Which place is cheaper, Seoul or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Seoul $107
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, 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 Petra and Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Seoul $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Seoul $108
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Seoul $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
- Petra to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Petra to Sheikh Hussein Crossing Border Private Transfer: $180
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:
- Seoul to Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) Departure Private Transfer: $47
- Seoul to Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) - Departure Private Transfer: $47
- From Half-Day MBC Dae Jang Geum Park Transfer: $55
- From Everland Admission Ticket with Transfer: $75
- Everland Transfer + Admission ticket with Meal Coupon: $75
- Airport Private Transfer: Incheon Airport ⇔ Seoul Hotel (More member, Less cost): $78
- Airport Private Transfer : Seoul Hotel to Incheon International Airport (ICN): $78
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport to Seoul City (1-5 pax): $80
- Seoul Incheon International Airport to from Incheon Private Transfer: $85
- Seoul Airport: Private Departure Transfer from Seoul City Center: $87
- Private Airport Transfer : Gimpo airport to/from Seoul (1~7pax): $95
- Incheon Airport Private Transfer between Seoul City: $98
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
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Food Meals for one dayPetra $38Seoul $30
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
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Dinner for Two$12
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Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains. : $45
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $300
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
- Grandma's Home Cooking Class at Korean House l Seoul: $45
- 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: $59
- 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.Petra $47Seoul $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
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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:
- 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $90
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $120
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
- Private Petra Back Entrance Tour with Guide .: $140
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- Wadi Rum Private Tour from Petra with Martian and Star Wars Film Site: $173
- Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour: $215
- Private Full-Day Tour to Petra and Wadi Rum from Dead Sea: $269
- Private Back Trail Tour of Petra starting from the Monastery : $276
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:
- Gyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience in Seoul: $7.00
- [NEWTRO ART TOUR] Media art museum & walking tour: $8.00
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Skip the Line: 63 Building Observatory + Aqua Planet 63 Combo Ticket: $11
- Skip the Line: Figure Museum W Ticket (내국인 불가): $11
- Seoul Job Experience Theme Park Ticket for Kid (내국인 불가): $13
- Dongdaemun City Tour Bus(내국인불가): $14
- Seoul : Guided Consultation Tour (Filler, Cosmetic Surgery): $16
- Gyeongbokgung Palace Private Half-Day Tour: $19
- Seoul Myeongdong Catholic Church Historic Private Walking Tour: $20
- Hanbok rental, hanbok experience: $25
- Gyeongbokgung Palace Half Day Tour: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Seoul $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 3 pigs: $42
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - Story of Three Pigs: $42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Seoul, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Seoul much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra 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 Petra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Petra 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 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.