Which place is cheaper, Seoul or Siem Reap?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Siem Reap or Seoul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Siem Reap or Seoul, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Siem Reap or Seoul?
Siem Reap
Located in northern Cambodia, Siem Reap is the closest town to Cambodia's famous Angkor Wat. It is a comfortable and laid back town and most visitors use it as a base to explore the country's most visited destination. Although Siem Reap was once a quaint village, it has continued to grow and change to meet the needs of the many tourists who visit every year. Siem Reap has become a very touristy town with easy access to restaurants, hotels, and shops. It also has a large expatriate community and the western influences are unavoidable. Although prices remain quite low, they are higher than you might find elsewhere in Cambodia.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phnom Penh, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Siem Reap, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySiem Reap $81Seoul $107
The average daily cost (per person) in Siem Reap is $81, while the average daily cost in Seoul is $107. 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 Siem Reap and Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSiem Reap $51Seoul $54
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSiem Reap $102Seoul $108
Compare Hotels in Siem Reap and Seoul
Looking for a hotel in Siem Reap or Seoul? 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: Siem Reap Hotel Prices and Seoul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Siem Reap $8.79Seoul $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Siem Reap
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Siem Reap:
-
Tuk Tuk Ride$13
-
Bike Rentals$1.93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Siem Reap
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Siem Reap:
- Siem Reap Airport (SAI): Transfer to/from Siem Reap Hotel: $7.50
- Angkor Airport (SAI) Private or Shared Transfers: $7.92
- Angkor Airport (SAI) Private or Shared Transfers: $10
- Tonle Sap Sunset Boat Cruise with Transfers: $23
- Private Transfer from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh: $24
- Siem Reap Angkor Airport Transfer or Pick-up: $25
- Private Transfers Siem Reap Angkor Airport (SAI): $26
- Phare, Cambodian Circus with Tuk-Tuk Transfers: $27
- Private Transfers Siem Reap New Airport/ Angkor Wat Tour: $29
- Private Transfers Siem Reap New Airport/ Angkor Wat Tour: $29
- Siem Reap Angkor International Airport private transfer: $30
- Private One-Way Arrival/Departure Transfer: $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
-
Subway Card$3.62
-
Short Taxi Ride$5.07
-
Metro Ride$0.98
-
Seoul City Pass Plus$7.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Airport Private Transfer : Seoul Hotel to Incheon International Airport (ICN): $78
- From Everland Admission Ticket with Transfer: $75
- From Half-Day MBC Dae Jang Geum Park Transfer: $55
- Incheon Airport Private Transfer between Seoul City: $100
- Private Airport Transfer * Incheon Airport <-> Seoul (1-5 people): $101
- Private Airport Transfer - Incheon Airport from/to Hotel in Seoul: $192
- Private Airport Transfer : Gimpo airport to/from Seoul (1~7pax): $95
- Private Airport Transfer : Incheon airport to/from Seoul(~7 pax): $99
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport to Seoul City (1-12 pax): $160
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Gimpo Airport (1-12 pax): $180
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Incheon Airport (1-5 pax): $115
- Private Departure Transfer:Hotel to Incheon International Airport: $145
Is it cheaper to fly into Siem Reap or Seoul?
Prices for flights to both Seoul and Siem Reap 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
-
Food Meals for one daySiem Reap $16Seoul $30
Typical Food Prices in Siem Reap
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Siem Reap:
-
Breakfast for Two$5.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Siem Reap
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Siem Reap.
- Apsara Dance Show with Dinner by Tuk-Tuk Roundtrip Transfer: $17
- Apsara Dinner Show with Free transfer from to your hotel: $20
- Apsara Performance Including Buffet Dinner & Hotel Pick up: $26
- Apsara Dance Show & Dinner with Tuk-Tuk Transfers: $27
- Khmer Cooking Class at a Local's Home: $29
- Morning Cooking Class & Market Tour: $29
- Cambodian Cooking Class from Siem Reap: $32
- Cambodian Desserts Cooking Lesson with Tastings: $32
- Half-Day Cambodian Cooking Class: $32
- Evening Food Tour - Inclusive 10 Local Tastings: $35
- Cambodian Cooking Class: $35
- Afternoon Cooking Class & Village Tour: $35
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
-
Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.34
-
Waffle$0.72
-
Dippin' Dots$1.45
-
Chicken Fried Rice$3.98
-
Chicken Stick$1.45
-
Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.38
-
Lunch Buffet$4.34
-
Donut$0.72
-
Mushroom Burger$3.76
-
Green Tea Ice Cream$2.39
-
Udon & Sushi$5.07
-
Fresh Burger$3.48
-
Soba Noodles Lunch$3.26
-
Bibimbap Lunch$3.62
-
Fried Rice$3.98
-
Vietnamese Dinner$6.88
-
Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.88
-
Donut$1.81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Gyeongbokgung Palace : Tour, dinner and coffee: $36
- Seoul Mangwon Market Social Night Food Tour: $43
- Namdaemun Market: the Largest Traditional Market Food Tour: $46
- Namdaemun Market Street Food Tour: $47
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals; Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $48
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $53
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $54
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $57
- Seoul Seongsu dong Tour Including Lunch, Dinner, Beer, Night View: $69
- Night Market Food Tour: $70
- Night Market Food Tour: $72
- K-FOOD one day cooking class: $75
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Siem Reap $30Seoul $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Siem Reap
Here are a few typical costs in Siem Reap for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Angkor Tour Guide$8.24
Tours and Activities in Siem Reap
Here are a few actual costs in Siem Reap for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- City Walking Tour: $6.00
- Angkor Wat Tour by Tuk-Tuk with English Speaking Driver: $9.00
- Angkor Eye Standard Ride Ticket: $12
- Angkor Temples Sunrise Tour with tours guide at only 9$/pax: $12
- Angkor Temples Tour - Shared Tours tours guide: $12
- Small Tour Group + Sun Rise 12$ / 1pax: $13
- Angkor Wat Sunrise Small Tour: $13
- Angkor Sunrise Temple Tour with Angkor Wat, Bayon & Ta Prohm: $13
- Sunset Small Groups with Massive Temples & Guide tour: $14
- Angkor Eye Cocktail Experience: $15
- Angkor Wat one Day Private Tour for All Highlight Temples: $15
- Mad Monkey Siem Reap Sunrise Angkor Wat Temple Tour: $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
-
Palace Tickets$5.79
-
Movie Ticket$5.79
-
Kimchi Museum$2.17
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- Changdeokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience in Seoul: $7.00
- Seoul Changdeokgung Palace Hanbok Experience Hanboknam (내국인불가): $7.20
- [NEWTRO ART TOUR] Media art museum & walking tour: $8.00
- Seoul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Alive Museum Discount Ticket at Insa-dong(내국인불가): $9.70
- [Seoul] Football Faentasium Admission Ticket (내국인 불가): $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Skip the Line: 63 Building Observatory + Aqua Planet 63 Combo Ticket: $11
- Seoul Job Experience Theme Park Ticket for Kid (내국인 불가): $13
- Dongdaemun City Tour Bus(내국인불가): $14
- Gyeongbokgung Palace Private Half-Day Tour: $19
- Virtual Tour of Korean Demilitarized Zone: $19
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySiem Reap $11Seoul $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Siem Reap
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Siem Reap:
- Mad Monkey Siem Reap Pub Crawl: $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Chunpoong Makgeolli Brewery Tour: $10
- Seoul Pub Crawl by Absolute: $20
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $21
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $25
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - Story of Three Pigs: $42
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - story of 3 pigs: $42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Siem Reap and Seoul, we can see that Seoul is more expensive. And not only is Siem Reap much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Siem Reap would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Siem Reap 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 Seoul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seoul than you might in Siem Reap.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Siem Reap Expensive? and Is Seoul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Siem Reap or Seoul?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of Siem Reap. When comparing the sizes of Siem Reap and Seoul, 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.
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.