Which place is cheaper, Munich or Seoul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Munich can help you decide which place is right for you.
Seoul is a bustling, modern, and high energy city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and live music.
Munich is a multicultural, economically thriving, and bustling city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.
Visitors will generally find more to do in Munich than Seoul. While Seoul is larger than Munich, Munich has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Munich is more popular for its nightlife, while Seoul is known for its food. Munich is more touristy than Seoul and is known for its beer halls (particularly during Oktoberfest), its historic buildings and its castles. It is also home to The Nymphenburg Palace. Seoul is popular for its shopping malls, colorful street markets, beautiful parks, and vibrant energy.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Munich and Seoul. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Plenty of people visit the excellent sights and museums in both Seoul and Munich.
Many visitors head to Seoul specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The museums and landmarks are diverse, with notable sights including N Seoul Tower, the Bukchon Hanok Traditional Village, and the National Museum of Korea.
With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Munich can be an interesting and educational experience. Famous sights include the Old Town Hall in Marienplatz, Nymphenburg Palace, and the Munich Residenz.
Seoul is a must-visit destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Munich is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.
Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Seoul is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. Food is a cultural obsession here, and you'll find everything from world class street food to award winning restaurants. The dishes are so much more diverse than Korean barbecue and kimchi. Many dishes are very spicy, with popular local foods including gamjatang (pork and potato soup) and jeon (savory pancakes).
The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Munich. Bavaria has some of the best food in Germany. Popular dishes include schnitzel, weisswurst and spätzel.
Munich is very popular for nightlife and partying. Also, Seoul is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.
Munich is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. The city has a young and vibrant population that keep the nightlife scene active and fun. There are many bars and clubs around town, but the city is also famous for Oktoberfest during the months of September and October.
Seoul has a large number of nightlife venues. This is definitely a work hard/play hard city, with locals working long hours during the day and then partying hard late into the night. The nightlife scene is strong both during the week and on weekends. There are bars, clubs, and lounges that are frequented by locals and tourists alike.
Both Seoul and Munich offer terrific live music venues.
Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Seoul K-pop has put the city on the map for music, but you'll actually find a wide range of genres here including rock music and electronic dance music.
Munich has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. The city is known for its music festivals, large concerts, and small venues that are diverse enough that there is something for everyone.
Both Seoul and Munich are terrific shopping destinations.
The abundance of shops in Seoul make it a world-class shopping destination. This bustling city offers traditional local items as well as Korean cosmetics and trendy fashion. Although shopping malls are spread throughout the city, some of the most popular shopping areas are found around Myeong-dong and Dongdaemun.
Many people travel to Munich specifically to go shopping. There are many pedestrian areas and shopping centers where you can find everything from luxury items to bargain finds.
You'll find excellent kid-friendly activities in either Seoul or Munich.
Seoul is a very kid-friendly city. The city has a wide range of kid-friendly activities, ranging from the easy choices like amusement parks and children's museums, to the less obvious like kid-friendly cafes and markets. There are many entertainment options packed into a small space, so kids and adults alike will stay entertained.
You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Munich. Popular kid activities include going to the top of Stadium Roof at Olympic Park, checking out the movie sets at Filmstadt, and taking a paddle boat ride in the city park.
Both Seoul and Munich are excellent destinations to visit as a couple.
Seoul is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples enjoy the beautiful viewpoints, outdoor parks, and diverse restaurants. There are also many beautiful luxury hotels where couples can enjoy a romantic getaway.
Munich makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples enjoy exploring the palaces around the city, visiting the Roman baths at Müller's Volksbad, and checking out the many great restaurants around town.
Munich is very popular for backpackers. Also, Seoul is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.
Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Munich. The city has many fun hostels that often host events and activities for guests. It's easy to meet other backpackers and take advantage of the nightlife around town.
It's common for backpackers to visit Seoul. The city isn't the most popular among backpackers, but those who visit will enjoy exploring a fascinating culture and delicious cuisine. Because it's a large city, you'll find a diversity of accommodation options including some budget-friendly hostels and hotels.
Munich is very popular for students. Also, Seoul is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.
