Which place is cheaper, Seoul or Cairo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cairo or Seoul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cairo and Seoul can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Cairo or Seoul?
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
Seoul
With a population of more than 11 million, Seoul is easily the largest city in South Korea. It is also the financial, political, and cultural capital of the country and has much to offer open minded travelers. It is often overlooked by travelers who instead head to Tokyo or Shanghai, but Seoul has a wide range of cultural experiences, food options, and historical sights. Seoul is a city of contrasts with ancient traditions, flashy technology, religious temples and a modern youth culture. It is also more affordable than many of the other Asian metropolis' to which it is often compared. If you're looking for an interesting and different experience that is a little off the tourist trail, Seoul can definitely offer that opportunity.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $17Seoul $107
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $17, while the average daily cost in Seoul is $107. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Cairo and Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $9.36Seoul $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $19Seoul $108
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Seoul
Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Seoul? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Cairo Hotel Prices and Seoul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $2.99Seoul $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride$0.08
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Taxi Ride$0.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- Private Departure Transfer from Cairo or Giza Hotels to Cairo Airport: $5.00
- Private Transfer from Hotels in Cairo to Cairo Airport : $8.00
- Airport and Hotel Private Transfer in Cairo & Giza: $9.00
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Novotel Cairo El Borg: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Hotel Longchamps to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Cairo Pyramids Hotel: $9.60
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Windsor Hotel Cairo: $9.60
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Osiris Hotel: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Hilton Cairo Heliopolis to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from InterContinental Cairo Citystars to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Cairo Pyramids Hotel to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Novotel Cairo El Borg to Cairo airport: $9.60
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
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Subway Card$3.62
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Short Taxi Ride$5.07
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Metro Ride$0.98
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Seoul City Pass Plus$7.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Airport Private Transfer : Seoul Hotel to Incheon International Airport (ICN): $78
- From Everland Admission Ticket with Transfer: $75
- From Half-Day MBC Dae Jang Geum Park Transfer: $55
- Incheon Airport Private Transfer between Seoul City: $100
- Private Airport Transfer * Incheon Airport <-> Seoul (1-5 people): $101
- Private Airport Transfer - Incheon Airport from/to Hotel in Seoul: $192
- Private Airport Transfer : Gimpo airport to/from Seoul (1~7pax): $95
- Private Airport Transfer : Incheon airport to/from Seoul(~7 pax): $99
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport to Seoul City (1-12 pax): $160
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Gimpo Airport (1-12 pax): $180
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Incheon Airport (1-5 pax): $115
- Private Departure Transfer:Hotel to Incheon International Airport: $145
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Seoul?
Prices for flights to both Seoul and Cairo change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayCairo $4.75Seoul $30
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
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Juice$0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Night Dinner Cruise, Belly Dancer Show on The Nile With Pickup: $8.00
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile River: $12
- Super Safari Quad Bike Jeep Safari Buggy and Dinner in Hurghada: $15
- Nile Sunset, Dinner Cruise, Show and Private Transfer: $16
- Cairo Food Tour with Nile Felucca Ride : $18
- VIP tour Giza pyramids ,Sphinx, Quad bike ,Camel, Dinner cruise : $19
- Private Expert tour Giza Pyramids ,Sphinx ,Nile Dinner Cruise & Belly Dancer: $19
- Giza Pyramids, Camel Ride, Quad Bike, Night and Dinner Cruise on Nile: $19
- food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $19
- All inclusive Tour to Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & ATV &Dinner cruise : $20
- Private Cairo Food Tour : $20
- Cairo Private Food Tour and Egyptian Tea: $22
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.34
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Waffle$0.72
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Dippin' Dots$1.45
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Chicken Fried Rice$3.98
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Chicken Stick$1.45
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.38
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Lunch Buffet$4.34
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Donut$0.72
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Mushroom Burger$3.76
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.39
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Udon & Sushi$5.07
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Fresh Burger$3.48
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Soba Noodles Lunch$3.26
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.62
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Fried Rice$3.98
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Vietnamese Dinner$6.88
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.88
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Donut$1.81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Gyeongbokgung Palace : Tour, dinner and coffee: $36
- Seoul Mangwon Market Social Night Food Tour: $43
- Namdaemun Market: the Largest Traditional Market Food Tour: $46
- Namdaemun Market Street Food Tour: $47
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals; Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $48
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $53
