Which place is cheaper, Gothenburg or Seoul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Seoul or Gothenburg?
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 Seoul and Gothenburg can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Seoul or Gothenburg?
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.
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea, The Best 10-Day Tours in Sweden, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySeoul $109Gothenburg $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Seoul is $109, while the average daily cost in Gothenburg is $98. 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 Seoul and Gothenburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSeoul $55Gothenburg $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSeoul $110Gothenburg $80
Compare Hotels in Seoul and Gothenburg
Looking for a hotel in Seoul or Gothenburg? 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 and Gothenburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Seoul $16Gothenburg $18
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$3.69
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Short Taxi Ride$5.16
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Metro Ride$0.99
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Seoul City Pass Plus$7.37
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 (1-12pax): $170
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport: $101
- Lotte World Ticket with Private Transfer: $181
- 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $15
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $15
- Transfer From Gothenburg Hotel To Gothenburg Museum of Art: $32
- Private Transfer from Gothenburg Airport (GOT) to Goteborg Port: $50
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Goteborg City to Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Private Transfer from Goteborg Cruise Port to Gothenburg City: $65
- Private Transfer from Gothenburg city to Goteborg Cruise Port: $65
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
- Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $95
- Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $102
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
Is it cheaper to fly into Seoul or Gothenburg?
Prices for flights to both Gothenburg and Seoul 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 daySeoul $30Gothenburg $38
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.42
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Waffle$0.74
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Dippin' Dots$1.47
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Chicken Fried Rice$4.05
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Chicken Stick$1.47
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.40
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Lunch Buffet$4.42
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Donut$0.74
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Mushroom Burger$3.83
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.43
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Udon & Sushi$5.16
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Fresh Burger$3.54
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Soba Noodles Lunch$3.32
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.69
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Fried Rice$4.05
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Vietnamese Dinner$7.00
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$7.00
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Donut$1.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Korean Cooking @ Seoul Cooking Club!: $0.11
- Gyeongbokgung Palace : Tour, dinner and coffee: $37
- Seoul Mangwon Market Social Night Food Tour: $44
- Namdaemun Market: the Largest Traditional Market Food Tour: $47
- Namdaemun Market Street Food Tour: $48
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $54
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $54
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $58
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Seoul $27Gothenburg $16
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$5.90
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Movie Ticket$5.90
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Kimchi Museum$2.21
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
- ‘Itaewon Class’ Night Tour: $24
- 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
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Universeum Entry Ticket: $21
- Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $30
- Hop-On Hop-Off 24-Hour Sightseeing Boat: $30
- Lilla Bommen: 4-Hour Guided Boat Tour to Vinga Island: $31
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $31
- Land & Water Amphibious Bus Sightseeing Tour: $31
- 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
- City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
- Paddan Sightseeing Cruise on the Savean River: $33
- Guided boat tour to Vinga in Gothenburg: $33
- Archipelago cruise with guide: $37
- Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySeoul $12Gothenburg $21
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: $11
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $21
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - Story of Three Pigs: $43
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $81
When comparing the travel costs between Seoul and Gothenburg, we can see that Seoul 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 Seoul is in Asia and Gothenburg is in Europe, 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 Seoul Expensive? and Is Gothenburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Seoul or Gothenburg?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Gothenburg. When comparing the sizes of Seoul and Gothenburg, 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 Seoul or Gothenburg?
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.
Should I visit Seoul or Gothenburg in the Summer?
Both Gothenburg and Seoul during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Seoul for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Seoul is much warmer than Gothenburg. Typically, the summer temperatures in Seoul in July average around 26°C (78°F), and Gothenburg averages at about 16°C (61°F).
In Gothenburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Seoul often gets less sunshine than Gothenburg. Seoul gets 121 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 243 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Seoul. Seoul usually gets more rain in July than Gothenburg. Seoul gets 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySeoul 26°C (78°F)Gothenburg 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Gothenburg in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Seoul and Gothenburg. The autumn months attract visitors to Seoul because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In October, Seoul is generally much warmer than Gothenburg. Daily temperatures in Seoul average around 15°C (59°F), and Gothenburg fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).
In Seoul, it's very sunny this time of the year. Seoul usually receives more sunshine than Gothenburg during autumn. Seoul gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 94 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Seoul usually receives less rain than Gothenburg. Seoul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSeoul 15°C (59°F)Gothenburg 9°C (47°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Gothenburg in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Seoul as well as Gothenburg. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Seoul this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Gothenburg. It's quite cold in Seoul in the winter. Seoul is much colder than Gothenburg in the winter. The daily temperature in Seoul averages around -3°C (27°F) in January, and Gothenburg fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
In the winter, Seoul often gets more sunshine than Gothenburg. Seoul gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 40 hours of full sun.
Seoul usually gets less rain in January than Gothenburg. Seoul gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySeoul -3°C (27°F)Gothenburg -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Gothenburg in the Spring?
Both Gothenburg and Seoul are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Seoul for the activities around the city.
In the spring, Seoul is much warmer than Gothenburg. Typically, the spring temperatures in Seoul in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Gothenburg averages at about 5°C (41°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seoul. Seoul usually receives more sunshine than Gothenburg during spring. Seoul gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Seoul usually receives more rain than Gothenburg. Seoul gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSeoul 13°C (55°F)Gothenburg 5°C (41°F)
Typical Weather for Gothenburg and Seoul
| Seoul | Gothenburg | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 75 mm (3 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.