Students come from all over the world to visit Munich. The city is an economic hub for both Germany and Europe, so it attracts employees from around the world. There are many wonderful university programs, including a great business school in town. The city's multicultural setting makes it great for international students.
Seoul is a great city to visit as a student. Many international students head to Seoul National University, which has an excellent academic reputation. The city is also fun and energetic, so everyone will be entertained.
Both Seoul and Munich offer terrific public transit options.
Seoul has an effecient and thorough public transportation system which can take you anywhere in the city. The modern and clean transportation system includes both a subway and buses.
With a huge network, the transit system in Munich can get you around easily. Transit options include a subway (U-Bahn), suburban trains (S-Bahn), trams, and buses.
Seoul and Munich both are excellent when exploring on foot.
Seoul is a very walkable city. Many neighborhoods are fun to explore on foot but do take note that parts of the city are very hilly and the weather can be bitter cold during the winter months.
Munich is a very walkable destination. While walking tours are a great way to explore, the city is quite large so you'll want to take public transit as well.
For even more information, also check out Is Seoul Worth Visiting? and Is Munich Worth Visiting?.
In either Seoul or Munich, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Seoul than Munich because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Seoul, and 2-5 days is enough time in Munich.
Families should spend more time in Seoul than Munich. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Seoul, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Munich than Seoul if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Munich.
Seoul is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
In Munich, many people enjoy the live music and food that this economically thriving big city offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.
Seoul is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Munich. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Seoul. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Munich is a fun place to experience. In Munich, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this big city destination offers. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.
Seoul is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.
You'll find museums and nightlife around the multicultural big city of Munich. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Germany, and The Best Walking Tours in Germany.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Seoul is $107, while the average daily cost in Munich is $160. 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 Munich in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Seoul or Munich? 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Munich:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Munich:
Prices for flights to both Munich 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.
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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Munich:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Munich.
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:
Here are a few typical costs in Munich for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Munich for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Munich:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Munich:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Seoul and Munich, we can see that Munich is more expensive. And not only is Seoul much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Seoul is in Asia and Munich is in Europe, 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 Seoul would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Seoul 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 Munich would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Munich than you might in Seoul.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Seoul Expensive? and Is Munich Expensive?.
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Munich. When comparing the sizes of Seoul and Munich, 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 destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Seoul and Munich. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Seoul this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Munich for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Seoul is a little warmer than Munich. Typically, the summer temperatures in Seoul in July average around 26°C (78°F), and Munich averages at about 20°C (68°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Munich this time of the year. Seoul usually receives less sunshine than Munich during summer. Seoul gets 121 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 242 hours of full sun in the summer.
Seoul gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Seoul usually receives more rain than Munich. Seoul gets 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain, while Munich receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Seoul as well as Munich. Many travelers come to Seoul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, many visitors come to Munich in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In October, Seoul is generally a little warmer than Munich. Daily temperatures in Seoul average around 15°C (59°F), and Munich fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Seoul this time of the year. In the autumn, Seoul often gets more sunshine than Munich. Seoul gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 115 hours of full sun.
Seoul usually gets more rain in October than Munich. Seoul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Munich receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Munich and Seoul are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Seoul in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Munich for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Munich can be very cold during winter. Seoul can get quite cold in the winter. Seoul is much colder than Munich in the winter. The daily temperature in Seoul averages around -3°C (27°F) in January, and Munich fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).
Seoul usually receives more sunshine than Munich during winter. Seoul gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 30 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Seoul usually receives less rain than Munich. Seoul gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Munich receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Munich and Seoul during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Seoul for the activities around the city during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Munich because of the activities around the city.
In the spring, Seoul is a little warmer than Munich. Typically, the spring temperatures in Seoul in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Munich averages at about 11°C (53°F).
It's quite sunny in Seoul. In the spring, Seoul often gets more sunshine than Munich. Seoul gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 172 hours of full sun.
Seoul usually gets more rain in April than Munich. Seoul gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Munich receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
Seoul | Munich | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
Feb | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
May | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Aug | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 60 mm (2.3 in) |
Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) |
Dec | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |