Which place is cheaper, Malmo 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 Malmo?
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 Malmo can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Seoul or Malmo?
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.
Malmo
Located on the southern tip of Sweden, in the province of Skane, Malmo is Sweden's third largest city. It has a very international population with about a third of the residents being from countries other than Sweden. This diversity is evident within Malmo, which is rich in culture, interesting food, and an array of entertainment options. Historically, Malmo was an industrial city with a ship building company, Kockums being the area's largest employer. Today, however, the city is much more economicaly diverse with many eco friendly neighborhoods and plenty of suburban style housing.
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 Sweden, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Sweden.
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Seoul Prices
South Korea PricesMalmo Prices
Sweden Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySeoul $118Malmo $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Seoul is $118, while the average daily cost in Malmo is $117. 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 Malmo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSeoul $50Malmo $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSeoul $100Malmo $112
Compare Hotels in Seoul and Malmo
Looking for a hotel in Seoul or Malmo? 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 Malmo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Seoul $14Malmo $9.26
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$3.32
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Short Taxi Ride$4.64
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Metro Ride$0.90
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Seoul City Pass Plus$6.63
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: $64
- Seoul to Incheon &Gimpo Airport Transfer 24/7 Departure Service: $90
- Seoul Private Transfer Airport Gangneung Jeonju Gyeongju Busan: $13
- Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
- 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 Airport One Way: $95
- Private Everland Theme Park Transfer: $215
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Malmo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Malmo:
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Malmö Bus Card$22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malmo
Also for Malmo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Malmo Private Transfer from Central Malmo to Malmo Airport: $57
- Malmo Airport (MMX) to Malmo City - Arrival Private Transfer: $67
- Malmo City to Malmo Airport (MMX) - Departure Private Transfer: $67
- Malmo Private Transfer from Malmo airport to Central Malmo: $104
- Malmö City to Kastrup hotel/address - Private Car Transfer: $104
- Malmö City to Copenhagen hotel/address Private Departure Transfer: $132
- Malmo Airport (MMX) to Malmo City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $134
- Private Direct Transfer From Malmo to Copenhagen: $165
Is it cheaper to fly into Seoul or Malmo?
Prices for flights to both Malmo 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 $47Malmo $51
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$3.98
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Waffle$0.66
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Dippin' Dots$1.33
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Chicken Fried Rice$3.65
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Chicken Stick$1.33
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.26
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Lunch Buffet$3.98
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Donut$0.66
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Mushroom Burger$3.45
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.19
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Udon & Sushi$4.64
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Fresh Burger$3.18
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Soba Noodles Lunch$2.98
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.32
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Fried Rice$3.65
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Vietnamese Dinner$6.30
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.30
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Donut$1.66
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
- [Wine & K-BBQ] A Perfect Pairing Dinner in Sinchon: $51
- Korean Grandma Cooking Class l Gimbap & Kimchi Pancake l Seoul: $52
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $57
- Sunset Walking Tour in Naksan Park with Dinner: $58
- Wine & K-BBQ: A Perfect Pairing Dinner: $59
- Dinner at a Local's Hanok & Seoul's Night Life: $60
- Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $64
- Incheon Full-Day Sunset and Sea Food Tour: $65
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $67
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Malmo
For Malmo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Taysta's Food Tour i Malmö: $32
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Seoul $24Malmo $18
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$5.30
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Movie Ticket$5.30
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Kimchi Museum$1.99
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
- 2 hr / Seoul Private Pedicab Tour : Bukchon Anguk Hanok Village: $90
- 2-Hour Private Kayaking and Paddleboarding Experience in Hanriver: $30
- 2026 ARMY Seasonal Special: Follow Idol Journey Day Tour fr Seoul: $72
- 2026 BTS Army Fan Day Tour from Seoul (Follow K-Pop Footsteps): $72
- 2026 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best: DMZ Tour from Seoul: $45
- 2D 1N Phoenix Pyeongchang Reseot Stay + Trout Ice-Fishing Festival Tour: $144
- 3-Hour Self-guided Sokcho Tour with Private Transportation: $30
- 365-day DMZ Tour : Signature or Special Flex-Itinerary Edition: $59
- Alpaca World & Nami Island Private Tour: $285
Tours and Activities in Malmo
For Malmo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self Guided Walking Tour of Malmö with Audio Guide: $5.90
- Lund's Medieval and Modern History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Half Day Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour in Cosmopolitan Malmö: $16
- Malmo Syndicate City Escape Game Self Guided Experience: $24
- Canal Sightseeing Boat Tour of Malmö: $25
- Malmo Private Walking Tour with a Local: $44
- Malmö Photography Tour: $66
- Malmo Walking Tour, 3 hours (small group): $71
- Malmo Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySeoul $11Malmo $41
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: $51
- Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $57
- Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $67
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $78
- Gangnam Premium Pub Crawl with VIP Bottle Service: $81
- From Yeongdong Day Trip with Wine Tasting and Janggu: $91
When comparing the travel costs between Seoul and Malmo, 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 Malmo 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 Malmo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Seoul or Malmo?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Malmo. When comparing the sizes of Seoul and Malmo, 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 Malmo?
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 Malmo in the Summer?
Both Malmo 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.
Seoul is much warmer than Malmo in the summer. The daily temperature in Seoul averages around 26°C (78°F) in July, and Malmo fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
In Malmo, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Seoul often gets less sunshine than Malmo. Seoul gets 121 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Malmo receives 247 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Seoul. Seoul usually gets more rain in July than Malmo. Seoul gets 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySeoul 26°C (78°F)Malmo 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Malmo in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Seoul and Malmo. Many travelers come to Seoul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In the autumn, Seoul is much warmer than Malmo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Seoul in October average around 15°C (59°F), and Malmo averages at about 10°C (50°F).
In Seoul, it's very sunny this time of the year. Seoul usually receives more sunshine than Malmo during autumn. Seoul gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Malmo receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Seoul usually receives around the same amount of rain as Malmo. Seoul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSeoul 15°C (59°F)Malmo 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Malmo in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Seoul as well as Malmo. Many visitors come to Seoul in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Malmo can be very cold during winter. Seoul can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Seoul is generally much colder than Malmo. Daily temperatures in Seoul average around -3°C (27°F), and Malmo fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).
In the winter, Seoul often gets more sunshine than Malmo. Seoul gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Malmo receives 36 hours of full sun.
Seoul usually gets less rain in January than Malmo. Seoul gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySeoul -3°C (27°F)Malmo 0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Malmo in the Spring?
Both Malmo 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.
Seoul is much warmer than Malmo in the spring. The daily temperature in Seoul averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Malmo fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seoul. Seoul usually receives more sunshine than Malmo during spring. Seoul gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Malmo receives 173 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Seoul usually receives more rain than Malmo. Seoul gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSeoul 13°C (55°F)Malmo 5°C (42°F)
Typical Weather for Malmo and Seoul
| Seoul | Malmo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) |
| Feb | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 41 mm (1.6 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.