Which place is cheaper, Seoul or Shenzhen?
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 Shenzhen or Seoul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Shenzhen and Seoul can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Shenzhen or Seoul?
Shenzhen
Located in the Guangdong Province of southeastern China, Shenzhen is a metropolis that connects Hong Kong to China's mainland. It is one of China's most populous cities, inhabited by vast array of people from other Chinese regions. It is perhaps best known for it shopping, collection of amusement parks, green parks, museums and galleries, and a few historic sites. It is on UNESCO's Creative Cities list.
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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
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Shenzhen Prices
China PricesSeoul Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShenzhen $140Seoul $128
The average daily cost (per person) in Shenzhen is $140, 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 Shenzhen and Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShenzhen $91Seoul $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShenzhen $182Seoul $108
Compare Hotels in Shenzhen and Seoul
Looking for a hotel in Shenzhen 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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Shenzhen $15Seoul $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfers to/from Bao'an Airport(SZX): $20
- shenzhen airport private transfer: $31
- [Airport Transfer] Shenzhen Airport 送 迎 Shenzhen City Transfer High reputation for service! : $32
- A One-Way Disneyland Pick-Up Transfer to Hong Kong Hotel: $33
- Private Transfer in Shenzhen with English Service: $35
- A One-Way Hotel Pick-Up Transfer to Hong Kong Disneyland: $36
- Shenzhen Private Transfer and Ongoing Travel Assistance: $39
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong - Arrival Private Transfer: $45
- Private Departure Transfer from Hong Kong to Hong Kong Airport: $45
- Private Transfer - Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Kai Tak Cruise Port: $47
- Private Transfer - Kai Tak Cruise Port to Hong Kong Airport (HKG): $47
- Shenzhen Bao'an Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Center: $49
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:
- [Cherry blossom]Gyeongju Tour from SEOUL transfer to BUSAN: $101
- Transfer Service from Gimpo Airport to Hotel City: $57
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport (1-12pax): $164
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport: $90
- Night Views Tour with Guide and Transfers: $41
- Seoul to Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) - Departure Private Transfer: $80
- Seoul Incheon Airport ICN to Seoul - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $160
- Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $129
- Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
- Seoul Gimpo Airport (GMP) Transfer to Seoul/Suwon/Seongnam/Yongin: $60
- Private transfer from Seoul hotel to Seoul Station and so on: $132
- Private Transfer from Seoul to Incheon Cruise Terminal(12 pax): $190
Is it cheaper to fly into Shenzhen or Seoul?
Prices for flights to both Seoul and Shenzhen 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 dayShenzhen $35Seoul $51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Locals - Dim Sum, Wonton & more: $53
- Wet market tour & cooking class with local mum: $98
- Explore Hong Kong: Mid-Autumn Festival Food Tour: $103
- Discover Hong Kong’s Hidden Eats on a Tin Hau Food Tour: $109
- Small-Group Hong Kong Island Food Tour: $116
- Traditional Chinese Pun Choi cooking class in Hong Kong: $146
- Private Food Tour in Hong Kong: $148
- Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $149
- The 10 Tastings of Hong Kong With Locals: Private Street Food Tour : $176
- Hong Kong Private & Personalized Food Tour with a Local: $177
- Asian Favorites Cooking Class in Hong Kong (4-Course Meal): $184
- Hong Kong Style Noodles Cooking Class (Includes 4-Course Meal): $184
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shenzhen $17Seoul $26
Tours and Activities in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Introduction to Hong Kong: Central Tip Based Walking Tour: $2.64
- Day in the life of a Hong Konger: Kowloon Tip Based Walking Tour: $2.64
- Between Two Systems: Hong Kong's Living History Tip Based Tour: $2.64
- Hong kong City Tour w/ Entry Fees & Lunch (2024) | 150+ booked: $2.64
- Hong Kong Observation Wheel Ticket: $5.45
- Hong Kong Airport Express Ticket: $10
- Hong Kong Peak Tram and Sky Terrace 428 Tickets (Optional): $13
- Monopoly Dreams Hong Kong Entry Ticket: $13
- Hong Kong Airport Express Train Tickets(Avoid Heavy Traffic): $15
- Hong Kong Airport Express E-Ticket : $15
- The Victoria Peak Tram Ticket | Hong Kong: $15
- Hong Kong Palace Museum Ticket: $17
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayShenzhen $19Seoul $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Shenzhen
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Shenzhen:
- Hong Kong Pub Crawl at Lan Kwai Fong (LKF): $46
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 comparing the travel costs between Shenzhen and Seoul, we can see that Shenzhen is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shenzhen Expensive? and Is Seoul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Shenzhen or Seoul?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Shenzhen. When comparing the sizes of Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen or Seoul?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Shenzhen or Seoul in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Shenzhen as well as Seoul. Also, most visitors come to Seoul for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Shenzhen is generally a little warmer than Seoul. Daily temperatures in Shenzhen average around 30°C (85°F), and Seoul fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Shenzhen this time of the year. In the summer, Shenzhen often gets more sunshine than Seoul. Shenzhen gets 231 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 121 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Seoul. Shenzhen receives a lot of rain in the summer. Shenzhen usually gets less rain in July than Seoul. Shenzhen gets 323 mm (12.7 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyShenzhen 30°C (85°F)Seoul 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Seoul in the Autumn?
Both Seoul and Shenzhen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Seoul because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
Shenzhen is much warmer than Seoul in the autumn. The daily temperature in Shenzhen averages around 26°C (78°F) in October, and Seoul fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
It's quite sunny in Seoul. Shenzhen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Seoul during autumn. Shenzhen gets 190 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 204 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Shenzhen. In October, Shenzhen usually receives more rain than Seoul. Shenzhen gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberShenzhen 26°C (78°F)Seoul 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Seoul in the Winter?
Both Seoul and Shenzhen during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Seoul this time of year.
It's quite cold in Seoul in the winter. In the winter, Shenzhen is much warmer than Seoul. Typically, the winter temperatures in Shenzhen in January average around 16°C (60°F), and Seoul averages at about -3°C (27°F).
In the winter, Shenzhen often gets less sunshine than Seoul. Shenzhen gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 163 hours of full sun.
Shenzhen usually gets more rain in January than Seoul. Shenzhen gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryShenzhen 16°C (60°F)Seoul -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Seoul in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Shenzhen and Seoul. Furthermore, many travelers come to Seoul for the activities around the city.
In April, Shenzhen is generally much warmer than Seoul. Daily temperatures in Shenzhen average around 23°C (73°F), and Seoul fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Seoul this time of the year. Shenzhen usually receives less sunshine than Seoul during spring. Shenzhen gets 95 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.
Shenzhen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Shenzhen usually receives more rain than Seoul. Shenzhen gets 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilShenzhen 23°C (73°F)Seoul 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Seoul and Shenzhen
| Shenzhen | Seoul | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (60°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 325 mm (12.8 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (83°F) | 382 mm (15 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 393 mm (15.5 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 300 mm (11.8 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (78°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 17°C (63°F) | 27 mm (1.1 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.