Every Price You Need, No Guesswork

One of the most common questions about Korea trips is simply: how much does stuff cost? Not a "daily budget" estimate — the actual price of a coffee, a subway ride, a haircut, a beer.

Here's the complete price list based on living in Seoul in 2026. All prices in Korean won (KRW) with USD equivalent at roughly ₩1,340 = $1.

Food & Drinks

Convenience Store (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven)

Item Price (KRW) Price (USD)
Bottled water (500ml) ₩800–1,200 $0.60–0.90
Triangular kimbap ₩1,200–1,800 $0.90–1.35
Cup ramen ₩1,200–1,800 $0.90–1.35
Onigiri / rice ball ₩1,500–2,000 $1.12–1.50
Sandwich ₩2,500–4,000 $1.85–3.00
Lunch box (도시락) ₩3,500–5,500 $2.60–4.10
Can of beer (355ml) ₩2,500–4,000 $1.85–3.00
Soju bottle (360ml) ₩1,800–2,500 $1.35–1.85
Banana milk ₩1,500 $1.12
Ice cream bar ₩1,000–2,500 $0.75–1.85

Street Food

Item Price (KRW) Price (USD)
Tteokbokki (1 serving) ₩3,000–5,000 $2.25–3.75
Hotteok (sweet pancake) ₩1,000–2,000 $0.75–1.50
Fish cake skewer (오뎅) ₩500–1,500 $0.37–1.12
Mandu (dumplings, 5pc) ₩3,000–5,000 $2.25–3.75
Egg bread (계란빵) ₩1,500–2,500 $1.12–1.85
Corn dog (핫도그) ₩3,000–5,000 $2.25–3.75
Tornado potato ₩3,000–4,000 $2.25–3.00
Bungeoppang (fish bread) ₩1,000–2,000 $0.75–1.50
Chicken skewer ₩2,000–4,000 $1.50–3.00

Restaurants

Meal Price (KRW) Price (USD)
Gimbap (roll) ₩3,500–5,000 $2.60–3.75
Jajangmyeon (black bean noodles) ₩7,000–10,000 $5.25–7.50
Bibimbap ₩8,000–12,000 $6.00–9.00
Kimchi jjigae (stew) ₩8,000–10,000 $6.00–7.50
Sundubu-jjigae (tofu stew) ₩9,000–13,000 $6.75–9.75
Korean BBQ (samgyeopsal, per person) ₩14,000–20,000 $10.50–15.00
Korean BBQ (Hanwoo beef, per person) ₩40,000–80,000 $30.00–60.00
Fried chicken (whole) ₩18,000–22,000 $13.50–16.50
Cold noodles (naengmyeon) ₩10,000–14,000 $7.50–10.50
Kalguksu (knife noodles) ₩8,000–12,000 $6.00–9.00
Delivery food (1 person, avg) ₩12,000–18,000 $9.00–13.50
Delivery fee ₩3,000–6,000 $2.25–4.50

Cafes

Item Price (KRW) Price (USD)
Americano (chain: Mega, Compose) ₩1,500–2,000 $1.12–1.50
Americano (Starbucks) ₩4,500–5,000 $3.35–3.75
Americano (indie cafe) ₩4,500–6,500 $3.35–4.85
Latte ₩5,000–7,000 $3.75–5.25
Specialty coffee (pour-over) ₩7,000–10,000 $5.25–7.50
Bingsu (shaved ice dessert) ₩10,000–16,000 $7.50–12.00
Cake slice ₩6,000–9,000 $4.50–6.75
Croissant ₩4,000–6,000 $3.00–4.50

Pro tip: Korea's budget coffee chains — Mega Coffee, Compose Coffee, Paik's Coffee — serve decent americanos for ₩1,500–2,000. You don't need Starbucks.

Alcohol

Item Price (KRW) Price (USD)
Soju (restaurant) ₩5,000–6,000 $3.75–4.50
Draft beer (restaurant, 500ml) ₩5,000–8,000 $3.75–6.00
Craft beer (bar) ₩8,000–12,000 $6.00–9.00
Cocktail (bar) ₩12,000–18,000 $9.00–13.50
Makgeolli (rice wine, bottle) ₩4,000–8,000 $3.00–6.00
Wine (restaurant, bottle) ₩40,000–80,000 $30.00–60.00

Transportation

Item Price (KRW) Price (USD)
T-money card (purchase) ₩2,500 $1.85
Subway (base fare) ₩1,400 $1.05
Subway (longest ride, Seoul) ₩2,500 $1.85
City bus ₩1,200–1,800 $0.90–1.35
Taxi base fare ₩4,800 $3.60
Taxi per km ₩100/132m ~$0.75/km
Taxi (Myeongdong → Gangnam) ₩15,000–20,000 $11.25–15.00
Taxi (Incheon Airport → Seoul) ₩65,000–80,000 $48.50–60.00
Airport Express (AREX, express) ₩11,000 $8.20
Airport Express (AREX, all-stop) ₩4,250 $3.17
Airport bus ₩10,000–17,000 $7.50–12.70
KTX Seoul→Busan ₩59,800 $44.65
Intercity bus (avg) ₩12,000–25,000 $9.00–18.65
Bike rental (Seoul Ddareungi, 1hr) ₩1,000 $0.75

Accommodation (per night)

