iGotTripSeoul Budget vs Standard vs Comfortable
Should you go budget, standard, or comfortable for your 5-day Seoul trip? Here's a side-by-side comparison for 2 travelers — total cost, per-person, and where each style spends differently.
Style Comparison at a Glance
₩1,366,200
₩683,100 per person
₩273,240 per day
Capsule hotels, street food, free attractions. Best for backpackers and value hunters.
₩2,658,150
₩1,329,075 per person
₩531,630 per day
Business hotels, sit-down meals, paid attractions. The balanced default for most travelers.
₩5,682,150
₩2,841,075 per person
₩1,136,430 per day
4-star hotels, fine dining, taxis for convenience. Best for special occasions.
Full Comparison Table
| Metric | Budget | Standard | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | ₩1,366,200 | ₩2,658,150 | ₩5,682,150 |
| Per person | ₩683,100 | ₩1,329,075 | ₩2,841,075 |
| Per day | ₩273,240 | ₩531,630 | ₩1,136,430 |
| Buffer (10%) | ₩124,200 | ₩241,650 | ₩741,150 |
Based on a 5-day Seoul trip for 2 travelers. All amounts in KRW.
Category Breakdown by Style
| Category | Budget | Standard | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | ₩540,000 | ₩945,000 | ₩1,890,000 |
| Accommodation | ₩189,000 | ₩432,000 | ₩864,000 |
| Food | ₩243,000 | ₩472,500 | ₩945,000 |
| Transport | ₩54,000 | ₩135,000 | ₩297,000 |
| Activities | ₩135,000 | ₩270,000 | ₩607,500 |
| Cafe | ₩81,000 | ₩162,000 | ₩337,500 |
| Shopping | ₩0 | ₩0 | ₩0 |
| Buffer | ₩124,200 | ₩241,650 | ₩741,150 |
The biggest swings between styles are typically accommodation and food — flights stay roughly the same.
Which Style Is Right for You?
Choose Budget if…
- You'd rather spend on experiences than a fancy room.
- You're comfortable with capsule hotels or hostels.
- Street food and convenience-store meals sound great.
- You're a backpacker, student, or value-maximizer.
Choose Standard if…
- You want a clean private room near transit.
- Sit-down meals matter, but fine dining doesn't.
- You'll visit paid attractions and museums.
- This is a normal vacation, not a once-in-a-lifetime splurge.
Choose Comfortable if…
- You want a 4-star hotel in a prime location.
- Fine dining and reservations are part of the fun.
- Taxis beat navigating transit with luggage or kids.
- It's a honeymoon, anniversary, or special occasion.
Tip: you don't have to pick one style for everything. Open the calculator, start from standard, then nudge individual categories up or down.
Open in Calculator →Seoul Travel Style FAQ
Is this budget accurate?
It's a reference estimate based on typical category prices by travel style. Actual costs vary with season, exchange rate, and personal habits. Use it as a starting point and edit any line.
How is the budget calculated?
We multiply per-night accommodation by (days - 1), per-day categories by total days, and flight by travelers. A buffer percentage is added as a separate category.
Are flights included?
Yes — a preset round-trip flight per person is included. You can edit the amount to match your actual booking.
Is my data stored when I share?
No server storage. The budget is encoded into the URL hash. Anyone with the link sees the same numbers. Don't enter personal information.
Can I export to Excel?
Yes. Click the Excel button to download a .xlsx file with summary and category breakdown.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes, the planner is mobile-first and works in any modern mobile browser.
Do I need to log in?
No login required. The tool runs entirely in your browser.
How much does a Seoul trip cost?
A 5-day standard-style Seoul trip for 2 runs about ₩2,658,150 total. Budget travelers can do it for ₩1,200,000 — Seoul is one of Asia's best-value capitals.
Should I get a T-money card?
Yes — a T-money card saves ₩100 per subway/bus ride and works nationwide on transit and in convenience stores. Load it at any station kiosk; the card itself is ₩2,500.
Is Seoul expensive for food?
Not at all. A full kimbap roll is ₩3,000, bibimbap ₩8,000-12,000, and K-BBQ for two runs ₩25,000-40,000. Convenience-store dosirak lunchboxes are ₩4,000 and genuinely good.
When is the cheapest time to visit Seoul?
Late January-February (post-holiday) and July-August see the lowest hotel rates — often 30-40% off. Avoid Chuseok and Lunar New Year weeks when domestic travel spikes.
What's the difference between budget and standard in Seoul?
Budget (~₩1,200,000 for 5 days, 2 people) uses guesthouse bunks, kimbap meals, and ₩1,000 subway rides. Standard (~₩2,658,150) adds a Myeongdong business hotel, sit-down K-BBQ, and paid palace entries. Seoul's budget floor is genuinely comfortable.
Is comfortable style worth it in Seoul?
Comfortable (~₩4,800,000) gets you a Gangnam 4-star hotel, fine dining in Cheongdam, and a DMZ or ski day trip. Great value relative to Tokyo or Paris — Korean luxury costs much less.
Can I mix styles per category?
Yes — set 'standard' as your base and bump food to comfortable for a Gangnam dinner, while keeping accommodation budget. Seoul's cheap transit means you can splurge on food without guilt.