A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Seoul vs. Guatemala City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Seoul or Guatemala City?

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 Guatemala City can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Seoul or Guatemala City?

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.

Guatemala City

Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, and The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, Guatemala City or Seoul?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Seoul is $119, while the average daily cost in Guatemala City is $56. 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 Guatemala City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Seoul $50
    Guatemala City $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Seoul $100
    Guatemala City $48
Compare Hotels in Seoul and Guatemala City

Looking for a hotel in Seoul or Guatemala City? 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.

Hotels in Seoul


Hotels in Guatemala City


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 Guatemala City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Seoul $14
    Guatemala City $6.27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:


  • Subway Card
    $3.34
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $4.67
  • Metro Ride
    $0.90
  • Seoul City Pass Plus
    $6.67

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:

  • Seoul Private Transfer Airport Gangneung Jeonju Gyeongju Busan: $14
  • Private One-Way Transfers to/from Incheon Airport(ICN): $39
  • Night Views Tour with Guide and Transfers: $41
  • From Round-Trip Transfer to Dae Jang Geum Park: $50
  • Seoul to Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) Departure Private Transfer: $63
  • Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul - Arrival Private Transfer: $63
  • Private Airport Transfer:Seoul City Incheon ⇄Airport: $67
  • Incheon Airport (ICN) Transfer to Seoul/Suwon/Seongnam/Yongin: $68
  • Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul - Arrival Private Transfer: $78
  • Private Seoul KTX Station Transfer from/to Seoul Area: $85
  • Private Airport Transfer : Gimpo airport to/from Seoul (1~7pax): $89
  • Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport: $90

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:

  • Private Transfer La Aurora Airport GUA to Guatemala City Hotel: $19
  • One way Shared Transfer to Antigua: $24
  • Private Departure Transfer:Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport(GUA): $24
  • Private Airport Transfer La Aurora airport to Guatemala: $26
  • Private Airport Transfer from Guatemala to La Aurora airport: $26
  • Private Transfer: Guatemala City Airpot(GUA) to Antigua Guatemala: $29
  • Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $30
  • Private Transfer from La Aurora International Airport to Antigua: $32
  • Private Transfer from Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $32
  • La Aurora Airport (GUA): One-Way Private Transfer to Antigua: $32
  • Private Arrival Transfer: La Aurora International Airport to Antigua Hotel: $35
  • Private Transfer: Guatemala City ⇄ Antigua – One-Way: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Seoul or Guatemala City?

Prices for flights to both Guatemala City 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Seoul $48
    Guatemala City $27
Typical Food Prices in Seoul

Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:


  • Rice with Kimchi & Bacon
    $4.00
  • Waffle
    $0.67
  • Dippin' Dots
    $1.33
  • Chicken Fried Rice
    $3.67
  • Chicken Stick
    $1.33
  • Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew
    $1.27
  • Lunch Buffet
    $4.00
  • Donut
    $0.67
  • Mushroom Burger
    $3.47
  • Green Tea Ice Cream
    $2.20
  • Udon & Sushi
    $4.67
  • Fresh Burger
    $3.20
  • Soba Noodles Lunch
    $3.00
  • Bibimbap Lunch
    $3.34
  • Fried Rice
    $3.67
  • Vietnamese Dinner
    $6.34
  • Breakfast and Coffee for 2
    $6.34
  • Donut
    $1.67

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: $57
  • Wine & K-BBQ: A Perfect Pairing Dinner: $59
  • Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
  • Street Food Tour in Jongno, Heart of Seoul: $61
  • Dinner at a Local's Hanok & Seoul's Night Life: $61
  • Korean Home Style Cooking Class in Gangnam Seoul: $62
  • Explore Seoul's Flavors on Group Cooking Class Adventure: $63
  • Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $64

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.

  • Cooking Experience in Guatemala from Market to Table: $23
  • Guatemala: Wine and Pizza Tasting Experience: $35
  • Antigua: Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class: $80
  • Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
  • Food Tour Zona 4: Dinner Date Experience: $125
  • Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188
  • Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Surrounded by The Volcano: $195
  • Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza with Great Volcano Views: $205
  • Puerto Quetzal: Private Tour Pacaya Volcano 4x4 and Pizza: $550

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Seoul $24
    Guatemala City $1.23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:


  • Palace Tickets
    $5.34
  • Movie Ticket
    $5.34
  • Kimchi Museum
    $2.00

Tours and Activities in Seoul

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:

  • Seoul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
  • Seoul Walking Tour 3h30 and 19 audio reviews: $6.80
  • Gyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience Hanboknam (내국인불가): $7.00
  • Seoul Changdeokgung Palace Hanbok Experience Hanboknam (내국인불가): $7.10
  • Gwanghwamun Tour l 120 Minutes to Understand South Korea: $10
  • Seoul : Essential History Walking Tour for Visitor: $14
  • Elysian Gangchon Winter Ski + Eobi Ice Valley Day Tour fr Seoul: $14
  • Changdeokgung Hanbok Experience at hanboknam: $14
  • Gyeongbokgung Hanbok Experience at hanboknam: $14
  • bukchon Hanbok Experience at hanboknam: $14
  • Yeouido: Seoul Eland Han River Cruise: $15
  • Jamsil: Seoul Eland Han River Cruise: $15

Tours and Activities in Guatemala City

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:

  • Guatemala City Berlin Plaza Self Guided Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City: $20
  • Historic Center Walking Tour; Art and History: $27
  • Volcano-Grown Coffee Tasting Experience: $28
  • Half-Day Guatemala City Explorer Tour: $34
  • Walking Tour of Guatemala City's Historical Center: $35
  • Walking Tour: $35
  • Guatemala city walking tour only weekends. 2 persons and up: $39
  • Half Day Antigua Guatemala Tour: $40
  • Private Tour in the Historic Center of Guatemala City: $45
  • City walking tour Guatemala City and Relieff Map: $47
  • Heart of Guatemala City Tour with Local Guide: $50

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Seoul $11
    Guatemala City $6.96

Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul

Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Beyond Makgeolli: A Hidden Brewery Experience in Seoul: $9.52
  • Pub Crawl: $25
  • The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
  • LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl and Drag Show with Local Drag Queen: $28
  • Soju Tasting at Distillery - story of 3 pigs: $42
  • Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $46
  • Soju Tasting at Distillery: $51
  • Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $57
  • Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $67
  • Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $78
  • Chunpoong Makgeolli Brewery Tour: $80
  • From Yeongdong Day Trip with Wine Tasting and Janggu: $91


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Seoul and Guatemala City, we can see that Seoul is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Seoul is in Asia and Guatemala City is in Central America, 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 Guatemala City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guatemala City 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 Guatemala City.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Seoul Expensive? and Is Guatemala City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Seoul or Guatemala City?

Seoul has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Guatemala City. When comparing the sizes of Seoul and Guatemala City, 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.