Which place is cheaper, Seoul or Deqin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Deqin or Seoul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Deqin and Seoul. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Deqin or Seoul?
Deqin
Highly influenced by Tibet, Deqin is both a county and a town located in the Hengduanshan Mountains of China's Yunnan province. Most people visit the area as a home base from which to hike into the surrounding mountains, though the temples and traditional villages also add to the allure of the area.
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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, 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 dayDeqin $65Seoul $113
The average daily cost (per person) in Deqin is $65, while the average daily cost in Seoul is $113. 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 Deqin and Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDeqin $36Seoul $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDeqin $72Seoul $114
Compare Hotels in Deqin and Seoul
Looking for a hotel in Deqin 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: Seoul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Deqin $19Seoul $16
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$3.82
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Short Taxi Ride$5.34
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Metro Ride$1.03
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Seoul City Pass Plus$7.63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Airport Private Transfer: Incheon Airport ⇔ Seoul Hotel (More member, Less cost): $78
- Everland Transfer + Admission ticket with Meal Coupon: $75
- Everland theme park : private transfer(up to 12passengers): $356
- From Everland Admission Ticket with Transfer: $66
- From Half-Day MBC Dae Jang Geum Park Transfer: $50
- Incheon Airport Private Transfer between Seoul City: $98
- Incheon Airport transfer directly to Seoul city: $111
- Incheon International Airport (ICN): Private Seoul Transfer: $98
- Premium Seoul Airport Transfer: Affordable & Convenience: $111
- Private Airport Transfer * Incheon Airport <-> Seoul (1-5 people): $99
- Private Airport Transfer - Incheon Airport ⇔ Seoul (Up to 7 or 11 people): $138
- Private Airport Transfer : Incheon airport to/from Seoul(~7 pax): $98
Is it cheaper to fly into Deqin or Seoul?
Prices for flights to both Seoul and Deqin 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 dayDeqin $16Seoul $31
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.58
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Waffle$0.76
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Dippin' Dots$1.53
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Chicken Fried Rice$4.20
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Chicken Stick$1.53
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.45
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Lunch Buffet$4.58
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Donut$0.76
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Mushroom Burger$3.97
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.52
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Udon & Sushi$5.34
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Fresh Burger$3.66
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Soba Noodles Lunch$3.43
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.82
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Fried Rice$4.20
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Vietnamese Dinner$7.25
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$7.25
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Donut$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Oriental Medicine&Optional Temple Vegan Cooking Class: $43
- Korean Grandma Cooking Class l Gimbap & Kimchi Pancake l Seoul: $45
- Namdaemun Market: the Largest Traditional Market Food Tour: $47
- Namdaemun Market Street Food Tour: $48
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $51
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $54
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $59
- Vegan Korean Food Cooking Class: Gimbap, Sundubu Jjigae, and more: $60
- 1 Day Trek & Trip, Inwangsan Sunset Hiking and Dinner: $63
- Vegan Korean Food Cooking Class: $63
- 2-Hour Private K Cooking Class: $67
- Night Market Food Tour with Local Guide: $73
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Deqin $13Seoul $28
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$6.10
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Movie Ticket$6.10
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Kimchi Museum$2.29
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
- Zombie Royals Quest Experience in Seoul: $7.29
- Seoul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Alive Museum Discount Ticket at Insa-dong(내국인불가): $9.40
- Dynamic Maze Discount Ticket Insa-dong(내국인불가): $10
- [Seoul] Football Faentasium Admission Ticket (내국인 불가): $10
- Seoul Fun Walking Tour : $15
- Itaewon Hipster Street: Night Life Tour & Premium Pubcrawl: $17
- Yare Yare Ojosama - Butler/Maid Cafe Experience: $18
- Seoul : Yare Yare Ojosama - Butler/Maid Cafe Experience: $19
- Experience Board Game Cafe in Jongno: $19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDeqin $11Seoul $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Gangnam Pub Crawl with 3 Shots and Korean Tapas: $22
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
- Chunpoong Brewery Tour:Award Winning Makgeolli(rice wine): $34
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - Story of Three Pigs: $43
- DMZ and Makgeolli Brewery Tour with Tasting Course: $66
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $82
- DMZ and Makgeolli Brewery Tour with Tasting and Brewing Class: $84
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Deqin and Seoul, we can see that Seoul is more expensive. And not only is Deqin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Deqin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Deqin 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 Deqin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Deqin Expensive? and Is Seoul Expensive?.
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.