Type Price (KRW) Price (USD)
Hostel dorm bed ₩20,000–40,000 $15–30
Guesthouse (private) ₩50,000–80,000 $37–60
Motel (모텔) ₩40,000–80,000 $30–60
3-star hotel ₩90,000–150,000 $67–112
4-star hotel ₩200,000–350,000 $150–265
5-star hotel (Lotte, Shilla) ₩400,000–900,000+ $300–675+
Airbnb (studio, Hongdae area) ₩70,000–120,000 $52–90
Jjimjilbang overnight ₩10,000–15,000 $7.50–11.25

Shopping & Beauty

Item Price (KRW) Price (USD)
Sheet mask (1pc, Olive Young) ₩1,000–3,000 $0.75–2.25
Korean sunscreen ₩10,000–22,000 $7.50–16.50
Skincare serum ₩15,000–40,000 $11.25–30.00
Moisturizer ₩12,000–35,000 $9.00–26.25
Lip tint ₩8,000–18,000 $6.00–13.50
T-shirt (Hongdae shops) ₩15,000–35,000 $11.25–26.25
Socks (Dongdaemun, 5 pairs) ₩5,000–10,000 $3.75–7.50
K-pop album ₩15,000–25,000 $11.25–18.75
Korean snack gift box ₩10,000–30,000 $7.50–22.50

Activities & Entertainment

Activity Price (KRW) Price (USD)
Gyeongbokgung Palace ₩3,000 $2.25
Changdeokgung + Secret Garden ₩8,000 $6.00
N Seoul Tower (observation) ₩21,000 $15.75
Lotte World Tower Seoul Sky ₩27,000 $20.25
Everland theme park ₩62,000 $46.25
Lotte World ₩59,000 $44.00
DMZ tour (full day) ₩55,000–90,000 $41–67
Nami Island (ferry + entry) ₩14,000 $10.50
Norebang (karaoke, per hour) ₩15,000–25,000 $11.25–18.75
Jjimjilbang (day use) ₩10,000–15,000 $7.50–11.25
PC bang (internet cafe, per hour) ₩1,500–2,000 $1.12–1.50
Movie ticket ₩13,000–15,000 $9.70–11.20
Hanbok rental (2 hours) ₩15,000–30,000 $11.25–22.50
Cooking class ₩50,000–80,000 $37.50–60.00

Services & Utilities

Service Price (KRW) Price (USD)
SIM card (7-day data) ₩15,000–25,000 $11.25–18.75
eSIM (7-day data) ₩10,000–20,000 $7.50–15.00
Coin laundry (wash + dry) ₩5,000–8,000 $3.75–6.00
Haircut (men's, basic) ₩15,000–20,000 $11.25–15.00
Haircut (women's, basic) ₩25,000–50,000 $18.75–37.50
Hair salon (premium, Gangnam) ₩80,000–200,000 $60.00–150.00
Public restroom Free Free
Luggage storage (station) ₩3,000–8,000 $2.25–6.00
Pharmacy basics (cold medicine) ₩5,000–10,000 $3.75–7.50
Postcard + international stamp ₩1,200 $0.90

Grocery Store Prices

For travelers cooking at an Airbnb or wanting snacks:

Item Price (KRW) Price (USD)
Rice (2kg) ₩8,000–12,000 $6.00–9.00
Eggs (10 pack) ₩3,000–5,000 $2.25–3.75
Milk (1L) ₩2,500–3,500 $1.85–2.60
Bread (loaf) ₩3,000–5,000 $2.25–3.75
Ramyeon (5 pack) ₩3,500–5,000 $2.60–3.75
Kimchi (1kg) ₩8,000–15,000 $6.00–11.25
Chicken breast (100g) ₩1,500–2,500 $1.12–1.85
Pork belly (100g) ₩2,000–3,000 $1.50–2.25
Banana (bunch) ₩3,000–5,000 $2.25–3.75
Apple (3 pack) ₩5,000–10,000 $3.75–7.50

Note: Korean fruit is notoriously expensive. Apples, strawberries, and grapes cost significantly more than in North America or Europe. It's one of the few categories where Korea isn't cheap.

What's Surprisingly Cheap

  • Public transit: You can cross Seoul for under $2
  • Street food: A filling meal for under $4
  • Budget coffee: Great americano for $1.12 at Mega Coffee
  • Skincare: World-class K-beauty products for under $15
  • Jjimjilbang: All-day spa + sauna for $8-11
  • Soju: A full bottle for under $2 at convenience stores

What's Surprisingly Expensive

  • Fruit: Korean apples, strawberries, and melons can be 2-3x Western prices
  • Western food: A burger and fries runs $12-18 at most restaurants
  • Premium coffee: Specialty cafes charge $5-7 for a single cup
  • Imported goods: Cheese, wine, and foreign snacks carry heavy import markups
  • Taxis during surge: Late-night taxi fares spike significantly after midnight
  • Premium Korean BBQ: Hanwoo beef can hit $60+ per person easily

The Korea Price Rule of Thumb

Eat Korean, travel by subway, buy Korean products — and Korea is genuinely affordable. Start ordering Western food, taking taxis everywhere, and buying imported goods — and it adds up fast.

The sweet spot for most travelers: lean into Korean food and transit, splurge selectively on experiences (a good Hanwoo BBQ dinner, a cooking class, a jjimjilbang), and Korea delivers incredible value.

📖 Read our complete guide: Korea Travel Guide 2026