Seoul on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes: with guesthouses, market food and the subway, Seoul works well on a budget. A realistic minimum is about ₩90,000 per person a day (₩45,000 bed, ₩30,000 food, ₩10,000 sights, ₩6,000 transport), and dorm beds bring it lower.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | ₩45,000 | ₩80,000 | ₩180,000 |
| Food & drink | ₩30,000 | ₩60,000 | ₩130,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ₩10,000 | ₩40,000 | ₩90,000 |
| Local transport | ₩6,000 | ₩10,000 | ₩40,000 |
| Per person, per day | ₩91,000 | ₩190,000 | ₩440,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Seoul day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The National Museum of Korea in Yongsan, the largest in the country
- Walking the Cheonggyecheon stream, lit at night, to Gwanghwamun Square
- Bukchon Hanok Village's lanes (respect the visiting hours, roughly 10:00–17:00 in the core area)
- Namsan's walking trails up towards N Seoul Tower
- Han River parks such as Yeouido and Banpo, with the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain in the warmer months
- Bongeunsa temple and the Starfield Library at COEX
Cheap eats
- Bindaetteok at Gwangjang Market: about ₩5,000
- Mayak gimbap: about ₩3,000–5,000 a plate
- Tteokbokki from a street cart or bunsik shop: about ₩4,000–6,000
- Kimchi jjigae or sundubu jjigae lunch: about ₩9,000–12,000
- Hotteok (sweet filled pancake): about ₩1,500–3,000
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Hongdae and Sinchon, with guesthouses, nightlife and the AREX train straight from Incheon Airport; budget doubles are about ₩70,000–110,000 and hostel dorms typically roughly ₩20,000–40,000 a night. Myeongdong and Jongno have cheaper hostels too, closer to the palaces.
Getting around cheaply
Use a T-money card on the subway and buses. From Incheon, the AREX all-stop train costs roughly ₩4,500–5,000 to Seoul Station via Hongik University (Hongdae); the express train is about ₩11,000 and airport buses cost more. From Gimpo, the subway is cheapest.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Gyeongbokgung at opening (about ₩3,000), convenience-store breakfast (about ₩4,000)
- Lunch: kimchi jjigae in Jongno (about ₩10,000)
- Afternoon: Bukchon lanes and Insadong (free)
- Evening: Cheonggyecheon walk (free), Gwangjang Market bindaetteok and gimbap (about ₩10,000)
- Total: about ₩30,000 plus ₩6,000 transport and your bed, about ₩80,000–90,000 a day
More ways to save
- Eat at markets and bunsik snack shops, where a filling meal costs under ₩10,000.
- Solo diners should look for places advertising 1인분 (one portion) to avoid two-portion minimums at barbecue restaurants.
- Use the free National Museum of Korea and the palace grounds instead of paid attractions on rainy days.
- Visit in January–February or July–August for lower room rates.
- Spend an evening at a jjimjilbang bathhouse (about ₩15,000–20,000), which some budget travellers use as a cheap overnight option.
- Picnic in a Han River park with convenience-store food or delivered chicken rather than a restaurant dinner.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Common questions
Can I visit Seoul on a budget?
Yes. With a guesthouse in Hongdae, market food and the subway, about ₩90,000 a day is realistic, less in a dorm.
What is the cheapest way from Incheon Airport to Seoul?
The AREX all-stop train, at roughly ₩4,500–5,000 to Seoul Station, stopping at Hongik University for Hongdae.
Are Seoul's palaces free?
Entry is cheap (about ₩3,000 at Gyeongbokgung) and free if you wear a hanbok. Gyeongbokgung is closed on Tuesdays.