How expensive is it to stay in South Korea?

*Prices reflect current market prices as of 6/24/2021. Rates should only be used as a reference and not a guarantee*

With vaccinations rolling out throughout the world, many people are starting to plan their trips to Korea. But once you’ve got your tickets booked, how much should you save for your trip to South Korea?

Accommodations

Hostels and Guesthouses

The amount can vary depending on the number of people, budget, and other factors. For travelers looking to explore on a budget, you can look at guesthouses and hostels. Hostels typically have bunk beds in rooms with a locker to store your belongings, while a guesthouse will offer a private room with a shared or private bathroom. In Seoul, these can vary in price from 14,000 KRW up to 30,000 KRW per night.

If you’re going to spend most of the time exploring the city, the shared space won’t be that big of a deal, and if you’re a solo traveler, it can be a great way to meet new people. You can also leave your luggage there while traveling. The lack of privacy and having to queue up in the morning for the bathroom can be a disadvantage.

Hotels

In Seoul, you can find a wide range of hotels at different budgets. These typically range from 30,000 KRW 3-Stars up to 6,000,000 KRW presidential suites (or higher). For our money, we usually spend anywhere from 50,000-100,000 KRW. In this range, you can find a large assortment of 3 and 4-star hotels.

Pensions

If you’re looking to get out of Seoul, you can find pensions at many of the smaller cities. This can be a great option for groups of travelers. Typically with a pension, you get access to the whole house. Pensions will have a kitchen and cooking equipment if you’re looking to save some money by eating in. Pensions are good if you’re looking to stay for a weekend or longer. For a group of four, you can expect to spend around 80,000-200,000 KRW depending on the location. But if you’re going with friends, splitting the cost can get you a larger space while also costing about the same as a hotel.

Tips for finding a place to stay

If you’re staying in Seoul, find a place that is near one of the subway stops. This can make it easy to get around the city. If you want to spend time in places like Hongdae, try to find a place along Line #2 or Line #6. This can help you save money while still having easy access to your favorite spots.

Grab a business card. If you ever find yourself out late at night and need to get a cab back to your place, having the business card for your accommodations can make it easier to get back. With some hotels, the name on their listing might not be the same as their business name. Even if you speak some Korean, having the address printed out in Korean can make it easier for the taxi driver to enter it into their GPS.