Which place is cheaper, Seoul or Guangzhou?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Guangzhou or Seoul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Guangzhou and Seoul can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Guangzhou or Seoul?
Guangzhou
With a population of more than 12 million, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Though it has a long history, founded in 214 BC, the city has also many modern attractions, a mix of the old and new with temples and parks as well as skyscrapers and shopping centers. Its location on the Pearl River has contributed to this growth, making Guangzhou a major port and commercial hub.
Seoul
With a population of more than 11 million, Seoul is easily the largest city in South Korea. It is also the financial, political, and cultural capital of the country and has much to offer open minded travelers. It is often overlooked by travelers who instead head to Tokyo or Shanghai, but Seoul has a wide range of cultural experiences, food options, and historical sights. Seoul is a city of contrasts with ancient traditions, flashy technology, religious temples and a modern youth culture. It is also more affordable than many of the other Asian metropolis' to which it is often compared. If you're looking for an interesting and different experience that is a little off the tourist trail, Seoul can definitely offer that opportunity.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
-
Guangzhou Prices
China PricesSeoul Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuangzhou $104Seoul $128
The average daily cost (per person) in Guangzhou is $104, while the average daily cost in Seoul is $128. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Guangzhou and Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuangzhou $58Seoul $54
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuangzhou $116Seoul $108
Compare Hotels in Guangzhou and Seoul
Looking for a hotel in Guangzhou or Seoul? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Seoul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guangzhou $14Seoul $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- Guangzhou Airport: Private Transfer to/from Guangzhou: $24
- Guangzhou private airport transfer: $27
- [Airport transfer] Guangzhou Airport - Guangzhou city transfer service with a good reputation! <Private charter: $27
- Guangzhou : Private One-Way Transfers to/from Baiyun Airport(CAN): $30
- Guangzhou Airport & Train Station Private Transfer English Driver: $32
- Canton Fair Private Transfer between Guangzhou City Center and Pazhou Complex : $32
- Private Transfer: Guangzhou hotel to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport: $33
- Private Transfer: Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou hotel: $33
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN) to Guangzhou City - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Guangzhou to Guangzhou Airport (CAN) - Departure Private Transfer: $37
- Guangzhou Chimelong International Circus Private Transfer Service: $38
- Guangzhou Private Intercity Transfer Shenzhen, Dongguan and More: $39
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
-
Subway Card$3.58
-
Short Taxi Ride$5.01
-
Metro Ride$0.97
-
Seoul City Pass Plus$7.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- From Round-Trip Transfer to Dae Jang Geum Park: $50
- Incheon Airport (ICN) Transfer to Seoul/Suwon/Seongnam/Yongin: $68
- Incheon Airport transfer directly to Seoul city: $113
- Incheon International Airport (ICN): Private Seoul Transfer: $95
- Premium Seoul Airport Transfer: Affordable & Convenience: $105
- Private Airport Transfer * Incheon Airport <-> Seoul (1-5 people): $99
- Private Airport Transfer - Incheon Airport ⇔ Seoul (Up to 7 or 11 people): $130
- Private Airport Transfer : Gimpo airport to/from Seoul (1~7pax): $89
- Private Airport Transfer : Incheon to/from Seoul (up to 7 pax): $98
- Private Airport Transfer From Incheon Airport To Seoul(up to 12): $190
- Private Airport Transfer Gimpo Intl Airport (GMP) to Seoul City: $83
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport to Seoul City (1-12 pax): $167
Is it cheaper to fly into Guangzhou or Seoul?
Prices for flights to both Seoul and Guangzhou change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
-
Food Meals for one dayGuangzhou $34Seoul $51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
- Old Town Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $79
- Food Tour - Eat Like Local + Rice Roll Workshop: $96
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour VIP Cruise and Dim-Sum Dinner Option: $146
- Guangzhou walking tour with dimsum dinner&Zhujiang river cruise: $160
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner: $176
- Pearl River Night Cruise and Karaoke Tour with Buffet Dinner in Guangzhou: $179
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Michelin Restaurant&Local Food Market: $180
- Morning Tea, Cantonese Opera, and Food Tour: $183
- Cantonese Dim Sum Dinner with Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou: $199
- Guangzhou Pearl River Night Cruise and Din Tai Feng Dinner: $199
- Guangzhou Private Night Tour: Lychee Bay, Beijing Road, Cruise, Dinner: $204
- Private Cooking Canton Cuisine Cooking Class in Guangzhou : $266
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
-
Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.30
-
Waffle$0.72
-
Dippin' Dots$1.43
-
Chicken Fried Rice$3.94
-
Chicken Stick$1.43
-
Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.36
-
Lunch Buffet$4.30
-
Donut$0.72
-
Mushroom Burger$3.72
-
Green Tea Ice Cream$2.36
-
Udon & Sushi$5.01
-
Fresh Burger$3.44
-
Soba Noodles Lunch$3.22
-
Bibimbap Lunch$3.58
-
Fried Rice$3.94
-
Vietnamese Dinner$6.80
-
Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.80
-
Donut$1.79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Guided Street Food Tour at Namdaemun Market: $45
- Seoul Night Run for Local-Favorite Korean BBQ Dinner: $50
- [Wine & K-BBQ] A Perfect Pairing Dinner in Sinchon: $51
- Wine & K-BBQ: A Perfect Pairing Dinner: $53
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals; Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $53
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $57
- Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $64
- Namdaemun Market Food Tour: $65
- Seoul by Night: Palaces, Market & Street Food Tour (Vegan Option): $65
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $67
- Cooking Class in Seoul with Korean Grandma: $68
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guangzhou $18Seoul $26
