Jeju on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, Jeju works on a budget if you use buses and markets: allow about ₩83,000 per person per day, with about ₩35,000 for a bed, ₩30,000 for food, ₩10,000 for sights and ₩8,000 for buses. A rental car is the main extra.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | ₩35,000 | ₩70,000 | ₩180,000 |
| Food & drink | ₩30,000 | ₩55,000 | ₩100,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ₩10,000 | ₩20,000 | ₩40,000 |
| Local transport | ₩8,000 | ₩40,000 | ₩60,000 |
| Per person, per day | ₩83,000 | ₩185,000 | ₩380,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Jeju day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk sections of the Olle Trail, such as Trail 7 along the Seogwipo cliffs past Oedolgae rock.
- Visit the O'sulloc Tea Museum and its green-tea fields.
- Swim or walk at Hyeopjae Beach, facing Biyangdo island.
- Climb a small oreum such as Darangshi Oreum for views over the eastern craters (check for any small fee).
- Browse Dongmun Market at night.
- Watch sunset over the cliffside cafés of Aewol.
Cheap eats
- Dongmun Market night-stall skewers, abalone or tangerine juice: ₩5,000-15,000.
- Grilled hairtail, tangerine snacks or raw fish at Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market: ₩10,000-30,000.
- Abalone porridge (jeonbok juk) or grilled mackerel (godeungeo-gui): ₩12,000-25,000.
- Peanut ice cream on Udo: a few thousand won.
- Convenience-store kimbap and ramyeon for a quick lunch: under ₩6,000.
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Jeju City around Nohyeong and the bus terminal, where guesthouses cost about ₩50,000-90,000 a double and hostel dorms less. Seogwipo also has guesthouses near the Olle market.
Getting around cheaply
City buses cost about ₩1,200-1,500 with a T-money card and reach every major sight; airport limousine buses link Jeju City, Jungmun and Seogwipo. There are no trains. A rental car (₩40,000-80,000 a day) needs an International Driving Permit.
A sample budget day
- Morning: bus to Seongsan Ilchulbong and climb at dawn (about ₩5,000).
- Lunch: market snack or kimbap (about ₩8,000).
- Afternoon: ferry to Udo (about ₩10,500 return) and walk to Seobin Baeksa beach.
- Evening: Dongmun Market stalls in Jeju City (about ₩15,000) and a guesthouse bed.
- Total: about ₩83,000
More ways to save
- Plan bus days by region (east, south, west) to reduce long transfers.
- Rent a car only for one or two days, for the west coast or the interior forests.
- Hike Hallasan's Yeongsil trail, which needs no reservation, if the summit slots are full.
- Fly from Seoul Gimpo on weekdays, when fares are much lower.
- Buy tangerines from roadside stalls in winter, cheaper than in shops.
- Choose guesthouses with a shared kitchen for breakfast.
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Common questions
Can I see Jeju without a car?
Yes. Buses reach every major sight for about ₩1,200-1,500 a ride with a T-money card, though journeys take longer.
Where should budget travellers stay?
In Jeju City near the bus terminal, where guesthouses cost about ₩50,000-90,000 a double.
How do I get to Jeju cheaply?
Fly from Seoul Gimpo (about 1h10); midweek fares on budget airlines are often very low.