Which place is cheaper, Pyeongchang or Seoul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Seoul or Pyeongchang?
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 Pyeongchang can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Seoul or Pyeongchang?
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.
Pyeongchang
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySeoul $108Pyeongchang $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Seoul is $108, while the average daily cost in Pyeongchang is $115. 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.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSeoul $54Pyeongchang $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSeoul $108Pyeongchang $124
Compare Hotels in Seoul and Pyeongchang
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.
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 Pyeongchang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Seoul $15Pyeongchang $25
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$3.63
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Short Taxi Ride$5.08
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Metro Ride$0.98
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Seoul City Pass Plus$7.26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Seoul Incheon Airport(ICN) to from Seoul Private Transfer: $113
- Private Departure Transfer:Hotel to Incheon International Airport: $145
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Incheon Airport (1-5 pax): $98
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Gimpo Airport (1-12 pax): $167
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport to Seoul City (1-5 pax): $80
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport to Seoul City (1-12 pax): $167
- Private Airport Transfer From Incheon Airport To Seoul(up to 12): $190
- Private Airport Transfer : Incheon airport to/from Seoul(~7 pax): $89
- Private Airport Transfer - Incheon Airport ⇔ Seoul (Up to 7 or 11 people): $138
- Private Airport Transfer * Incheon Airport <-> Seoul (1-5 people): $95
- Airport Private Transfer: Incheon Airport ⇔ Seoul Hotel (More member, Less cost): $78
- Airport Private Transfer : Seoul Hotel to Incheon International Airport (ICN): $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Seoul or Pyeongchang?
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.
Food
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Food Meals for one daySeoul $30Pyeongchang $27
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.36
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Waffle$0.73
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Dippin' Dots$1.45
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Chicken Fried Rice$3.99
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Chicken Stick$1.45
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.38
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Lunch Buffet$4.36
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Donut$0.73
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Mushroom Burger$3.78
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.40
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Udon & Sushi$5.08
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Fresh Burger$3.48
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Soba Noodles Lunch$3.27
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.63
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Fried Rice$3.99
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Vietnamese Dinner$6.90
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.90
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Donut$1.82
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Casual & Social Wine Dinner with Local Korean Food: $44
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals; Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $47
- Vegan Korean Food Cooking Class: Gimbap, Sundubu Jjigae, and more: $60
- 2-Hour Private K Cooking Class: $63
- Energizing Korean Cooking Class in a Local Home in Seoul: $71
- Night Market Food Tour: $73
- Master Korean traditional cooking with a Kimchi chef: $80
- Kimchi Cooking Class with Chef Hakyung at Gyeongbokgung Palace: $80
- Korean Cooking Class with Full-Course Meal & Local Market Tour in Seoul: $81
- K-food cooking Japchae Mandu Tteokbokki & Fishcake: $85
- Korean Premium & Original Cooking Class in Hanok Kitchen: $88
- Dive into Seoulite's Gourmet Dinner Korean BBQ and Beyond: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Seoul $26Pyeongchang $51
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$5.81
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Movie Ticket$5.81
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Kimchi Museum$2.18
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- Full Day Tour Jeonju Hanok Village, Wansan Park and Gakwonsa: $72
- (Private tour) Nami Island + Railbike + Garden of morning calm: $220
- 1 Day Private Full DMZ Tour in Seoul with Crystal Gondola: $220
- 3 Hour Walking Tour in Songpa Seoul: $48
- 3-Hour Self-guided Sokcho Tour with Private Transportation: $33
- 3-Hour Seoul Tasting Tour: Cityhall, Gwanghwamun & Jeongdong Area: $108
- A Day tour of Healing in the DMZ Zone: $50
- ARMY Bangtan pilgrimage tour in Seoul: $50
- Activity - Mt. Bukhan Hiking Guided Tour: $150
- Afternoon Half Day Seoul City Tour, visit Queen's dorm: $67
- Airport Bus 6103 Airport Limousine Bus Discount Ticket: $15
- All Day Private Make your own plan tour to Nami Island and others: $270
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySeoul $12Pyeongchang $8.82
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
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $21
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - story of 3 pigs: $42
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?.
When is the best time to visit Seoul or Pyeongchang?
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 Pyeongchang in the Summer?
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.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySeoul 26°C (78°F)Pyeongchang 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Pyeongchang in the Autumn?
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.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSeoul 15°C (59°F)Pyeongchang 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Pyeongchang in the Winter?
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.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySeoul -3°C (27°F)Pyeongchang 0°C (33°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Pyeongchang in the Spring?
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.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSeoul 13°C (55°F)Pyeongchang 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Pyeongchang and Seoul
| 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) |
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.