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South Korea on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes: South Korea is good value on a budget, with a realistic minimum of about ₩85,000 per person per day (bed ₩35,000, food ₩30,000, sights ₩10,000, transport ₩10,000), plus KTX trips.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | ₩35,000 | ₩80,000 | ₩180,000 |
| Food & drink | ₩30,000 | ₩55,000 | ₩100,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ₩10,000 | ₩25,000 | ₩50,000 |
| Local transport | ₩10,000 | ₩25,000 | ₩50,000 |
| Per person, per day | ₩85,000 | ₩185,000 | ₩380,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our South Korea day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Changing of the guard at Gwanghwamun gate (10:00 or 14:00)
- Bukchon Hanok Village (respect quiet hours)
- National Museum of Korea in Yongsan
- Walking the Cheonggyecheon stream
- Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan (some exhibits extra)
- Haeundae and Gwangalli beaches, with the Saturday drone show at Gwangalli
Cheap eats
- Bindaetteok and mayak gimbap at Gwangjang Market, about ₩5,000–7,000
- Ssiat hotteok in Busan's BIFF Square, about ₩2,000
- Kimbap or ramyeon at a casual chain, a few thousand won
- Naengmyeon (cold noodles), about ₩10,000–15,000
- Convenience-store lunches (triangle kimbap and soups), a few thousand won
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in guesthouses and hostels in Hongdae (about ₩50,000–90,000 a double, dorms less), near Seoul Station, in hanok guesthouses in Gyeongju, and in hostels around Nampo-dong and Haeundae in Busan.
Getting around cheaply
Use a T-money card for metro and buses (about ₩1,400–2,000 per ride in Seoul). From Incheon Airport, the AREX all-stop train is about ₩4,000–5,000 to Seoul Station. Intercity buses are cheaper than KTX trains if you have more time.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Gyeongbokgung (about ₩3,000) and the guard ceremony
- Lunch: Bindaetteok at Gwangjang Market, about ₩7,000
- Afternoon: Bukchon Hanok Village and Insadong (free)
- Evening: Samgyeopsal dinner, about ₩20,000, metro rides about ₩3,000
- Total: about ₩85,000 including a shared guesthouse room
More ways to save
- Take intercity express buses instead of the KTX on some routes to save money.
- Rent a bike in Gyeongju (about ₩10,000 a day) instead of taxis.
- Check closing days before planning: most palaces close on Monday or Tuesday, and Gyeongbokgung on Tuesday.
- Eat lunch specials (jeomsim) at local restaurants, cheaper than dinner.
- Look for free walking tours run by Seoul city volunteers.
- Avoid Chuseok and Seollal, when transport sells out and prices rise.
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Common questions
Can you travel South Korea on a budget?
Yes: about ₩85,000 a day per person with guesthouses, market food and the metro.
How can I get into palaces for free?
Wear a hanbok; palaces such as Gyeongbokgung let hanbok wearers in free.
What is the cheapest way from Incheon Airport?
The AREX all-stop train, about ₩4,000–5,000 and roughly 1 hour to Seoul Station.