How much does a trip to Korea cost? Get your number in 60 seconds.

Not a vague range — an itemized receipt. Pick your travel style and dates, and see hotels, food, transport, KTX and eSIM priced line by line in KRW and USD, from Seoul.

Trip length7 days · 2 pax
Travelers
Season
Style
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Budget sorted already? See which Korean apps to install first →

Korea app finder30-second setup

Google Maps won’t get you around Korea.

Korea runs on its own apps — Naver Map for directions, Kakao T for taxis, Papago for the menu. Tell us how you’re coming and get the exact stack to install before you land, minus the ones that need a Korean phone number or card.

Naver MapKakaoTalkKakao TPapagoBaeminKakaoPayCoupangToss
36 apps tested & compared
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Built in Seoul · 36 apps tested · 49 guides · prices reviewed quarterly

Stop guessing what Korea will cost.

01
Your trip, your number
Backpacker or comfort, three days or three weeks — the estimate reshapes around how you travel, not a generic daily average.
02
Down to the line item
Hotels, food, transport, KTX, SIM — each priced separately and totaled in KRW and USD. The exact figure, not "it depends."
03
Current, not copied
Refreshed for 2026 against real prices in Korea. Most "Korea budget" posts are recycled from years ago; ours aren't.

Skip the forum threads

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Trip Budget Calculator
See exactly what your Korea trip will cost — itemized like a Korean convenience-store receipt.
Estimate my trip →
Salary Calculator
Turn a Korean job offer into your real monthly paycheck — 19% flat tax checked automatically.
See my take-home →
Phone Plan Finder
eSIM, prepaid or postpaid? Three questions, and you'll know which SIM fits your stay.
Find my plan →
Korean Age Calculator
International age vs old Korean age — see all three side by side after the 2023 law change.
Check my age →

Whether you're visiting or staying

Travel
Visiting Korea
Trip budgets, airport transfers, T-money, KTX, day trips and the things nobody warns you about.
See all travel articles →
Living
Staying in Korea
Salary, the 19% flat tax, phone plans, bank accounts, healthcare and the rest of the paperwork.
See all living articles →

Latest articles

Search all 49 articles →
Ambulance Cost in Korea: Is 119 Free for Foreigners? (2026)
Ambulance Cost in Korea: Is 119 Free for Foreigners? (2026)
Is the ambulance free in Korea? What a 119 call costs foreigners in 2026, what the ER charges after the ride, private ambulance prices, and how to get English support.
LIVING · 8 min read
Cheapest Korean Phone Plans: The MVNO (알뜰폰) Guide for Foreigners (2026)
Cheapest Korean Phone Plans: The MVNO (알뜰폰) Guide for Foreigners (2026)
Korean MVNOs run on the same SKT, KT, and LG U+ networks for roughly half the price — here's which ones sign you up in English, whether you can join without an ARC, and how the 본인인증 catch works.
LIVING · 8 min read
Korea eSIM and SIM Card Guide: What to Buy in 2026
Korea eSIM and SIM Card Guide: What to Buy in 2026
Choose the right Korea SIM card or eSIM in 2026 by stay length, 010-number needs, ARC status, airport pickup, app verification limits, and real cost.
TRAVEL · 8 min read
Can Tourists Use Baemin in Korea? 2026 Foreign Card Guide
Can Tourists Use Baemin in Korea? 2026 Foreign Card Guide
How foreign visitors can order food on Baemin in English, pay through Apple Pay with an eligible overseas card, and avoid address and delivery mistakes.
TRAVEL · 7 min read
Korea Heatwave Alerts 2026: What Travelers Should Do
Korea Heatwave Alerts 2026: What Travelers Should Do
Understand Korea’s new heatwave and tropical-night alerts, change outdoor plans safely, and know when heat illness requires an immediate 119 call.
TRAVEL · 7 min read
Korea Severance Pay for Foreign Workers: The 2026 Rules
Korea Severance Pay for Foreign Workers: The 2026 Rules
Who qualifies for Korean severance pay, how the 30-day average-wage formula works, when payment is due, and what E-9 workers must check.
LIVING · 7 min read
Korea Electricity Bills for Foreigners: How to Pay (2026)
Korea Electricity Bills for Foreigners: How to Pay (2026)
How electricity billing works in Korea, where to find your customer number, how to pay without missing the deadline, and what to do when moving.
TRAVEL · 5 min read
Korean Addresses for Foreigners: Delivery Format (2026)
Korean Addresses for Foreigners: Delivery Format (2026)
How to format a Korean road-name address for local delivery or an overseas form, including apartment units, five-digit postal codes and English order.
LIVING · 6 min read

Frequently asked

How accurate is the budget calculator?

Estimates are based on 2026 Q2 prices, reviewed quarterly. Most travelers land within 10–15% of the figure on their receipt; the swing factor is hotel choice and how often you take taxis.

Does this site cover both tourists and people moving to Korea?

Yes — Travel for trips, Living for residency. The Trip Budget Calculator is for visitors; the Salary Calculator and 19% flat tax guide are for working foreigners.

Are these tools free?

Free, no signup. We earn a commission on some affiliate links (eSIM, hotels, money transfer) at no cost to you. Editorial decisions are independent of partners.

Are prices in KRW or USD?

Both. Every number on the receipt shows KRW with USD in parentheses, using a quarterly-reviewed exchange rate.

Landing in Korea soon?

Two things to sort before the plane: what it’ll cost, and which apps to install. Both take about a minute.

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