Travel budget and cost of living in South Korea how much does a trip cost?

Travel budget in South Korea

South Korea: calculate your travel budget

South Korea: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in South Korea for 2 people.

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).

Cost of living in South Korea in 2025

Cost of living: South Korea VS United States

On average, the cost of living in South Korea in 2025 is 26% less than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Local prices in South Korea by expense type

South Korea: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 7.2/person
($ 5.2 to $ 11)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

3 course dinner

$ 22/person
($ 15 to $ 40)

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45% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 40

McDonald's meal

$ 5.8/person
($ 5 to $ 6.8)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 3.6 for 500ml
($ 1.8 to $ 5)

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43% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.4

Imported beer

$ 2.8 for 330ml
($ 1.5 to $ 5)

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23% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Cappuccino

$ 3.6/cup
($ 2.2 to $ 4.9)

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34% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.5

Fizzy drink

$ 1.6/can
($ 1.1 to $ 2.3)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Water bottle

$ 0.8/bottle
($ 0.7 to $ 1.2)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

South Korea: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 64/night
($ 30 to $ 252)

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63% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 173

2-star hotel

$ 71/night
($ 29 to $ 320)

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56% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 164

3-star hotel

$ 87/night
($ 36 to $ 346)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 241

4-star hotel

$ 128/night
($ 66 to $ 348)

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62% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 337

5-star hotel

$ 170/night
($ 95 to $ 421)

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68% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 542

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 63/month
($ 32 to $ 238)

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63% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 173

Room with kitchen

$ 107/month
($ 38 to $ 433)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 257

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 146/month
($ 50 to $ 450)

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33% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 219

Cottage or guest house

$ 124/month
($ 80 to $ 325)

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49% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 246

Family room

$ 155/month
($ 52 to $ 545)

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27% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 214

South Korea: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 2.2/litre
($ 1.5 to $ 2.8)

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92% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 6.1/500g
($ 3.6 to $ 13)

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62% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Rice

$ 3/kg
($ 1.7 to $ 4.7)

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39% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Eggs

$ 3.1/12 eggs
($ 1.7 to $ 6)

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21% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Chicken

$ 9.1/kg
($ 4.3 to $ 13)

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28% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 7.6/kg
($ 3.6 to $ 13)

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37% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.6

Tomatoes

$ 6/kg
($ 2.2 to $ 10.1)

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15% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2

Potatoes

$ 3.7/kg
($ 1.9 to $ 5.8)

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20% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.1

Water bottle

$ 1.1
($ 0.6 to $ 1.5)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

South Korea: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 1.1/ticket
($ 1 to $ 1.2)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Taxi (per km)

$ 0.6/km
($ 0.6 to $ 1)

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67% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8

Petrol

$ 1.2/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 1.4)

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18% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 3.3
($ 2.6 to $ 3.6)

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16% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Car hire

$ 53/24hrs
($ 35 to $ 104)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 77

South Korea: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 11/ticket
($ 8.6 to $ 13)

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27% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 21/hr
($ 7.2 to $ 33)

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8% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

South Korea: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 3.3/pack
($ 3.3 to $ 3.6)

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69% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Levi's jeans

$ 60
($ 37 to $ 95)

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5% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 56

Summer dress

$ 49
($ 22 to $ 73)

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6% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 46

Plane ticket budget

Sydney → Seoul

$ 763
(fair price: $ 638)

Melbourne → Seoul

$ 647
(fair price: $ 539)

Los Angeles → Seoul

$ 1381
(fair price: $ 1218)

New York City → Seoul

$ 1647
(fair price: $ 1440)

Toronto → Seoul

$ 1736
(fair price: $ 1491)

Vancouver → Seoul

$ 1405
(fair price: $ 1225)

Book a flight Flight prices to South Korea