,000 |
Busan, Haeundae | Studio | 22–32㎡ (≈7–10 pyeong) | From ₩1,000,000 |
Incheon·Songdo | Studio | 22–23㎡ (≈7 pyeong) | From ₩920,000 |
Siheung, Wave Park | Studio | 29㎡ (≈9 pyeong) | From ₩760,000 |
Sokcho | Studio | 22–28㎡ (≈7–8 pyeong) | From ₩920,000 |
※ Management fee & utilities included.
Source: plott LIFE official site (as of 2025)
Hotel vs Short-term rental — total monthly cost comparison
Here’s a comparison of actual monthly spending for a Seoul business trip.
Item | 3-star hotel | plott LIFE short-term rental |
|---|---|---|
Accommodation / rent | ₩2,400,000–₩3,600,000 | ₩920,000–₩2,800,000 |
Management & utilities | Included | Included |
Food (cooking available?) | Additional ₩300,000–₩500,000 | Can cook yourself |
Laundry | Paid or coin laundry | Washer included |
Total monthly cost | ₩2,700,000–₩4,100,000 | ₩920,000–₩2,800,000 |
Short-term rentals offer a living-style space with cooking and laundry for less than half the hotel cost in many cases.
Why short-term rentals beat hotels for business trips
① You can cook
You don’t have to rely on eating out or delivery every meal.
You can save ₩200,000–₩300,000+ per month on food.
② More living space
Hotel rooms focus on bed and bathroom, often with small or no desk.
Short-term rentals usually have separate kitchen, living, and sleeping areas, which reduces long-stay fatigue.
③ Move in without a deposit
plott LIFE direct listings start at a ₩0 deposit.
Deposits may apply for bookings longer than 4 weeks, but stays under 4 weeks often have no deposit.
You can move in immediately and book flexibly for the period you need—unlike a long lease.
④ Management & utilities included
One rent payment covers everything—no surprise bills.
What to check before choosing a short-term rental for a business trip
① Transit and commute access
Check actual travel times to your office on a map app first.
② Are management fees included?
plott LIFE direct listings include them; SamSam M2 varies by listing.
③ Can you cook and do laundry?
Confirm the full, actual amenities.
④ Contract flexibility
If your schedule changes, check whether week-by-week adjustments are possible.
FAQ — common questions about short-term rentals for business trips
Q. Which is cheaper for business trips—short-term rental or hotel?
A. For stays of one month or more, short-term rentals are much cheaper.
In Seoul, hotels cost about ₩2,400,000–₩3,600,000/month, while plott LIFE rentals range ₩920,000–₩2,800,000/month.
Cooking facilities also cut food costs significantly.
Q. For business trips, which is better: SamSam M2 or plott LIFE?
A. plott LIFE direct listings start at a ₩0 deposit and include management fees, so initial costs are lower.
SamSam M2 has a fixed deposit of ₩330,000 and management fees vary by listing.
If you want quick move-in and simple, predictable costs, plott LIFE is advantageous.
Source: SamSam M2 · plott LIFE official websites (as of 2025)
Q. Can short-term rental receipts be used for corporate travel expenses?
A. Yes. plott LIFE can issue a residency confirmation and receipts.
Confirm corporate payment and receipt issuance before booking.
If you only think of hotels for business trips, compare short-term rentals first.
For trips of a month or more, you can stay in a living-style space with cooking and laundry for less than half the cost.
plott LIFE — short-term rental platform for business trips
Direct listings from ₩0 deposit · 1-week contracts · all-in-one rent · fully furnished studios