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Korea Travel Budget: Daily Costs in Seoul, Busan and Jeju (2026)

Checked against official sources on October 20, 2026

Entrance building of Gwangjang Market in Seoul

Summary

Using official fares and price surveys checked in October 2026, one traveler in their own room spends about ₩105,000–₩153,000 a day in Seoul on a budget, ₩186,000–₩257,000 mid-range and ₩294,000–₩462,000 in comfort. Busan and Jeju budget days run about ₩82,000–₩111,000. Hotel rates are 2024 averages, and cafés, SIM cards and flights are not included.

At a glance

Seoul budget
₩105,000–₩153,000 a day
Seoul mid
₩186,000–₩257,000 a day
Seoul comfort
₩294,000–₩462,000 a day
Busan budget
₩83,000–₩109,000 a day
Jeju budget
₩82,000–₩111,000 a day
Not included
Flights, cafés, shopping, SIM

Details

This page turns official fares and price surveys into daily cost ranges you can plan with. Every figure has a date, because Korean prices change often. For a total for your own dates, use the budget calculator, which uses the same numbers.

Before you start

  • Pick a style. Budget means hostels or 1–2 star hotels, simple meals and few paid sights. Mid means 3–4 star hotels and one paid sight a day. Comfort means 4–5 star hotels, Korean barbecue dinners and the big observation decks.
  • Know what is not included. Flights, cafés, shopping, SIM or eSIM, and rental cars are not in the daily figures. SIM and eSIM prices are under one-off costs. We found no official price list for cafés.
  • Get a transit card. The fares below are card fares. See How to use a T-money card.
  • Check the dates. Meal prices are from September 2026. Hotel rates are 2024 averages, the latest official figures.

Step by step

Step 1 — Price your room

Hotel figures are the average rate actually paid per room per night in 2024, by star grade, from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's hotel operations survey (compiled by the Korea Hotel Association). Rates change with the season, so treat them as a midpoint.

Average room rate, 2024 Seoul Busan Jeju
Hostel (registered) ₩81,705 ₩70,014 ₩76,403
1-star ₩118,233 ₩61,017 ₩59,054
2-star ₩96,340 ₩73,201 ₩76,549
3-star ₩143,196 ₩99,654 ₩70,678
4-star ₩197,027 ₩127,341 ₩134,938
5-star ₩335,181 ₩293,756 ₩192,843

For a public option in Seoul, Seoul Youth Hostel posts adult rates per room: ₩95,700–₩110,000 for a business room for up to three, and ₩105,600–₩121,000 for a four-bed room (weekday to weekend, checked October 2026). Guesthouses and home-shares are not covered by official statistics. See Where to stay for room types.

Step 2 — Price your meals

Meal costs use the Korea Consumer Agency's regional price survey for September 2026 (provisional figures). Barbecue is priced per 1인분irinbunOne portion; the survey converts samgyeopsal to a 200 g portion.

Dish (September 2026) Seoul Busan Jeju
Gimbap (one roll) ₩3,923 ₩3,571 ₩3,625
Jajangmyeon ₩7,808 ₩7,000 ₩7,750
김치찌개 백반gimchijjigae baekbanKimchi stew set meal ₩8,846 ₩8,429 ₩9,625
Kalguksu ₩10,038 ₩8,071 ₩10,375
Bibimbap ₩12,000 ₩9,686 ₩10,500
Naengmyeon ₩12,692 ₩12,000 ₩9,750
Samgyetang ₩18,269 ₩17,429 ₩17,000
Samgyeopsal (200 g) ₩21,321 ₩18,175 ₩17,944

Step 3 — Price your transit

Fare (adult, transit card) Amount As of
Seoul subway, base fare (first 10 km) ₩1,550 2025 fare table, checked October 2026
Seoul city bus (blue and green) ₩1,500 From 12 August 2023
Seoul Climate Card short-term pass ₩5,000 (1 day) to ₩20,000 (7 days), plus ₩3,000 card Checked October 2026
Seoul taxi 기본요금gibon yogeumBase fare ₩4,800 for the first 1.6 km From 1 February 2023
Busan subway ₩1,600 (1 section) or ₩1,800 (2 sections); 1-day pass ₩6,000 Busan Transportation Corp., updated September 2025
Busan city bus ₩1,550 Same source
Jeju city bus ₩1,150 Checked October 2026
Jeju express bus ₩2,000–₩3,000 by distance Checked October 2026

Step 4 — Price your sights

Sight Adult 입장료ipjangnyoAdmission fee
Gyeongbokgung Palace ₩3,000
Changdeokgung Palace + Secret Garden ₩3,000 + ₩5,000
Deoksugung Palace ₩1,000
Palace pass (four palaces and Jongmyo, not the Secret Garden) ₩6,000
National Museum of Korea Free (except special exhibitions)
Lotte World Tower SEOUL SKY ₩33,000
Busan Haeundae Blueline Park beach train ₩8,000 (1 ride) to ₩16,000 (all stations)
Busan Songdo cable car (round trip) ₩19,000 (Air) or ₩24,000 (Crystal)
BUSAN X the SKY ₩29,000
Jeju Seongsan Ilchulbong ₩5,000
Jeju Stone Park ₩5,000
Jeju Manjanggul Cave (reopened 30 May 2026) ₩4,000 on the official fee page
Hallasan National Park No admission fee; Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa trails need a reservation

Palace prices apply to foreign adults aged 19–64. Check the official pages for closing days before you go.

