Which place is cheaper, Guayaquil or Seoul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Seoul or Guayaquil?
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 Guayaquil can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Seoul or Guayaquil?
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.
Guayaquil
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea, The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Seoul Prices
South Korea PricesGuayaquil Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySeoul $133Guayaquil $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Seoul is $133, while the average daily cost in Guayaquil is $116. 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 Guayaquil in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSeoul $56Guayaquil $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSeoul $112Guayaquil $64
Compare Hotels in Seoul and Guayaquil
Looking for a hotel in Seoul or Guayaquil? 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 Guayaquil Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Seoul $16Guayaquil $15
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$3.72
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Short Taxi Ride$5.21
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Metro Ride$1.01
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Seoul City Pass Plus$7.44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport (1-12pax): $164
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport: $90
- Private One-Way Transfers to/from Incheon Airport(ICN): $39
- Night Views Tour with Guide and Transfers: $41
- Seoul to Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) - Departure Private Transfer: $77
- Seoul to Nami Island, Gangchon Rail Park Full-Day Tour, Transfers: $79
- Seoul to Incheon &Gimpo Airport Transfer 24/7 Departure Service: $90
- Seoul Gimpo Airport (GMP) Transfer to Seoul/Suwon/Seongnam/Yongin: $60
- Private transfer from Seoul hotel to Seoul Station and so on: $132
- Private Transfer from Seoul to Incheon Cruise Terminal(12 pax): $190
- Private Transfer Incheon Cruise Terminal from and to Seoul: $105
- Private One-Way Transfer: Incheon Airport ⇄ Seoul (1-5 PAX): $192
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil
Also for Guayaquil, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $14
- Guayaquil to Guayaquil Airport GYE Departure Private Transfer: $18
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $20
- Private Airport Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $20
- Guayaquil Departure Transfer: $34
- Guayaquil Airport (GYE) to Guayaquil hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $37
- Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Guayaquil: $43
- Private Transfer from Manta Cruise Port to Guayaquil Airport(GYE): $223
- Private Transfer from Guayaquil city hotels to Manta Cruise Port: $223
- Private Transfer from Guayaquil hotels to Manta Cruise Port: $246
- Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $246
- Transfers to Cuenca City from Guayaquil: $260
Is it cheaper to fly into Seoul or Guayaquil?
Prices for flights to both Guayaquil 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 $53Guayaquil $50
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.47
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Waffle$0.74
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Dippin' Dots$1.49
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Chicken Fried Rice$4.09
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Chicken Stick$1.49
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.41
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Lunch Buffet$4.47
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Donut$0.74
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Mushroom Burger$3.87
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.46
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Udon & Sushi$5.21
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Fresh Burger$3.57
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Soba Noodles Lunch$3.35
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.72
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Fried Rice$4.09
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Vietnamese Dinner$7.07
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$7.07
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Donut$1.86
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: $55
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $57
- Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $64
- Incheon Full-Day Sunset and Sea Food Tour: $65
- Namdaemun Market Food Tour: $65
- Sunset Walking Tour in Naksan Park with Dinner: $66
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $67
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Guayaquil Historical Tour Ecuadorian Cooking and Cacao Experience: $97
- Wagyu Cooking Class in Guayaquil: $135
- Cooking Class, Wine & Chocolate Experience: $174
- Half Day of Cooking and Chocolate at Cocoa Farm from Guayaquil: $175
- Stopover tour in Guayaquil with cooking class and accommodation: $175
- Gastronomic workshop tour, live cooking, Learn about the Ecuadorian culinary art: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Seoul $27Guayaquil $21
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$5.96
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Movie Ticket$5.96
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Kimchi Museum$2.23
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- (Private tour) Nami Island + Railbike + Garden of morning calm: $260
- (Private tour) Seoul highlights; Gangnam and beyond Tour: $300
- (Small Group) Art and Architecture tour of Seoul: $121
- 1 Day Private Full DMZ Tour in Seoul with Crystal Gondola: $220
- 2 hr / Seoul Private Pedicab Tour : Bukchon Anguk Hanok Village: $115
- 2026 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best: DMZ Tour from Seoul: $40
- 3-Hour Self-guided Sokcho Tour with Private Transportation: $30
- 365-day DMZ Tour : Signature or Special Flex-Itinerary Edition: $59
- All inclusive Seoul Highlight Tour optional Hanbok Rental: $68
- Alpaca World Adventure in Nami Island and Garden of Morning Calm: $118
- Amazing DMZ Tour: $54
- Amazing Gawong-do Tour: $80
Tours and Activities in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Shared Walking Tour in Guayaquil City: $50
- Shared Walking Tour in Guayaquil City: $50
- City Highlights Tour with Cable Car Ride: $58
- Guayaquil Museum Tour: $64
- Half-Day City Tour—Iguana Park & Santa Ana Hill: $70
- Guayaquil to Cuenca one-way tour with Cajas Park and a Cacao Farm visit: $74
- Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Santa Ana: $74
- Private Guayaquil City Tour: $77
- Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Cerro Santa Ana: $80
- City Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $80
- Historic Walking Tour Through Time & Culture: $83
- Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Cerro Santa Ana: $86
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySeoul $12Guayaquil $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Seoul Pub Crawl by Absolute: $20
- 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: $47
- 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
- Seoul Chunpoong Brewery: Korea’s Finest Liquor Tour: $80
- From Yeongdong Day Trip with Wine Tasting and Janggu: $91
Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:
- Wine Tasting Experience with Tasting Menu: $65
- Premium Wine Tasting and 3-Course Pairing Menu in Guayaquil.: $86
- Craft Brewery Tour with Tasting: $428
When comparing the travel costs between Seoul and Guayaquil, 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 Guayaquil is in South America, 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 Guayaquil Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Seoul or Guayaquil?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Guayaquil. When comparing the sizes of Seoul and Guayaquil, 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 Guayaquil?
Seoul has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Guayaquil experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Seoul or Guayaquil in the Summer?
Both Guayaquil and Seoul during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Seoul this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Guayaquil year-round.
In the summer, Seoul is a little warmer than Guayaquil. Typically, the summer temperatures in Seoul in July average around 26°C (78°F), and Guayaquil averages at about 23°C (73°F).
Guayaquil gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Seoul. Seoul usually gets more rain in July than Guayaquil. Seoul gets 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySeoul 26°C (78°F)Guayaquil 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Guayaquil in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Seoul and Guayaquil. Many travelers come to Seoul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Guayaquil attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Seoul is generally much colder than Guayaquil. Daily temperatures in Seoul average around 15°C (59°F), and Guayaquil fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In October, Seoul usually receives less rain than Guayaquil. Seoul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSeoul 15°C (59°F)Guayaquil 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Guayaquil in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Seoul as well as Guayaquil. Many visitors come to Seoul in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Guayaquil throughout the year.
Seoul can get quite cold in the winter. Seoul is much colder than Guayaquil in the winter. The daily temperature in Seoul averages around -3°C (27°F) in January, and Guayaquil fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite rainy in Guayaquil. Seoul usually gets less rain in January than Guayaquil. Seoul gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySeoul -3°C (27°F)Guayaquil 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Guayaquil in the Spring?
Both Guayaquil and Seoul are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Seoul for the activities around the city during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Guayaquil because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Seoul is much colder than Guayaquil. Typically, the spring temperatures in Seoul in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Guayaquil averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Guayaquil. In April, Seoul usually receives less rain than Guayaquil. Seoul gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSeoul 13°C (55°F)Guayaquil 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Guayaquil and Seoul
| Seoul | Guayaquil | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Feb | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 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.