Which place is cheaper, Bocas del Toro or Seoul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Seoul or Bocas del Toro?
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 Seoul and Bocas del Toro can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Seoul or Bocas del Toro?
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.
Bocas del Toro
The capital of the Bocas del Toro province, this city of the same name sits in the Caribbean West region of Panama. Bocas del Toro, or Bocas Town, is in the district of Bocas del Toro, which also includes the towns of Bastimentos, Cauchero, Punta Laurel, and Tierra Oscura. The district has a population of about 17,000 and covers a total area of 433.2 square kilometers, and the town has a population of about 13,000. The area is a tourist destination for its beautiful beaches, excellent snorkeling and diving, and interesting culture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea, The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Panama.
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Seoul Prices
South Korea PricesBocas del Toro Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySeoul $128Bocas del Toro $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Seoul is $128, while the average daily cost in Bocas del Toro is $96. 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 Seoul and Bocas del Toro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSeoul $54Bocas del Toro $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSeoul $108Bocas del Toro $66
Compare Hotels in Seoul and Bocas del Toro
Looking for a hotel in Seoul or Bocas del Toro? 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 and Bocas del Toro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Seoul $15Bocas del Toro $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
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Subway Card$3.58
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Short Taxi Ride$5.01
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Metro Ride$0.97
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Seoul City Pass Plus$7.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Incheon Airport 1-12 pax: $204
- Private Transfer from Seoul to Incheon Cruise Terminal(12 pax): $190
- Private Airport Transfer From Incheon Airport To Seoul(up to 12): $190
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport to Seoul City (1-12 pax): $167
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport (1-12pax): $164
- Seoul Incheon Airport ICN to Seoul - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $160
- Private transfer from Seoul hotel to Seoul Station and so on: $132
- Private Airport Transfer - Incheon Airport ⇔ Seoul (Up to 7 or 11 people): $130
- Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $129
- Incheon Airport transfer directly to Seoul city: $113
- Premium Seoul Airport Transfer: Affordable & Convenience: $105
- [Cherry blossom]Gyeongju Tour from SEOUL transfer to BUSAN: $101
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bocas del Toro
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bocas del Toro:
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Water Taxi$3.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bocas del Toro
Also for Bocas del Toro, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Bocas del Toro to Puerto Viejo: $54
Is it cheaper to fly into Seoul or Bocas del Toro?
Prices for flights to both Bocas del Toro and Seoul 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
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Food Meals for one daySeoul $51Bocas del Toro $47
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.30
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Waffle$0.72
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Dippin' Dots$1.43
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Chicken Fried Rice$3.94
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Chicken Stick$1.43
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.36
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Lunch Buffet$4.30
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Donut$0.72
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Mushroom Burger$3.72
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.36
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Udon & Sushi$5.01
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Fresh Burger$3.44
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Soba Noodles Lunch$3.22
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.58
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Fried Rice$3.94
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Vietnamese Dinner$6.80
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.80
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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
Typical Food Prices in Bocas del Toro
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Bocas del Toro:
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Lunch$15
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Breakfast$14
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Seoul $26Bocas del Toro $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
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Palace Tickets$5.73
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Movie Ticket$5.73
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Kimchi Museum$2.15
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- DMZ, Eunpyeong village and Jinkwansa Temple Private Tour : $212
- Private Garden of Morning Calm Experience: $267
- Private Tour Nami Island & Morning Calm Garden: $256
- Seoul National Museum Walking Tour Experience: $35
- (Closed) Korea’s White House Walking Tour Blue House: $148
- (Small Group) Art and Architecture tour of Seoul: $121
- 1 Day Private Full DMZ Tour in Seoul with Crystal Gondola: $220
- 2 Hours Seoul Private Walking Tour Including Pick up: $59
- 2025 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best: DMZ Tour from Seoul: $29
- 2D 1N Phoenix Pyeongchang Reseot Stay + Trout Ice-Fishing Festival Tour: $144
- 3-Hour Self-guided Sokcho Tour with Private Transportation: $30
- Aegibong DMZ and Eunpyeong Hanok Village One Day Tour from Seoul: $51
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bocas del Toro
For Bocas del Toro, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Island Boat Tour$25
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Starfish Island Boat Trip$20
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Yoga Class$4.99
Tours and Activities in Bocas del Toro
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bocas del Toro.