Step 5 — Add one-off costs

  • Airport to central Seoul, one way: AREX all-stop train ₩4,750 to Terminal 1 or ₩5,350 to Terminal 2; AREX express ₩13,000 (adult fare shown by AREX, below its published standard fare); airport limousine bus ₩17,000; late-night bus ₩10,000. See Incheon Airport to Seoul.
  • Gimhae Airport to Busan: light rail ₩1,600–₩1,800 by card.
  • SIM or eSIM: LG U+ lists data-only eSIMs at ₩6,500 for 1 day and ₩27,500 for 5 days. KT's July 2026 guide lists data plans up to ₩38,500 for 10 days, and data-plus-voice plans from ₩23,500 (3 days) to ₩44,000 (10 days). See eSIM, SIM or Wi-Fi.
  • Transit card: the Tmoney Travel Card costs ₩4,000, according to T-money Co. See the T-money guide.

Daily cost ranges by style

Per person per day, except rooms (per room per night). Cafés are not included.

City and style Room per night Food Transit Sights
Seoul budget ₩81,705–₩118,233 ₩20,577–₩25,961 ₩3,000–₩6,200 ₩0–₩3,000
Seoul mid ₩143,196–₩197,027 ₩34,090–₩42,961 ₩6,200–₩9,300 ₩3,000–₩8,000
Seoul comfort ₩197,027–₩335,181 ₩72,911–₩73,603 ₩15,800–₩18,900 ₩8,000–₩36,000
Busan budget ₩61,017–₩73,201 ₩19,000–₩21,328 ₩3,100–₩6,000 ₩0–₩8,000
Busan mid ₩99,654–₩127,341 ₩30,175–₩39,115 ₩6,000–₩9,100 ₩8,000–₩19,000
Busan comfort ₩127,341–₩293,756 ₩63,465–₩65,779 ₩15,600–₩18,700 ₩19,000–₩53,000
Jeju budget ₩59,054–₩76,549 ₩21,000–₩24,500 ₩2,300–₩4,600 ₩0–₩5,000
Jeju mid ₩70,678–₩134,938 ₩31,194–₩37,250 ₩4,600–₩8,300 ₩5,000–₩10,000
Jeju comfort ₩134,938–₩192,843 ₩62,638–₩63,388 ₩4,600–₩8,300 ₩10,000–₩14,000

How the ranges are built.

  • Rooms: budget runs from the lowest to the highest of the hostel, 1-star and 2-star averages; mid from 3-star to 4-star; comfort from 4-star to 5-star.
  • Food, budget: gimbap, jajangmyeon and a kimchi stew set, up to gimbap, kalguksu and bibimbap.
  • Food, mid: gimbap, a kimchi stew set and one portion of samgyeopsal, up to bibimbap, naengmyeon and samgyetang.
  • Food, comfort: bibimbap or naengmyeon, samgyetang and two portions of samgyeopsal.
  • Transit: 2–6 rides a day; comfort adds two taxi base fares, and real taxi rides cost more. Jeju figures leave out taxis and rental cars.

Sample daily totals

One traveler, own room, before cafés, shopping and one-off costs. If two people share a room, halve the room cost.

Budget Mid Comfort
Seoul about ₩105,000–₩153,000 about ₩186,000–₩257,000 about ₩294,000–₩462,000
Busan about ₩83,000–₩109,000 about ₩144,000–₩195,000 about ₩225,000–₩431,000
Jeju about ₩82,000–₩111,000 about ₩111,000–₩190,000 about ₩212,000–₩279,000

Common problems

  • Seasonal room prices. The hotel figures are yearly averages. Check live prices for your own dates before you rely on them.
  • Old fares online. Seoul's subway base fare is ₩1,550 on the fare table Seoul city dated 28 June 2025. Older pages may show lower fares.
  • Jeju without a car. Buses are cheap but slow between sights. Allow more time, or budget separately for a rental car or taxis.
  • Card fees. Your home bank may add a foreign transaction fee. See Cash, cards and mobile payments.

Questions and answers

How much money do I need per day in Seoul?

On the official figures above, about ₩105,000–₩153,000 for one traveler on a budget, including a basic hotel room. Sharing a room or staying in a hostel brings it down.

Is Busan cheaper than Seoul?

Yes, on these figures. Hotel averages and most meal prices in Busan were lower than in Seoul.

Why are café prices missing?

We only publish prices from official or operator sources. We found no café chain menu page with prices, so cafés are left out. Check the menu board in the café.

How current are these numbers?

Meal prices are from September 2026, fares and admission fees were checked in October 2026, and hotel rates are 2024 annual averages. We recheck this page every 90 days.

Do I need to tip?

No. Tipping is not a Korean custom, though some large hotels and upscale restaurants add a 10% service charge.

Official sources (29)

Last checked October 20, 2026Next check due January 18, 2027

Rules can change. Confirm on the official site before you travel.

Next stepWhere to Stay in Seoul and Busan: Areas and Room Types (2026)

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