Tours and Activities in Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guangzhou：New Cultural Landmark Ticket -Explore Tang Style: $2.56
- 2,000-Year-Old Wonder-Nanyue King’s Tomb Ticket: $3.18
- Reputable Private Guangzhou Tour Guide Service by Xaq: $5.00
- Cantonese Heritage Tour with Key Cultural Stops: $6.72
- Discover Private Tour of Culture, Food & Pearl River: $6.99
- Foshan Classic Old Town Tour : $15
- Private Guangzhou Tour with Comfortable Transportation: $16
- Lychee Bay River Cruise: $24
- Grandview Museum of Nature Science Ticket: $25
- Pick Up Service and Tour for Canton Culture and Food: $26
- Roundtrip Cruise Night View from Canton Tower: $30
- Chen Clan Academy In-Depth 2-Hour Guided Tour: $31
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
-
Palace Tickets$5.73
-
Movie Ticket$5.73
-
Kimchi Museum$2.15
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- K-Culture Adventure in Seoul Self-Guided Walking Tour : $3.58
- Gyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience in Seoul: $7.00
- Seoul Changdeokgung Palace Hanbok Experience Hanboknam (내국인불가): $7.10
- Alternative A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Gwanghwamun Tour l 120 Minutes to Understand South Korea: $10
- [Seoul] Football Faentasium Admission Ticket (내국인 불가): $10
- Gwanghwamun Tour about Korean Society and Local Mindset: $11
- Street Hustle Adventure in Seoul: $11
- SPAREX Jjimjilbang Sauna Dongmyo branch Admission Ticket(내국인불가): $11
- Skip the Line: Figure Museum W Ticket (내국인 불가): $11
- Dynamic Maze Discount Ticket Insa-dong(내국인불가): $12
- Seoul Job Experience Theme Park Ticket for Kid (내국인 불가): $13
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuangzhou $14Seoul $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
- LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl and Drag Show with Local Drag Queen: $28
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $42
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $46
- Soju Tasting at Distillery: $51
- Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $57
- Chunpoong Makgeolli Brewery Tour: $59
- Korean Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $60
- Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $67
- Itaewon Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $73
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $78
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guangzhou and Seoul, we can see that Seoul is more expensive. And not only is Guangzhou much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Guangzhou would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guangzhou and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Seoul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seoul than you might in Guangzhou.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guangzhou Expensive? and Is Seoul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guangzhou or Seoul?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Guangzhou. When comparing the sizes of Guangzhou and Seoul, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Guangzhou or Seoul?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Guangzhou or Seoul in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Guangzhou and Seoul. Furthermore, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Seoul this time of year.
In the summer, Guangzhou is a little warmer than Seoul. Typically, the summer temperatures in Guangzhou in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Seoul averages at about 26°C (78°F).
In Guangzhou, it's very sunny this time of the year. Guangzhou usually receives more sunshine than Seoul during summer. Guangzhou gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 121 hours of full sun in the summer.
Seoul receives a lot of rain in the summer. Guangzhou gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Guangzhou usually receives less rain than Seoul. Guangzhou gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyGuangzhou 29°C (84°F)Seoul 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Seoul in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Guangzhou as well as Seoul. Additionally, many travelers come to Seoul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In October, Guangzhou is generally much warmer than Seoul. Daily temperatures in Guangzhou average around 25°C (76°F), and Seoul fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seoul. In the autumn, Guangzhou often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Seoul. Guangzhou gets 192 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 204 hours of full sun.
Guangzhou usually gets more rain in October than Seoul. Guangzhou gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGuangzhou 25°C (76°F)Seoul 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Seoul in the Winter?
Both Seoul and Guangzhou are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Seoul in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Seoul can get quite cold in the winter. Guangzhou is much warmer than Seoul in the winter. The daily temperature in Guangzhou averages around 14°C (58°F) in January, and Seoul fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).
Guangzhou usually receives less sunshine than Seoul during winter. Guangzhou gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 163 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Guangzhou usually receives more rain than Seoul. Guangzhou gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGuangzhou 14°C (58°F)Seoul -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Seoul in the Spring?
Both Seoul and Guangzhou during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Seoul for the activities around the city during these months.
In the spring, Guangzhou is much warmer than Seoul. Typically, the spring temperatures in Guangzhou in April average around 22°C (72°F), and Seoul averages at about 13°C (55°F).
In Seoul, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Guangzhou often gets less sunshine than Seoul. Guangzhou gets 78 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 205 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Guangzhou. Guangzhou usually gets more rain in April than Seoul. Guangzhou gets 182 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilGuangzhou 22°C (72°F)Seoul 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Seoul and Guangzhou
| Guangzhou | Seoul | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Feb | 15°C (59°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 221 mm (8.7 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (76°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.