Which place is cheaper, Seoul or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Petra 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 Petra and Seoul can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Seoul?
Petra
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
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 Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
-
Petra Prices
Jordan PricesSeoul Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $153Seoul $135
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $153, while the average daily cost in Seoul is $135. 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 Petra and Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Seoul $57
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Seoul $114
Compare Hotels in Petra and Seoul
Looking for a hotel in Petra 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: Petra Hotel Prices and Seoul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Seoul $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Private Transfer From or To Airport, Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea: $33
- Petra to Aqaba Hussein Airport (AQJ) - Departure Private Transfer: $69
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional: $88
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Petra Private Transfer To Aqaba: $100
- Comfortable and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Wadi Rum: $100
- Petra Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations: $115
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Transfer from Petra to Madaba – Safe & Comfortable Ride: $140
- Private Transfers from Petra Inside Jordan and Vice Versa: $176
- Fast and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Ma’in Hot Springs: $180
- Petra Private Transfer To Jerusalem: $290
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
-
Subway Card$3.78
-
Short Taxi Ride$5.29
-
Metro Ride$1.02
-
Seoul City Pass Plus$7.56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Seoul Private Transfer Airport Gangneung Jeonju Gyeongju Busan: $15
- Night Views Tour with Guide and Transfers: $41
- Private One-Way Transfers to/from Incheon Airport(ICN): $49
- From Round-Trip Transfer to Dae Jang Geum Park: $50
- Seoul Gimpo Airport (GMP) Transfer to Seoul/Suwon/Seongnam/Yongin: $60
- Seoul to Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) Departure Private Transfer: $62
- Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul - Arrival Private Transfer: $62
- Gimpo Airport to Seoul /Seoul to GMP Private Transfer (1-7pax): $74
- Seoul to Nami Island, Gangchon Rail Park Full-Day Tour, Transfers: $79
- Private Seoul KTX Station Transfer from/to Seoul Area: $85
- Incheon Airport Transfer service pick up drop off Seoul ~7 Pax: $89
- Gimpo International Airport to or from Seoul Private Transfer: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Seoul?
Prices for flights to both Seoul and Petra 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
-
Food Meals for one dayPetra $66Seoul $54
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
-
Dinner for Two$12
-
Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Authentic Jordanian Cooking, Taste of Comfort With Family: $28
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains.: $50
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $150
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
-
Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.53
-
Waffle$0.76
-
Dippin' Dots$1.51
-
Chicken Fried Rice$4.16
-
Chicken Stick$1.51
-
Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.44
-
Lunch Buffet$4.53
-
Donut$0.76
-
Mushroom Burger$3.93
-
Green Tea Ice Cream$2.49
-
Udon & Sushi$5.29
-
Fresh Burger$3.63
-
Soba Noodles Lunch$3.40
-
Bibimbap Lunch$3.78
-
Fried Rice$4.16
-
Vietnamese Dinner$7.18
-
Breakfast and Coffee for 2$7.18
-
Donut$1.89
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
- EG Tour Gimpo Peace and Food Tour: $50
- [Wine & K-BBQ] A Perfect Pairing Dinner in Sinchon: $51
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals; Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $56
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $57
- North Korean Cooking Class with Defector: Food & Personal Stories: $60
- Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $64
- Incheon Full-Day Sunset and Sea Food Tour: $65
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $67
- Wine & K-BBQ: A Perfect Pairing Dinner: $68
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Seoul $28
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
-
Entry to Petra for One$71
Tours and Activities in Petra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
- Self Guided Tour of Petra Main Trail with App (No Tickets): $8.99
- Petra 3-Hour Private Tour with a Local Guide: $60
- Private Guided Tour in Petra with licensed guide: $70
- Guided 3 Hour Tour of Petra's Iconic Landmarks: $70
- Private 3-Hour Guided Tour of Petra with Hotel Pickup .: $75
- Private Multilingual Guided Tour in Petra: $90
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $100
- Wadi Rum Private Guided Tour: $105
- Petra Highlight Tour with Private Guide Sami Nawafleh | 2.5 Hours: $120
- 6 Hours Private Tour in Petra: $125
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $130
- Tour Privado en Español a Historia y Cultura Nabatea: $130
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
-
Palace Tickets$6.04
-
Movie Ticket$6.04
-
Kimchi Museum$2.27
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
- Gyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience in Seoul: $7.00
- Gyeongbokgung Palace Web Guide and Room Escape Tour Ticket: $7.30
- Seoul Changdeokgung Palace Hanbok Experience Hanboknam (내국인불가): $7.60
- Seoul Walking Tour 3h30 and 19 audio reviews: $7.74
- Gwanghwamun Tour l 120 Minutes to Understand South Korea: $10
- [Seoul] Football Faentasium Admission Ticket (내국인 불가): $10
- Bukchon Hanok Village Seoul Walking Tour with Audioguide: $11
- Seoul KidZania Job Experience Theme Park Ticket: $12
- Changdeokgung Hanbok Experience at hanboknam: $14
- Gyeongbokgung Hanbok Experience at hanboknam: $14
- bukchon Hanbok Experience at hanboknam: $14
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Seoul $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Discover Makgeolli: Inside Seoul's Hidden Urban Brewery: $11
- The Seoul Pub Crawl Official: $22
- 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): $46
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - story of 3 pigs: $48
- Soju Tasting at Distillery: $51
- Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $57
- Itaewon Premium Pub Crawl with VIP Bottle Service: $58
- Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $67
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $78
When comparing the travel costs between Petra and Seoul, we can see that Petra is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Petra is in Middle East and Seoul is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Seoul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Seoul?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 740 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra 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 Petra or Seoul?
Seoul has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Petra experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Petra or Seoul in the Summer?
Both Seoul and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Also, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Seoul this time of year.
Petra can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Petra is generally a little warmer than Seoul. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 33°C (91°F), and Seoul fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Seoul during summer. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 121 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Seoul. In July, Petra usually receives less rain than Seoul. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Seoul 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Petra or Seoul in the Autumn?
Both Seoul and Petra during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Seoul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
Petra is much warmer than Seoul in the autumn. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Seoul fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In Seoul, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Petra. In the autumn, Petra often gets more sunshine than Seoul. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 204 hours of full sun.
Petra usually gets less rain in October than Seoul. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Seoul 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Petra or Seoul in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Seoul. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. 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. In the winter, Petra is much warmer than Seoul. Typically, the winter temperatures in Petra in January average around 15°C (59°F), and Seoul averages at about -3°C (27°F).
In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Seoul during winter. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 163 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Petra usually receives more rain than Seoul. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Seoul -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Petra or Seoul in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Petra as well as Seoul. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Seoul for the activities around the city during these months.
In April, Petra is generally much warmer than Seoul. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 25°C (76°F), and Seoul fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seoul. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the spring, Petra often gets more sunshine than Seoul. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 205 hours of full sun.
Petra usually gets less rain in April than Seoul. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Seoul 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Seoul and Petra
| Petra | Seoul | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 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 | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 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.