What a trip to Seoul really costs in 2026
Updated August 2026 · 5 min read · prices in KRW and USD
Most "Korea budget" posts recycle pre-pandemic numbers. Prices here have moved — the subway went from ₩1,250 to ₩1,400, a bowl of kimchi jjigae from ₩7,000 to ₩9,000 — so here are current, line-item figures from someone paying them every day. Rule of thumb throughout: ₩10,000 ≈ $7.
Accommodation — the biggest lever
- Hostel dorm bed (Hongdae, Myeongdong): ₩30,000–50,000 / night
- Business hotel (clean, small, everywhere): ₩90,000–150,000
- International 4–5 star: ₩250,000–500,000+
Two Seoul-specific tips: jjimjilbang (Korean spa) overnight stays still exist from around ₩15,000 if you want the story more than the sleep, and hotel prices in Myeongdong spike hard during Chinese holidays — check the calendar before you pick dates.
Food — where Korea is still a bargain
- Street food / kimbap shop meal: ₩4,000–8,000
- Proper restaurant meal (jjigae, bibimbap, gukbap): ₩9,000–13,000
- Korean BBQ per person, with drinks: ₩25,000–45,000
- Café latte (you will drink many): ₩4,500–6,000
- Convenience-store beer + snacks: ₩5,000 and a riverside bench is free
Transport — almost negligible
A T-money card makes the subway ₩1,400 per ride with free-ish transfers; a heavy sightseeing day rarely tops ₩8,000. Taxis start at ₩4,800 and a cross-town ride runs ₩15,000–25,000 — fine to split, silly to default to. The KTX to Busan is about ₩60,000 each way if you add a second city.
Activities — the honest surprise
Seoul's headline sights are cheap or free: the five palaces are ₩3,000 each (free in hanbok), hiking Bukhansan is free, night markets cost whatever you eat. Where money actually goes: shopping (Olive Young receipts add up fast), theme cafés, DMZ tours (~₩60,000–90,000), and K-pop–related experiences. Budget ₩20,000–100,000 a day depending on your self-control at Olive Young.
The bottom line
- Backpacker: ~₩103,000 / day ≈ $75
- Comfortable mid-range: ~₩247,000 / day ≈ $180
- Treat yourself: ~₩610,000 / day ≈ $440
A comfortable week in Seoul, excluding flights, lands around $1,250 per person. Run your own numbers with the trip cost calculator →
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