For meals, transport, tips - whats the safe amount to carry in South Korea ? Trying to plan a daily budget for a month long trip
I did a study break trip in June 2024 and averaged ₩50,000 per day without suffering! Stayed in university guesthouses in Sinchon and ate a lot of school cafeteria meals or chain spots like Isaac Toast. Transport with a T-money card was super efficient — I loaded ₩20,000 every 5 days or so. I didn’t tip anywhere, even in restaurants, and no one expected it. Even coffee culture doesn’t have tip jars. South Korea has a reputation for being expensive, but it’s all about how you move and where you eat.
I budgeted around ₩70,000 a day for my solo trip through Seoul, Gyeongju, and Jeju in early 2024. It was enough for meals, entry tickets to palaces or museums, and a few intercity KTX rides. Street food near Myeongdong or Insadong is cheap and fun — ₩3,000–₩5,000 per item. In Jeju, I rented a car which pushed up the cost for a few days, but buses are fine if you’re not in a rush. I never tipped and never felt pressured to. South Korea is easy to budget as long as you aren’t splurging daily on cafes or BBQ.
I spent a month working remotely in Seoul in May 2024 and tracked expenses closely. Expect to spend ₩80,000–₩100,000 daily if you're balancing cafes, coworking spots, mid-range restaurants, and frequent subway rides. I paid ₩1,000 for most metro rides, and lunch sets at local haejangguk spots were around ₩7,000–₩9,000. Tipping isn’t customary anywhere — even taxi drivers. My Airbnb in Mapo-gu was around ₩1.4M for the month. South Korea isn’t cheap like Vietnam or Thailand, but very fair for the quality and cleanliness.
I traveled around Busan and Jeonju on a tight backpacker budget in April 2024 and averaged around ₩40,000 a day (about $30 USD). I stuck mostly to gimbap places, tteokbokki stalls, and convenience store meals, which are surprisingly filling. Local buses and subways are cheap — a T-money card saves time and cash. No one tips, really. Hostel beds in Hongdae or Haeundae ran me about ₩18,000 a night. If you're into nightlife or cafes, maybe bump it to ₩60,000/day. South Korea is very doable on a backpacker’s wallet if you avoid flashy spots.