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $54
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $57
- Seoul Seongsu dong Tour Including Lunch, Dinner, Beer, Night View: $69
- Night Market Food Tour: $70
- Night Market Food Tour: $72
- K-FOOD one day cooking class: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $5.75Seoul $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Camel Market for Two$0.84
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$6.49
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Dahshur Pyramids Entry Tickets: $4.26
- The Baron Empain Palace Entry Ticket: $4.60
- Cairo Shopping tour Private Papyrus Perfume, Bazar Cotton Shop : $4.70
- All Inclusive Tour to Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Memphis, and Saqqara: $5.00
- New Grand Egyptian Museum Tour with optional the pyramids tour..: $5.00
- Shopping tour Private Papyrus Perfume, Bazar Cotton Shop in Cairo: $5.00
- Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hasan Entry Ticket: $5.11
- Entry Ticket to the Prince Mohamed Ali Palace : $5.38
- Wonder Tour To Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure Pyramids and Great Sphinx : $5.61
- Skip The Line To Coptic Museum of Cairo Entry Ticket: $5.83
- Skip The Line with Memphis Museum Entry Ticket: $6.67
- Private Tour Shopping in Cairo by Car and Guide: $7.00
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
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Palace Tickets$5.79
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Movie Ticket$5.79
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Kimchi Museum$2.17
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- Changdeokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience in Seoul: $7.00
- Seoul Changdeokgung Palace Hanbok Experience Hanboknam (내국인불가): $7.20
- [NEWTRO ART TOUR] Media art museum & walking tour: $8.00
- Seoul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Alive Museum Discount Ticket at Insa-dong(내국인불가): $9.70
- [Seoul] Football Faentasium Admission Ticket (내국인 불가): $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Skip the Line: 63 Building Observatory + Aqua Planet 63 Combo Ticket: $11
- Seoul Job Experience Theme Park Ticket for Kid (내국인 불가): $13
- Dongdaemun City Tour Bus(내국인불가): $14
- Gyeongbokgung Palace Private Half-Day Tour: $19
- Virtual Tour of Korean Demilitarized Zone: $19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.17Seoul $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:
- Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks: $59
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Chunpoong Makgeolli Brewery Tour: $10
- Seoul Pub Crawl by Absolute: $20
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $21
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $25
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - Story of Three Pigs: $42
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - story of 3 pigs: $42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Seoul, we can see that Seoul is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cairo is in Africa and Seoul is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Seoul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seoul than you might in Cairo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cairo Expensive? and Is Seoul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Seoul?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 34% larger than the population of Cairo. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and Seoul, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Cairo or Seoul?
Seoul has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cairo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Cairo or Seoul in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and Seoul. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round. Also, most visitors come to Seoul for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Cairo is around the same temperature as Seoul. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cairo in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Seoul averages at about 26°C (78°F).
In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Seoul during summer. Cairo gets 350 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 121 hours of full sun in the summer.
Seoul receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Cairo usually receives less rain than Seoul. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCairo 28°C (82°F)Seoul 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Seoul in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cairo as well as Seoul. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Seoul because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In October, Cairo is generally much warmer than Seoul. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 23°C (73°F), and Seoul fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seoul. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In the autumn, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Seoul. Cairo gets 290 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 204 hours of full sun.
Cairo usually gets less rain in October than Seoul. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCairo 23°C (73°F)Seoul 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Seoul in the Winter?
Both Seoul and Cairo are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Seoul this time of year.
It's quite cold in Seoul in the winter. Cairo is much warmer than Seoul in the winter. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Seoul fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Seoul during winter. Cairo gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 163 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Cairo usually receives less rain than Seoul. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCairo 14°C (57°F)Seoul -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Seoul in the Spring?
Both Seoul and Cairo during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Seoul for the activities around the city.
In the spring, Cairo is much warmer than Seoul. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cairo in April average around 21°C (70°F), and Seoul averages at about 13°C (55°F).
In Seoul, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cairo. In the spring, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Seoul. Cairo gets 276 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 205 hours of full sun.
Cairo usually gets less rain in April than Seoul. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCairo 21°C (70°F)Seoul 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Seoul and Cairo
| Cairo | Seoul | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.