Which place is cheaper, Seoul or Xiamen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Xiamen or Seoul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Xiamen and Seoul can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Xiamen or Seoul?
Xiamen
Xiamen is a coastal city in the Fujian Province of China and has been a major port city and gateway to China for centuries. This vibrant and modern city was named the most livable city in the world in 2002 and one of the first cities to be named a Special Economic Zone. Xiamen is best known for being home to Gulangyu Island, a beautiful island full of historic colonial buildings and lovely walking paths.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayXiamen $64Seoul $107
The average daily cost (per person) in Xiamen is $64, 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 Xiamen and Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personXiamen $30Seoul $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomXiamen $60Seoul $108
Compare Hotels in Xiamen and Seoul
Looking for a hotel in Xiamen 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: Seoul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Xiamen $5.98Seoul $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xiamen
Also for Xiamen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Gaoqi Airport to Xiamen City Hotel: $10
- Private Transfer from Railway Station to Xiamen City: $10
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Transfers in Xiamen City: $12
- Xiamen North Railway Station Private Transfer from City Area: $19
- Private Transfer from Xiamen North Railway Station to City Area: $19
- Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Private Transfer to Local Railway Station : $19
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Arrival Transfer to City Area: $30
- Private Transfer between Riyue Gu Hotspring Resort and Xiamen City : $32
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Departure Transfer from City Areas: $33
- Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Chauffeur Service ,Xiamen Airport Transfer: $47
- Private Transfer From Xiamen City to Quanzhou City: $79
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hua’an Earth Building: $89
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$3.62
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Short Taxi Ride$5.07
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Metro Ride$0.98
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Seoul City Pass Plus$7.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Transfer Service from Gimpo Airport to Hotel City: $57
- Private Transfer l Airport to/from Seoul: $100
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport: $99
- Seoul Incheon International Airport to from Incheon Private Transfer: $85
- Seoul Airport: Private Departure Transfer from Seoul City Center: $87
- Private Gimpo Airport Transfer to Seoul and Vice Versa: $95
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Incheon Airport 1-12 pax: $204
- 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: Seoul City - Gimpo Airport (1-5 pax): $80
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport to Seoul City (1-5 pax): $80
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport to Seoul City (1-12 pax): $167
Is it cheaper to fly into Xiamen or Seoul?
Prices for flights to both Seoul and Xiamen 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 dayXiamen $26Seoul $30
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.34
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Waffle$0.72
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Dippin' Dots$1.45
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Chicken Fried Rice$3.98
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Chicken Stick$1.45
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.38
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Lunch Buffet$4.34
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Donut$0.72
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Mushroom Burger$3.76
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.39
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Udon & Sushi$5.07
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Fresh Burger$3.48
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Soba Noodles Lunch$3.26
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.62
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Fried Rice$3.98
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Vietnamese Dinner$6.88
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.88
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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: $44
- 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: $53
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $54
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $57
- Sunset Walking Tour in Naksan Park with Dinner: $58
- Half Day Seoul Afternoon Food Tour and visit 3 landMarks of Seoul: $67
- Night Market Food Tour: $70
- Energizing Korean Cooking Class in a Local Home in Seoul: $71
- Night Market Food Tour: $72
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Xiamen $16Seoul $26
Tours and Activities in Xiamen
For Xiamen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Xiamen Private English Tour Guide Service: $93
- Private Xiamen Half Day Tour to Gulangyu Island and the Hi Heaven Villa: $97
- Xiamen Private Half Day Tour of Gulangyu Island and Shuzhuang Garden: $97
- A Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
- Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour to Experience Xiamen Botanical Garden: $105
- Private Xiamen Sea Food Market & Zhongshan Road Shopping and Eating Experience: $107
- Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour with Meal Option: $109
- Flexible Private Half-Day Tour to Visit the Top Attraction Xiamen Yuanbo Garden: $110
- Day Tour to Admire the Panorama of Gulangyu Island and Visit the Precious Birds: $110
- 4-hour Xiamen Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $113
- Xiamen Half-Day Private Tour include Gulang Yu Island and Garden : $119
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Shore Excursion Tour in Your Way: $121
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$5.79
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Movie Ticket$5.79
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Kimchi Museum$2.17
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 with Petite France 'and/or' The Garden of Morning Calm: $98
- 1 Day Private Full DMZ Tour in Seoul with Crystal Gondola: $220
- 2-Hour Makgeolli Tasting Experience in Seoul: $37
- 2-Hour Private Kayaking and Paddleboarding Experience in Hanriver: $30
- 2D 1N Phoenix Pyeongchang Reseot Stay + Trout Ice-Fishing Festival Tour: $144
- 3 Hour Walking Tour in Songpa Seoul: $48
- 3-Hour Self-guided Sokcho Tour with Private Transportation: $33
- 63 Aqua Planet and 63 Building Seoul Observatory Tickets: $14
- ARMY must visit BTS tour in Seoul: $55
- Activity - Mt. Bukhan Hiking Guided Tour: $150
- Afternoon Half Day Seoul City Tour, visit Queen's dorm: $67
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayXiamen $17Seoul $12
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
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $21
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $25
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - Story of Three Pigs: $42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Xiamen and Seoul, we can see that Seoul is more expensive. And not only is Xiamen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Xiamen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Xiamen 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 Xiamen.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Xiamen Expensive? and Is Seoul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Xiamen or Seoul?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Xiamen. When comparing the sizes of Xiamen 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 Xiamen 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 Xiamen or Seoul in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Xiamen as well as Seoul. Also, most visitors come to Seoul for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Xiamen is generally a little warmer than Seoul. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 30°C (86°F), and Seoul fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
It's quite rainy in Seoul. Xiamen receives a lot of rain in the summer. Xiamen usually gets less rain in July than Seoul. Xiamen gets 140 mm (5.5 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 JulyXiamen 30°C (86°F)Seoul 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Seoul in the Autumn?
Both Seoul and Xiamen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Seoul because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
Xiamen is much warmer than Seoul in the autumn. The daily temperature in Xiamen averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Seoul fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In October, Xiamen usually receives less rain than Seoul. Xiamen gets 29 mm (1.1 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 OctoberXiamen 25°C (77°F)Seoul 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Seoul in the Winter?
Both Seoul and Xiamen during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Seoul this time of year.
It's quite cold in Seoul in the winter. In the winter, Xiamen is much warmer than Seoul. Typically, the winter temperatures in Xiamen in January average around 14°C (58°F), and Seoul averages at about -3°C (27°F).
Xiamen usually gets more rain in January than Seoul. Xiamen gets 37 mm (1.4 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 JanuaryXiamen 14°C (58°F)Seoul -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Seoul in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Xiamen and Seoul. Furthermore, many travelers come to Seoul for the activities around the city.
In April, Xiamen is generally much warmer than Seoul. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 20°C (69°F), and Seoul fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
Xiamen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Xiamen usually receives more rain than Seoul. Xiamen gets 147 mm (5.8 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 AprilXiamen 20°C (69°F)Seoul 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Seoul and Xiamen
| Xiamen | Seoul | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (69°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 24°C (76°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 25 mm (1 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.