Which place is cheaper, Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea, The Best Cultural Tours in South Korea, and The Best Luxury Tours to South Korea.
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 Pyeongchang is $114. 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 Pyeongchang in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Seoul or Pyeongchang? 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:
Prices for flights to both Pyeongchang 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.
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:
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When comparing the travel costs between Seoul and Pyeongchang, we can see that Pyeongchang 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Seoul Expensive? and Is Pyeongchang Expensive?.
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.
Both Pyeongchang 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.
In July, Seoul is generally around the same temperature as Pyeongchang. Daily temperatures in Seoul average around 26°C (78°F), and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
In the summer, Seoul often gets less sunshine than Pyeongchang. Seoul gets 121 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pyeongchang receives 144 hours of full sun.
Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang. Seoul gets 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Seoul and Pyeongchang. Many travelers come to Seoul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
Seoul is around the same temperature as Pyeongchang in the autumn. The daily temperature in Seoul averages around 15°C (59°F) in October, and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).
In Seoul, it's very sunny this time of the year. Seoul usually receives more sunshine than Pyeongchang during autumn. Seoul gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Pyeongchang receives 185 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Pyeongchang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Seoul usually receives less rain than Pyeongchang. Seoul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Seoul as well as Pyeongchang. Many visitors come to Seoul in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Pyeongchang can be very cold during winter. Seoul can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Seoul is much colder than Pyeongchang. Typically, the winter temperatures in Seoul in January average around -3°C (27°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 0°C (33°F).
In the winter, Seoul often gets less sunshine than Pyeongchang. Seoul gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pyeongchang receives 190 hours of full sun.
Seoul usually gets less rain in January than Pyeongchang. Seoul gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Pyeongchang 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.
In April, Seoul is generally around the same temperature as Pyeongchang. Daily temperatures in Seoul average around 13°C (55°F), and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
It's quite sunny in Pyeongchang. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seoul. Seoul usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Pyeongchang during spring. Seoul gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Pyeongchang receives 204 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Seoul usually receives more rain than Pyeongchang. Seoul gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Seoul | Pyeongchang | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
Feb | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
May | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 217 mm (8.5 in) |
Aug | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) |
Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
Dec | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |