Which place is cheaper, Seoul or Turku?
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 Turku or Seoul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Turku 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: Turku or Seoul?
Turku
Turku, a city on the southwest coast of Finland, straddles the Aura River. Dating from the 13th century, it's known for Turku Castle, a medieval fortress with a history museum, perched at the river mouth. Restaurants line the cobbled riverside streets. On the eastern bank lies the Old Great Square, a former trade hub, surrounded by grand buildings. The nearby Turku Cathedral houses a royal tomb and a museum. The historic castle and cathedral point to the city's rich cultural history when it was the Finnish capital, and contemporary Turku is full of experimental art and vibrant festivals, thanks in part to its spirited university population (the country's second largest), who make Turku's nightlife young and fun. As the first city many visitors encounter arriving by ferry from Sweden and Aland, it's a splendid introduction to the Finnish mainland.
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 Luxury Tours to Finland, The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
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Turku Prices
Finland PricesSeoul Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTurku €159Seoul €109
The average daily cost (per person) in Turku is €159, while the average daily cost in Seoul is €109. 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 Turku and Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTurku €76Seoul €46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTurku €152Seoul €92
Compare Hotels in Turku and Seoul
Looking for a hotel in Turku 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: Turku Hotel Prices and Seoul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Turku €44Seoul €13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Turku
Also for Turku, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Turku Private Transfer from Turku (TKU) Airport to City centre: $81
- Turku Private Transfer from Turku city centre to Turku airport: $81
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€3.07
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Short Taxi Ride€4.29
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Metro Ride€0.83
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Seoul City Pass Plus€6.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Incheon Airport 1-12 pax: $204
- Private Transfer from Seoul to Incheon Cruise Terminal(12 pax): $190
- Private Airport Transfer From Incheon Airport To Seoul(up to 12): $190
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport to Seoul City (1-12 pax): $167
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport (1-12pax): $165
- Seoul Incheon Airport ICN to Seoul - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $160
- Private transfer from Seoul hotel to Seoul Station and so on: $133
- Private Airport Transfer - Incheon Airport ⇔ Seoul (Up to 7 or 11 people): $130
- Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $129
- Incheon Airport transfer directly to Seoul city: $113
- Premium Seoul Airport Transfer: Affordable & Convenience: $106
- [Cherry blossom]Gyeongju Tour from SEOUL transfer to BUSAN: $101
Is it cheaper to fly into Turku or Seoul?
Prices for flights to both Seoul and Turku 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 dayTurku €56Seoul €44
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon€3.68
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Waffle€0.61
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Dippin' Dots€1.23
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Chicken Fried Rice€3.37
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Chicken Stick€1.23
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew€1.16
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Lunch Buffet€3.68
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Donut€0.61
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Mushroom Burger€3.19
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Green Tea Ice Cream€2.02
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Udon & Sushi€4.29
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Fresh Burger€2.94
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Soba Noodles Lunch€2.76
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Bibimbap Lunch€3.07
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Fried Rice€3.37
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Vietnamese Dinner€5.82
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2€5.82
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Donut€1.53
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: $52
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals; Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $53
- Wine & K-BBQ: A Perfect Pairing Dinner: $53
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $57
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $58
- Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
- Seoul by Night: Palaces, Market & Street Food Tour (Vegan Option): $65
- Namdaemun Market Food Tour: $65
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $67
- Cooking Class in Seoul with Korean Grandma: $68
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Turku €22Seoul €22
Tours and Activities in Turku
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Turku.
- Guided River Cruise with Scenic Views & History: $34
- Full-Day Boat Tour to Nauvo Island: $80
- Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $109
- Full-Day Boat Tour to Seili Island: $112
- 2-hour Best Intro Walking Tour with a Local: $164
- Experience Turku with a local guide: $289
- Gems of the Archipelago Sea 3-Day Kayaking Tour: $886
- Floating Sauna Cruise: $1,477
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€4.90
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Movie Ticket€4.90
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Kimchi Museum€1.84
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- DMZ, Eunpyeong village and Jinkwansa Temple Private Tour : $212
- Private Garden of Morning Calm Experience: $267
- Private Tour Nami Island & Morning Calm Garden: $256
- Seoul National Museum Walking Tour Experience: $35
- (Closed) Korea’s White House Walking Tour Blue House: $148
- (Small Group) Art and Architecture tour of Seoul: $122
- 1 Day Private Full DMZ Tour in Seoul with Crystal Gondola: $220
- 2 Hours Seoul Private Walking Tour Including Pick up: $59
- 2025 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best: DMZ Tour from Seoul: $29
- 2D 1N Phoenix Pyeongchang Reseot Stay + Trout Ice-Fishing Festival Tour: $144
- 3-Hour Self-guided Sokcho Tour with Private Transportation: $30
- Aegibong DMZ and Eunpyeong Hanok Village One Day Tour from Seoul: $51
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTurku €12Seoul €10
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
- LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl and Drag Show with Local Drag Queen: $29
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $42
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $47
- Soju Tasting at Distillery: $51
- Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $57
- Chunpoong Makgeolli Brewery Tour: $59
- Korean Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $60
- Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $67
- Itaewon Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $73
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Turku and Seoul, we can see that Turku is more expensive. And not only is Seoul much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Turku is in Europe and Seoul is in Asia, 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 Turku would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Turku 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 Turku Expensive? and Is Seoul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Turku or Seoul?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Turku. When comparing the sizes of Turku 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.
When is the best time to visit Turku or Seoul?
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 Turku or Seoul in the Summer?
Both Seoul and Turku during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Seoul because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Turku is much colder than Seoul in the summer. The daily temperature in Turku averages around 16°C (61°F) in July, and Seoul fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
It's quite sunny in Turku. In the summer, Turku often gets more sunshine than Seoul. Turku gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 121 hours of full sun.
Seoul gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Turku usually gets less rain in July than Seoul. Turku gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTurku 16°C (61°F)Seoul 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Turku or Seoul in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Turku and Seoul. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Seoul this time of year.
In the autumn, Turku is much colder than Seoul. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Turku in October average around 6°C (43°F), and Seoul averages at about 15°C (59°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Seoul this time of the year. Turku usually receives less sunshine than Seoul during autumn. Turku gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 204 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Turku usually receives more rain than Seoul. Turku gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTurku 6°C (43°F)Seoul 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Turku or Seoul in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Turku as well as Seoul. Also, many travelers come to Seoul for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Seoul. It's quite cold in Turku in the winter. In January, Turku is generally much colder than Seoul. Daily temperatures in Turku average around -6°C (20°F), and Seoul fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).
In the winter, Turku often gets less sunshine than Seoul. Turku gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 163 hours of full sun.
Turku usually gets more rain in January than Seoul. Turku gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTurku -6°C (20°F)Seoul -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Turku or Seoul in the Spring?
Both Seoul and Turku are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Seoul in the spring for the activities around the city.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Turku. Turku is much colder than Seoul in the spring. The daily temperature in Turku averages around 3°C (37°F) in April, and Seoul fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
It's quite sunny in Seoul. Turku usually receives less sunshine than Seoul during spring. Turku gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Turku usually receives less rain than Seoul. Turku gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTurku 3°C (37°F)Seoul 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Seoul and Turku
| Turku | Seoul | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -6°C (20°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (27°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (37°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 14°C (58°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) |
| Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) |
| Sep | 10°C (51°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (43°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (33°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | -4°C (25°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 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.