How much does a trip to Seoul Cost?
The Cost of a Trip to Seoul
A journey to Seoul will usually cost from $42 to $285 for an individual and $83 to $569 for two people. The mid-range tends to hover around $107 (₩148,114) per person daily, as calculated from our travel cost data from fellow travelers covering food, accommodation, sightseeing, and local transportation expenses. This is a fairly wide price range, and your individual expenses will vary by the level of luxury and travel style that you choose. For those seeking a balance between comfort and budget, booking standard accommodation and eating at typical restaurants, your expenses will be close to this calculated average. Read on for a detailed breakdown of travel expenses by category and a comprehensive overview of accommodation and activity costs tailored to your visit.
How much money should you budget for your trip to Seoul?
Budget travelers to Seoul often spend around $42 per day. This usually includes a stay at a hostel and meals at affordable restaurants around town. Many budget travelers also prefer free activities over those that cost too much money. If you have a bit more money to spend, you should budget around $107 (₩148,114) per day. This average includes a mid-range hotel and more meals in restaurants, along with a higher budget for entertainment and activities. Luxury travelers should plan to spend around $285 a day which includes higher-end accommodations, restaurants, tours, and activities. For more details, see our average travel costs for Seoul here.
Average Daily Costs, Per Person, by Category
| Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation1 | $21 | $54 | $136 |
| Local Transportation1 | $5 | $15 | $48 |
| Food2 | $12 | $30 | $79 |
| Water2 | $1 | $2 | $5 |
| Entertainment1 | $10 | $26 | $80 |
| Souvenirs1 | $7 | $20 | $59 |
| Communication2 | $9 | $24 | $68 |
| Living Expenses2 | $15 | $43 | $136 |
| Alcohol2 | $5 | $12 | $29 |
| Tips and Handouts1 | $2 | $2 | $2 |
How much does a weekend trip to Seoul cost?
Travelers spend, on average, $322 per person on a three-day trip to Seoul. This includes sightseeing, hotels, food, and local transportation. You can stick close to this average price by staying at mid-range hotels and eating at mid-level restaurants, while also paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. If you wish to travel cheaper, it's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities. It's also common for many visitors to have a much higher travel budget, as many high-end hotels and restaurants can be found around town.
Gyeongbokgung Palace at night, Seoul, South Korea
How much does a five day trip to Seoul cost?
With five days in Seoul, you can expect to spend about $536 total, not including transportation to and from the city. It's possible to stay close to this daily average by booking mid-range hotels, eating at normal restaurants, and paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. It's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities if you want to spent less money.
How much does a one week trip to Seoul cost?
Most visitors spend between $291 and $1,992 for a one week trip to Seoul, with the average being $751. This includes sightseeing, local transportation, food, and hotels. One week is enough time to have a more in-depth experience in Seoul. Also, one week allows you to be more flexible with your time and money, so you can potentially save money on some aspects of your trip while spending more on others.
Hostel Prices in Seoul
With more than 20 hostels in Seoul, the average price is $18 per night for a dorm bed. The cheapest hostel costs $3 and the most expensive is $35. Usually popular with younger travelers, hostels are a great way to save money while also being social. But not all hostels are the same, and we've analyzed the prices of both dorms and private rooms to find the average prices and best places to stay. You can see more details about the hostel prices in Seoul here.
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Seoul.
- $12 for a dorm bed at Time Travelers Party Hostel in Hongdae in Seoul
- $3 for a dorm bed at Zzzip Guesthouse in Hongdae in Seoul
- $16 for a dorm bed at Time Travelers Relax Guesthouse Seoul in Seoul
Hotel Prices in Seoul
The average price for a hotel room in Seoul is $45 per night. This average is based on our detailed analysis of available hotels in the area. If you want to save money, or if you're planning a more luxurious trip, it's important to look at hotel prices based on the overall star-rating as well as guest reviews. Also, prices can vary by location and amenities. You can see more details from our analysis of hotel prices in Seoul here, and below is a breakdown of hotel prices by star-rating.
Hotels by star rating in Seoul
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 19 | $180 |
| 4 stars | 30 | $77 |
| 3 stars | 107 | $45 |
| 2 stars | 161 | $37 |
| 1 star | 29 | $39 |
| No rating | 12 | $50 |
Should you do a tour in Seoul?
You'll find a wide range of guided tours in Seoul and many visitors enjoy the convenience of having an expert guide leading them through the chosen activity. Tours range in price from $21 for the The Seoul Pub Crawl [official] to $299 for the Incheon Ganghwado Island Peace 1 Day Tour(from Seoul) by Trippose.
- Mini Van Private Guided Tour in Seoul (Optional Layover): $220
- Rare Chance : Korea's White House Walking Tour: $36
- K BBQ Experience & Soju Pairing: $50
- Private BTS Location Tour from Seoul City with Pickup: $230
- Private DMZ Tour and Suspension Bridge + Korean BBQ: $250
- Han River Urban Nature Bike Tour in Seoul: $45
- Morning Pedicab Heritage Tour: $200
- Private Nami Island Photo Shoot and Tour with a Photographer: $200
More for Seoul
If you're planning a trip to Seoul, South Korea, check out these other informative travel guides.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.
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.
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.