Which place is cheaper, Seoul or Guilin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Guilin or Seoul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Guilin and Seoul can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Guilin or Seoul?
Guilin
Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
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Guilin Prices
China PricesSeoul Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuilin $84Seoul $128
The average daily cost (per person) in Guilin is $84, while the average daily cost in Seoul is $128. 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 Guilin and Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuilin $35Seoul $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuilin $70Seoul $108
Compare Hotels in Guilin and Seoul
Looking for a hotel in Guilin 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.Guilin $5.85Seoul $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:
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Taxi$2.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:
- One Way Transfer Service between Guilin city and airport: $17
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin Train Stations to Downtown Hotel: $17
- Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Guilin Train Stations: $17
- Guilin Transfer Services: Airport,train station & hotel: $18
- [Airport Transfer] Haikou Airport ⇔ Haikou City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter> *: $23
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin International Airport (KWL) to Downtown Hotel: $25
- Private Departure Transfer: Downtown Guilin Hotel to Airport (KWL): $25
- Private Airport Transfer:Guilin Hotel to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport: $35
- Private Airport Transfer: Guilin Liangjiang International Aiport to Guilin Hotel: $35
- Transfer from Guilin Hotels to Yangshuo Town: $37
- Private Transfer from Guilin hotel to Yangshuo hotel: $37
- Guilin Railway stations Transfer Service: $37
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$3.58
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Short Taxi Ride$5.01
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Metro Ride$0.97
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Seoul City Pass Plus$7.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- From Round-Trip Transfer to Dae Jang Geum Park: $50
- Incheon Airport (ICN) Transfer to Seoul/Suwon/Seongnam/Yongin: $68
- Incheon Airport transfer directly to Seoul city: $113
- Incheon International Airport (ICN): Private Seoul Transfer: $95
- Premium Seoul Airport Transfer: Affordable & Convenience: $105
- Private Airport Transfer * Incheon Airport <-> Seoul (1-5 people): $99
- Private Airport Transfer - Incheon Airport ⇔ Seoul (Up to 7 or 11 people): $130
- Private Airport Transfer : Gimpo airport to/from Seoul (1~7pax): $89
- Private Airport Transfer : Incheon to/from Seoul (up to 7 pax): $98
- Private Airport Transfer From Incheon Airport To Seoul(up to 12): $190
- Private Airport Transfer Gimpo Intl Airport (GMP) to Seoul City: $83
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport to Seoul City (1-12 pax): $167
Is it cheaper to fly into Guilin or Seoul?
Prices for flights to both Seoul and Guilin 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 dayGuilin $39Seoul $51
Typical Food Prices in Guilin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:
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Fresh Coconut Drink$1.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guilin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.
- Half day Yangshuo Cooking lesson Small Group Tour: $62
- Full-Day Li-River with the 4 Star Luxury Boat VIP Room and Yangshuo Cooking Tour: $286
- Countryside Cycling 1-day Tour with Cooking Class: $306
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.30
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Waffle$0.72
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Dippin' Dots$1.43
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Chicken Fried Rice$3.94
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Chicken Stick$1.43
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.36
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Lunch Buffet$4.30
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Donut$0.72
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Mushroom Burger$3.72
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.36
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Udon & Sushi$5.01
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Fresh Burger$3.44
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Soba Noodles Lunch$3.22
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.58
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Fried Rice$3.94
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Vietnamese Dinner$6.80
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.80
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Donut$1.79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Guided Street Food Tour at Namdaemun Market: $45
- Seoul Night Run for Local-Favorite Korean BBQ Dinner: $50
- [Wine & K-BBQ] A Perfect Pairing Dinner in Sinchon: $51
- Wine & K-BBQ: A Perfect Pairing Dinner: $53
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals; Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $53
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $57
- Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $64
- Namdaemun Market Food Tour: $65
- Seoul by Night: Palaces, Market & Street Food Tour (Vegan Option): $65
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $67
- Cooking Class in Seoul with Korean Grandma: $68
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guilin $28Seoul $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin
Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Caves$17
Tours and Activities in Guilin
Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- City Tour with Elephant Hill & Ming Tea Tasting: $46
- Guilin Four lakes night cruise with the English speaking driver from Guilin hotel: $47
- Kayaking Adventure with Local Guide(beginner friendly): $51
- Half-Day Self-Guided Yangshuo Xianggong Hill Sunrise Tour: $52
- 1-Day tour of Guilin-LiRiver cruise-Yangshuo Xianggong hill : $55
- GUILIN:kayaking adventure with local guide: $60
- Private Full-Day City Tour with Fubo Hill: $60
- Guilin English tour guide service : $62
- Private Day Tour: Longji Terraces Cultural Villages and Hike : $69
- Full-Day Guilin Essence and Lifestyle Walking Tour: $69
- Private day tour :Guilin-LiRiver bamboo boat-Yangshuo Highlights : $70
- 1-DAY Private Longji Rice Terraces and Minority Villages Tour: $70
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$5.73
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Movie Ticket$5.73
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Kimchi Museum$2.15
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- K-Culture Adventure in Seoul Self-Guided Walking Tour : $3.58
- Gyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience in Seoul: $7.00
- Seoul Changdeokgung Palace Hanbok Experience Hanboknam (내국인불가): $7.10
- Alternative A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Gwanghwamun Tour l 120 Minutes to Understand South Korea: $10
- [Seoul] Football Faentasium Admission Ticket (내국인 불가): $10
- Gwanghwamun Tour about Korean Society and Local Mindset: $11
- Street Hustle Adventure in Seoul: $11
- SPAREX Jjimjilbang Sauna Dongmyo branch Admission Ticket(내국인불가): $11
- Skip the Line: Figure Museum W Ticket (내국인 불가): $11
- Dynamic Maze Discount Ticket Insa-dong(내국인불가): $12
- Seoul Job Experience Theme Park Ticket for Kid (내국인 불가): $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuilin $5.81Seoul $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
- LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl and Drag Show with Local Drag Queen: $28
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $42
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $46
- Soju Tasting at Distillery: $51
- Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $57
- Chunpoong Makgeolli Brewery Tour: $59
- Korean Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $60
- Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $67
- Itaewon Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $73
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $78
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guilin and Seoul, we can see that Seoul is more expensive. And not only is Guilin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Guilin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guilin 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 Guilin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guilin Expensive? and Is Seoul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guilin or Seoul?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Guilin. When comparing the sizes of Guilin 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 Guilin or Seoul?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Guilin or Seoul in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Guilin and Seoul. Furthermore, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Seoul this time of year.
In the summer, Guilin is a little warmer than Seoul. Typically, the summer temperatures in Guilin in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Seoul averages at about 26°C (78°F).
Seoul receives a lot of rain in the summer. Guilin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Guilin usually receives less rain than Seoul. Guilin gets 206 mm (8.1 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 JulyGuilin 30°C (86°F)Seoul 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Seoul in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Guilin as well as Seoul. Additionally, many travelers come to Seoul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In October, Guilin is generally a little warmer than Seoul. Daily temperatures in Guilin average around 23°C (73°F), and Seoul fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Guilin usually gets more rain in October than Seoul. Guilin gets 93 mm (3.7 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 OctoberGuilin 23°C (73°F)Seoul 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Seoul in the Winter?
Both Seoul and Guilin are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Seoul in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Seoul can get quite cold in the winter. Guilin is much warmer than Seoul in the winter. The daily temperature in Guilin averages around 10°C (49°F) in January, and Seoul fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).
In January, Guilin usually receives more rain than Seoul. Guilin gets 61 mm (2.4 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 JanuaryGuilin 10°C (49°F)Seoul -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Seoul in the Spring?
Both Seoul and Guilin during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Seoul for the activities around the city during these months.
In the spring, Guilin is much warmer than Seoul. Typically, the spring temperatures in Guilin in April average around 20°C (68°F), and Seoul averages at about 13°C (55°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Guilin. Guilin usually gets more rain in April than Seoul. Guilin gets 263 mm (10.3 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 AprilGuilin 20°C (68°F)Seoul 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Seoul and Guilin
| Guilin | Seoul | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (49°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (68°F) | 263 mm (10.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 334 mm (13.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (86°F) | 168 mm (6.6 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.