- Zapatilla Island Hopping Day Tour: $49
- Bioluminescence Tour - Bocas del Toro: $49
- Bioluminescence Snorkeling and Boat Experience at Bocas del Toro: $50
- Isla Colon Tour to Bird Island, Boca del Drago and Starfish Beach: $50
- Bocas del Toro Island Hopping Day Tour in Zapatilla Beach: $51
- From Isla Colon: Bocas del Toro Archipelago Boat Tour: $56
- Stand Up Paddle Board Experience in Bahia Honda Bocas del Toro: $60
- Speed Boat tour to Mangrove Point -Starfish Beach -Bocas del Drago and Birds Island: $65
- Full-Day Speedboat Tour, Wildlife, and Snorkeling in Bocas del Toro in Panama: $68
- Bocas Biodiversity: A Birds & Wildlife EcoTour Experience: $76
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySeoul $12Bocas del Toro $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 Seoul and Bocas del Toro, we can see that Seoul is more expensive. And not only is Bocas del Toro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Seoul is in Asia and Bocas del Toro is in Central America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Bocas del Toro would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bocas del Toro 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 Bocas del Toro.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Seoul Expensive? and Is Bocas del Toro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Seoul or Bocas del Toro?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 1050 times larger than the population of Bocas del Toro. When comparing the sizes of Seoul and Bocas del Toro, 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 Seoul or Bocas del Toro?
Seoul has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Bocas del Toro experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Seoul or Bocas del Toro in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Seoul as well as Bocas del Toro. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Seoul this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bocas del Toro throughout the year.
Seoul is around the same temperature as Bocas del Toro in the summer. The daily temperature in Seoul averages around 26°C (78°F) in July, and Bocas del Toro fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In the summer, Seoul often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bocas del Toro. Seoul gets 121 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bocas del Toro receives 124 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Bocas del Toro. Seoul receives a lot of rain in the summer. Seoul usually gets less rain in July than Bocas del Toro. Seoul gets 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain, while Bocas del Toro receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySeoul 26°C (78°F)Bocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Bocas del Toro in the Autumn?
Both Bocas del Toro and Seoul are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Seoul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Plenty of visitors come to Bocas del Toro because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Seoul is much colder than Bocas del Toro. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Seoul in October average around 15°C (59°F), and Bocas del Toro averages at about 26°C (79°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seoul. Seoul usually receives more sunshine than Bocas del Toro during autumn. Seoul gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Bocas del Toro receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Bocas del Toro. In October, Seoul usually receives less rain than Bocas del Toro. Seoul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Bocas del Toro receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSeoul 15°C (59°F)Bocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Bocas del Toro in the Winter?
Both Bocas del Toro and Seoul during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Seoul in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bocas del Toro year-round.
Seoul can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Seoul is generally much colder than Bocas del Toro. Daily temperatures in Seoul average around -3°C (27°F), and Bocas del Toro fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
In the winter, Seoul often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bocas del Toro. Seoul gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bocas del Toro receives 159 hours of full sun.
Bocas del Toro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Seoul usually gets less rain in January than Bocas del Toro. Seoul gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Bocas del Toro receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySeoul -3°C (27°F)Bocas del Toro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Bocas del Toro in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Seoul and Bocas del Toro. Most visitors come to Seoul for the activities around the city during these months. Bocas del Toro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Seoul is much colder than Bocas del Toro in the spring. The daily temperature in Seoul averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Bocas del Toro fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In Seoul, it's very sunny this time of the year. Seoul usually receives more sunshine than Bocas del Toro during spring. Seoul gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Bocas del Toro receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
Bocas del Toro receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Seoul usually receives less rain than Bocas del Toro. Seoul gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Bocas del Toro receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSeoul 13°C (55°F)Bocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Bocas del Toro and Seoul
| Seoul | Bocas del Toro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 319 mm (12.6 in) |
| Feb | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 193 mm (7.6 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 367 mm (14.4 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 402 mm (15.8 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.