South Korea Travel Budget 2025–2026: Daily Costs & Breakdown
A week in South Korea typically costs between 800,000 and 2,100,000 KRW per person, depending on whether you stay in hostels or hotels, eat street food or sit-down meals, and travel during peak or shoulder season. That translates to roughly 570–1,500 USD at August 2026 exchange rates, but check a live converter before you finalise your budget. This guide breaks down accommodation, food, transport, entry fees and connectivity costs using verified 2026 figures, gives you ranges for every spending category, and explains where foreign visitors often overspend or miss cheaper options. By the end you will be able to build a daily budget that matches your travel style and know which costs you can book in advance versus pay on arrival.
- Daily budget range
- Budget: 70,000–100,000 KRW; Mid-range: 150,000–250,000 KRW; Comfort: 300,000+ KRW per person
- Seoul subway base fare
- 1,550 KRW with T-money card, 1,650 KRW single ticket (first 10 km); distance surcharges apply
- K-ETA requirement
- Temporary exemption for 22 countries (including US, UK, Canada, Australia) until 31 Dec 2026; confirm at k-eta.go.kr
- Tipping custom
- Not expected anywhere in Korea; service charge included in listed prices; leaving cash causes confusion
- Exchange rate (Aug 2026)
- Approximately 1,410 KRW to 1 USD; always check live rate before converting budget figures
- e-Arrival Card
- Required at e-arrivalcard.go.kr within 3 days before arrival if you do not hold a K-ETA approval
- Accommodation: hostels, guesthouses, hotels and Airbnb
- Food and drink: street food, casual restaurants and cafes
- Transport: subway, buses, KTX trains and intercity travel
- Sightseeing: palaces, museums, temples and theme parks
- Mobile connectivity: SIM cards, eSIMs and pocket WiFi
- Entry paperwork: K-ETA exemption, e-Arrival Card and customs
- Money, cards and cash: exchange, ATMs and payment methods
- Sample daily budgets by travel style (per person, in KRW)
- Practical tips
- Frequently asked questions
Accommodation: hostels, guesthouses, hotels and Airbnb
Hostel dorm beds in Seoul and Busan cost roughly 20,000–35,000 KRW per night in neighbourhoods such as Hongdae (홍대), Myeongdong (명동) and Haeundae (해운대). Private rooms in the same hostels or small guesthouses run 50,000–80,000 KRW. Mid-range hotels charge 100,000–180,000 KRW for a double, and international-chain properties in central Seoul or Busan start around 200,000 KRW and climb quickly during cherry-blossom season in early April and autumn foliage in late October. Outside Seoul and Busan, accommodation is typically 20–30 percent cheaper. Airbnb and local platforms such as Yanolja (야놀자) and Yeogi Eottae (여기어때) offer apartments and studio stays, but be aware that short-term rentals under 30 days are restricted in some residential zones, so always confirm the listing is legal. Hanok stays—traditional guesthouses with ondol floor heating—cost 60,000–150,000 KRW and are concentrated in Bukchon (북촌), Jeonju (전주) and Gyeongju (경주). Book early for national holidays such as Chuseok (autumn harvest) and Lunar New Year, when domestic travel spikes and prices double. Payment is almost always by card; many smaller guesthouses accept only Korean cards, so bring a Visa or Mastercard and confirm acceptance in advance if booking direct.
Food and drink: street food, casual restaurants and cafes
Street-food staples such as tteokbokki (떡볶이), hotteok (호떡), gimbap (김밥) and odeng (오뎅) cost 3,000–6,000 KRW per serving at markets including Gwangjang (광장시장), Myeongdong and Namdaemun (남대문시장). A filling meal at a casual restaurant—kimchi jjigae (김치찌개), bibimbap (비빔밥), samgyeopsal (삼겹살)—runs 8,000–15,000 KRW per person, and many places include free banchan (반찬) side dishes refilled at no charge. Mid-range Korean barbecue restaurants serving pork belly, beef or seafood charge 15,000–30,000 KRW per person depending on the cut; beef galbi (갈비) and hanwoo (한우) Korean beef push the cost above 40,000 KRW. Convenience stores—CU, GS25, 7-Eleven—sell pre-made kimbap, dosirak (도시락) lunchboxes and instant noodles for 2,000–5,000 KRW, and offer free hot water for cup noodles. Coffee at chain cafes such as Ediya, Paik's Coffee and Mega Coffee costs 2,500–4,500 KRW, while Starbucks and international chains charge 5,000–7,000 KRW. Korean fried chicken with beer runs 18,000–25,000 KRW for a whole chicken and two drinks. Tipping is not practised anywhere in South Korea—restaurants, bars, taxis and hotels all include service in the price, and leaving cash on the table will confuse staff. Budget 30,000–50,000 KRW per day if you eat mainly street food and convenience-store meals, 60,000–100,000 KRW for a mix of casual sit-down restaurants, and 120,000+ KRW if you plan multiple barbecue dinners or higher-end Korean, Japanese or Western meals.
