Which place is cheaper, Seoul or Qingdao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Qingdao or Seoul, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Qingdao, China, located in the Shandong Province, is a very large city right on the Yellow Sea coast. The city, whose name means "The Green Island" due to it's gorgeous landscapes and interesting geography, was named China's most livable city in 2012. The city is rich in history, having almost become a German territory in 1897 and being occupied by the Japanese during WWI. Evidence of these occupiers is present in much of the architecture around the city, which includes a few Catholic and Protestant churches.
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 Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Qingdao is $58, 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 Qingdao and Seoul in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Qingdao 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.
Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
Prices for flights to both Seoul and Qingdao 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Qingdao and Seoul, we can see that Seoul is more expensive. And not only is Qingdao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Qingdao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Qingdao 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 Qingdao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Qingdao Expensive? and Is Seoul Expensive?.
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Qingdao. When comparing the sizes of Qingdao 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.
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
The summer brings many poeple to Qingdao as well as Seoul. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Seoul because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Qingdao is generally around the same temperature as Seoul. Daily temperatures in Qingdao average around 25°C (77°F), and Seoul fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
In the summer, Qingdao often gets more sunshine than Seoul. Qingdao gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 121 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Seoul. Qingdao receives a lot of rain in the summer. Qingdao usually gets less rain in July than Seoul. Qingdao gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Seoul and Qingdao are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Seoul this time of year.
Qingdao is a little warmer than Seoul in the autumn. The daily temperature in Qingdao averages around 17°C (62°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 Qingdao. Qingdao usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Seoul during autumn. Qingdao gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 204 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Qingdao usually receives less rain than Seoul. Qingdao gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Seoul and Qingdao during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Seoul for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Seoul. It's quite cold in Qingdao in the winter. In the winter, Qingdao is much warmer than Seoul. Typically, the winter temperatures in Qingdao in January average around -0°C (32°F), and Seoul averages at about -3°C (27°F).
In the winter, Qingdao often gets more sunshine than Seoul. Qingdao gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 163 hours of full sun.
Qingdao usually gets less rain in January than Seoul. Qingdao gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Qingdao and Seoul. Also, many visitors come to Seoul in the spring for the activities around the city.
In April, Qingdao is generally around the same temperature as Seoul. Daily temperatures in Qingdao average around 12°C (53°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 Qingdao, it's very sunny this time of the year. Qingdao usually receives more sunshine than Seoul during spring. Qingdao gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Qingdao usually receives less rain than Seoul. Qingdao gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Qingdao | Seoul | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | -0°C (32°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
Feb | 1°C (34°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
May | 17°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) |
Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) |
Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
Nov | 10°C (49°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
Dec | 3°C (37°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |