Which place is cheaper, Seoul or Eilat?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Eilat or Seoul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Eilat or Seoul? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Eilat or Seoul?
Eilat
Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.
Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.
Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.
Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
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 10-Day Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, 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 dayEilat $140Seoul $107
The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $140, 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 Eilat and Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEilat $93Seoul $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEilat $186Seoul $108
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Seoul
Looking for a hotel in Eilat 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: Eilat Hotel Prices and Seoul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eilat $13Seoul $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:
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Local Bus$3.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat
Also for Eilat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer From Ramon airport Eilat to Eilat Hotels or Arava Border : $70
- From Jerusalem: One-Way Shuttle Transfer to Eilat: $90
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:
- Transfer Service from Gimpo Airport to Hotel City: $57
- Private Transfer l Airport to/from Seoul: $100
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport: $99
- Seoul Incheon International Airport to from Incheon Private Transfer: $85
- Seoul Airport: Private Departure Transfer from Seoul City Center: $87
- Private Transfer from Incheon Airport to Seoul up to 12 pax: $181
- Private Gimpo Airport Transfer to Seoul and Vice Versa: $95
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Incheon Airport 1-12 pax: $204
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Incheon Airport (1-5 pax): $98
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Gimpo Airport (1-12 pax): $167
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City - Gimpo Airport (1-5 pax): $80
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport to Seoul City (1-5 pax): $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Seoul?
Prices for flights to both Seoul and Eilat 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 dayEilat $35Seoul $30
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: $44
- 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: $53
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $54
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $57
- Sunset Walking Tour in Naksan Park with Dinner: $58
- Half Day Seoul Afternoon Food Tour and visit 3 landMarks of Seoul: $67
- Night Market Food Tour: $70
- Energizing Korean Cooking Class in a Local Home in Seoul: $71
- Night Market Food Tour: $72
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eilat $16Seoul $26
Tours and Activities in Eilat
For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Glass Bottom Boat Cruise in Eilat: $30
- Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $55
- From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $63
- Red canyon jeep tour in Eilat: $70
- Timna park Jeep tour adventure: $70
- Park Timna: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
- Red Canyon: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
- Timna Park Tour from Eilat: $150
- Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
- Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
- 1 Day Tour to Petra From Eilat: $217
- Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219
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:
- Full Day Tour Jeonju Hanok Village, Wansan Park and Gakwonsa: $72
- Private Tour Nami Island with Petite France 'and/or' The Garden of Morning Calm: $98
- 1 Day Private Full DMZ Tour in Seoul with Crystal Gondola: $220
- 2-Hour Makgeolli Tasting Experience in Seoul: $37
- 2-Hour Private Kayaking and Paddleboarding Experience in Hanriver: $30
- 2D 1N Phoenix Pyeongchang Reseot Stay + Trout Ice-Fishing Festival Tour: $144
- 3 Hour Walking Tour in Songpa Seoul: $48
- 3-Hour Self-guided Sokcho Tour with Private Transportation: $33
- 63 Aqua Planet and 63 Building Seoul Observatory Tickets: $14
- ARMY must visit BTS tour in Seoul: $55
- Activity - Mt. Bukhan Hiking Guided Tour: $150
- Afternoon Half Day Seoul City Tour, visit Queen's dorm: $67
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEilat $27Seoul $12
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
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $21
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $25
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - Story of Three Pigs: $42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Seoul, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Seoul much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East 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 Seoul would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Seoul 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat than you might in Seoul.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eilat Expensive? and Is Seoul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Eilat or Seoul?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 230 times larger than the population of Eilat. When comparing the sizes of Eilat 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 Eilat or Seoul?
Seoul has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Eilat experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Eilat or Seoul in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Seoul. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Seoul for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Eilat can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Eilat is generally a little warmer than Seoul. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 33°C (91°F), and Seoul fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Eilat this time of the year. In the summer, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Seoul. Eilat gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 121 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Seoul. Eilat usually gets less rain in July than Seoul. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyEilat 33°C (91°F)Seoul 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Seoul in the Autumn?
Both Seoul and Eilat are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Eilat throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Seoul in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
Eilat is much warmer than Seoul in the autumn. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Seoul fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
It's quite sunny in Seoul. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Eilat. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Seoul during autumn. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 204 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Eilat usually receives less rain than Seoul. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEilat 26°C (79°F)Seoul 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Seoul in the Winter?
Both Seoul and Eilat during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Eilat because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, most visitors come to Seoul for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Seoul can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Eilat is much warmer than Seoul. Typically, the winter temperatures in Eilat in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Seoul averages at about -3°C (27°F).
It's quite sunny in Eilat. In the winter, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Seoul. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 163 hours of full sun.
Eilat usually gets less rain in January than Seoul. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEilat 14°C (57°F)Seoul -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Seoul in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Seoul. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat year-round. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Seoul because of the activities around the city.
In April, Eilat is generally much warmer than Seoul. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 24°C (75°F), and Seoul fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Seoul this time of the year. In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Seoul during spring. Eilat gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Eilat usually receives less rain than Seoul. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilEilat 24°C (75°F)Seoul 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Seoul and Eilat
| Eilat | Seoul | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) |
| Aug | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) |
| Sep | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 6 mm (0.2 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.