Transport: subway, buses, KTX trains and intercity travel
The Seoul subway base fare is 1,550 KRW with a rechargeable T-money (티머니) or Cashbee (캐시비) card and 1,650 KRW for a single-journey ticket, covering the first 10 km; longer rides add distance surcharges. A standard T-money card costs roughly 2,500–4,000 KRW to purchase at convenience stores or station vending machines, and character or designer editions run 4,000–5,000 KRW. The card price itself is not refundable, but you can reclaim the loaded balance at most convenience stores when you leave. The same cards work on buses, which charge similar base fares and offer free transfers within 30 minutes. Busan, Daegu (대구) and other cities run their own metro systems with comparable pricing. KTX high-speed trains between Seoul and Busan cost roughly 55,000–65,000 KRW for a standard-class seat and take about 2.5 hours; the alternative SRT service on a parallel route charges slightly less. Book both via the Korail website or app, or use KTX and SRT ticket machines at stations. Intercity express buses are the cheapest long-distance option—Seoul to Busan runs around 25,000–35,000 KRW and takes 4–5 hours—and you can book tickets at terminal counters or through apps such as T-money GO and Kobus. Taxis use meters, start around 4,800 KRW, and accept T-money or card payment; late-night surcharges apply after midnight. Ride-hailing through Kakao T (카카오 T) works in all major cities. Do not rely on Google Maps for walking or driving directions inside Korea because of data-export restrictions; download Naver Map (네이버 지도) or KakaoMap (카카오맵), both of which offer English interfaces and work offline if you cache the area in advance.
Sightseeing: palaces, museums, temples and theme parks
Seoul's five Joseon-era palaces—Gyeongbokgung (경복궁), Changdeokgung (창덕궁), Deoksugung (덕수궁), Changgyeonggung (창경궁) and Gyeonghuigung (경희궁)—charge individual entry fees typically ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 KRW, but a combined palace pass covering four of them costs around 10,000 KRW and is valid for one month. The National Museum of Korea and National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art offer free permanent-collection entry; special exhibitions may charge 5,000–10,000 KRW. Buddhist temples such as Jogyesa (조계사) in Seoul and Haedong Yonggungsa (해동 용궁사) in Busan are free to enter, though templestay programs cost 50,000–70,000 KRW per night and include meals and meditation sessions. Namsan Seoul Tower (남산서울타워) observatory tickets run roughly 16,000–21,000 KRW depending on whether you buy online or at the door. Theme parks vary widely: Lotte World charges around 56,000–62,000 KRW for a day pass, Everland approximately 54,000–62,000 KRW, and smaller parks such as Seoul Land cost less. Prices fluctuate by season and whether you book advance online tickets, so check official websites before your visit. Many museums and palaces close on Mondays, and entry often stops 30–60 minutes before the official closing time, so confirm hours and last-admission policies on the venue's Korean-language site or call ahead if your Korean is limited.
Mobile connectivity: SIM cards, eSIMs and pocket WiFi
Prepaid tourist SIM cards are sold at Incheon Airport (인천국제공항) arrivals and in convenience stores throughout Korea. Prices change frequently, but expect to pay roughly 30,000–50,000 KRW for a 5–10 GB data plan valid for 5–10 days, with voice minutes and SMS included. Major carriers—SK Telecom, KT and LG U+—offer tourist packages, and rental counters operate 24 hours at the airport. eSIM data plans purchased online before arrival often cost less—around 10,000–40,000 KRW for similar data allowances—and activate as soon as you land, but your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. Providers such as Airalo, Nomad and Ubigi list Korea plans; compare data limits, validity periods and whether the plan includes a Korean phone number if you need to receive SMS for app signups. Pocket WiFi devices rent for approximately 5,000–8,000 KRW per day, require a deposit or credit-card hold, and must be returned to the rental counter or via airport drop-box; they are useful if you travel in a group sharing one connection. Free public WiFi is widespread in subways, buses, cafes and tourist zones, but coverage is inconsistent and speeds vary, so a data SIM or eSIM is the reliable choice if you plan to use navigation apps, book tickets or communicate with accommodation hosts throughout the day.
Entry paperwork: K-ETA exemption, e-Arrival Card and customs
From 1 January to 31 December 2026, nationals of exactly 22 countries are temporarily exempt from the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. If your passport is from one of those countries and you are visiting for tourism or business for up to 90 days, you do not need to apply for K-ETA during this period. This is a closed list—Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland, Greece and the Czech Republic are not on it—so confirm your own nationality on the official K-ETA site at k-eta.go.kr before you travel, because the exemption is temporary and rules change. Since 1 January 2026, travellers entering Korea without a K-ETA approval must submit the electronic e-Arrival Card at e-arrivalcard.go.kr within three days before arrival. Because most Western tourists currently qualify for the K-ETA exemption, the e-Arrival Card is the form you actually need to complete. It replaces the paper arrival and customs declaration cards you would have filled on the plane. Holders of a valid K-ETA do not need to submit the e-Arrival Card. You will need your passport details, flight information, Korean address—your hotel name and district are sufficient—and answers to standard customs and health questions. Print or screenshot the confirmation; immigration officers may ask to see it, though in practice they often wave you through if your passport is scanned without issue.
Money, cards and cash: exchange, ATMs and payment methods
The exchange rate in August 2026 is approximately 1,410 KRW to 1 USD, but treat this as a rough guide only and check a live rate using XE, Google or your bank's app before you convert figures into your home currency. Credit and debit cards—Visa and Mastercard especially—are accepted almost everywhere in cities, including convenience stores, restaurants, subway ticket machines and taxis. Some smaller guesthouses, market stalls and rural shops remain cash-only, so withdraw Korean won at ATMs found in every convenience store, subway station and bank branch. International ATM withdrawal fees vary by your home bank and the Korean bank operating the machine; expect 3,000–5,000 KRW per transaction from the Korean side, plus your own bank's foreign-transaction and ATM fees. Withdraw larger amounts less often to minimise fees. Currency exchange counters at Incheon Airport offer competitive rates and are open 24 hours; rates at hotel desks and tourist-zone kiosks are worse. Avoid exchanging large sums in your home country before departure—you will get a better rate in Korea. Carry a mix of 10,000 KRW and 50,000 KRW notes; 50,000 KRW bills are the largest denomination and sometimes refused at small vendors. Coins in 10, 50, 100 and 500 KRW are useful for temple donation boxes, coin-operated lockers and vending machines. Mobile payment via Samsung Pay, Apple Pay and local apps such as Kakao Pay is ubiquitous among Koreans, but setting up a Korean wallet requires a Korean phone number and local bank account, so stick with your international card and cash unless you have a long-term stay.
Sample daily budgets by travel style (per person, in KRW)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 25,000–35,000 (hostel dorm) | 100,000–150,000 (hotel double, shared) | 250,000+ (hotel single/upscale double) |
| Food & drink | 30,000–45,000 (street food, convenience) | 60,000–90,000 (casual restaurants, cafes) | 120,000+ (barbecue, sit-down dinners) |
| Local transport | 5,000–10,000 (subway, bus, T-money) | 10,000–20,000 (subway, occasional taxi) | 25,000+ (taxis, intercity trains) |
| Sightseeing | 5,000–10,000 (free sites, one palace) | 15,000–25,000 (multiple entries, museums) | 40,000+ (theme parks, tower, tours) |
| Total per day | 70,000–100,000 | 150,000–250,000 | 300,000+ |
Practical tips
Frequently asked questions
Before you go
Build your South Korea budget by choosing an accommodation tier, estimating meals per day in each price band, and adding transport costs based on your planned intercity trips and daily subway or bus use. Most first-time visitors find 150,000–200,000 KRW per day covers a comfortable mix of mid-range hotels, varied meals and sightseeing without constant budgeting. Use the verified 2026 figures in this guide for subway fares, T-money cards, entry requirements and tipping rules, but always confirm live exchange rates, KTX ticket prices and museum hours on official sites before you book. Carry a rechargeable transport card, download Naver Map before you land, complete the e-Arrival Card if you are K-ETA exempt, and remember that tipping is never expected—those four steps alone will save you confusion, time and money throughout your trip.
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