Which place is cheaper, Seoul or Surat Thani?
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 Surat Thani 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 Surat Thani 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: Surat Thani or Seoul?
Surat Thani
The best way to see the real culture of a country is to go where the tourists are not. If you are itching to experience real Thai culture, you may want to visit the city of Surat Thani. Located on the central gulf coast of southern Thailand, this city is usually the gateway to other Thai islands – meaning visitors run through it without stopping. Stay a while and get to know Surat Thani – known to the locals as the "City of Good People."
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 Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
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Surat Thani Prices
Thailand PricesSeoul Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurat Thani $71Seoul $128
The average daily cost (per person) in Surat Thani is $71, 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 Surat Thani and Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurat Thani $27Seoul $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurat Thani $54Seoul $108
Compare Hotels in Surat Thani and Seoul
Looking for a hotel in Surat Thani 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.Surat Thani $27Seoul $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surat Thani
Also for Surat Thani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From URT Airport: Shared Transfer to Koh Samui/Koh Phangan: $3.10
- Private Arrival Transfer : Koh Samui Airport to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $16
- Private Transfer Koh Samui Airport to The Ritz Carlton Koh Samui: $22
- Samui Airport Transfer: $33
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Bo Phut: $39
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Chaweng: $39
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Choeng Mon Beach: $39
- Koh Samui: Zipline Adventure with Hotel Transfer: $62
- Transfer to Don Sak Pier: $78
- Surat Thani Airport to/From Ratchaprapa Dam Private Transfer: $81
- Surat Thani Airport: Private Transfer to/from Khao Sok: $90
- Donsak pier to Krabi,Phuket,Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $127
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Surat Thani or Seoul?
Prices for flights to both Seoul and Surat Thani 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 daySurat Thani $28Seoul $51
Typical Food Prices in Surat Thani
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Surat Thani:
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Dinner$4.71
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surat Thani
For Surat Thani, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Koh Samui: Evening Thai Cooking Class with Organic Garden: $121
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.Surat Thani $5.72Seoul $26
Tours and Activities in Surat Thani
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Surat Thani.
- Private Taxi Services and Tourism in Koh Samui: $13
- Samui Go-Karting Experience – Sodikart RT10 Outdoor Race: $22
- Koh Tao 5 Best Snorkeling Sunset Tour by Big Boat: $32
- Pig Island Koh Taen Snorkeling Tour by Speedboat from Koh Samui: $47
- Pig Island & Koh Tan Tour by Speed Boat (Snorkeling & Kayaking): $49
- Koh Samui Island Hopping Adventure in Coral and Pig Island: $53
- Khao Sok ATV Jungle Trail Adventure Experience: $57
- Koh Samui: Feed & Shower with Elephants Experience: $65
- Pink Dolphin and Pig Island Snorkeling Tour from Koh Samui: $65
- Dolphin Watching Tan and Pig Island Tour from Koh Samui : $66
- Full-Day Speedboat Tour to Koh Tao & Koh Nangyuan with Lunch: $69
- Koh Phangan: Quad ATV Jungle Adventure with Scenic Views: $73
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 daySurat Thani $5.71Seoul $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 Surat Thani and Seoul, we can see that Seoul is more expensive. And not only is Surat Thani much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Surat Thani would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Surat Thani 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 Surat Thani.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Surat Thani Expensive? and Is Seoul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Surat Thani or Seoul?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 10349310 times larger than the population of Surat Thani. When comparing the sizes of Surat Thani 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 Surat Thani or Seoul?
Seoul has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Surat Thani experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Surat Thani or Seoul in the Summer?
Both Seoul and Surat Thani during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Surat Thani because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, most visitors come to Seoul for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Surat Thani is around the same temperature as Seoul. Typically, the summer temperatures in Surat Thani in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Seoul averages at about 26°C (78°F).
Seoul gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Surat Thani. Surat Thani usually gets less rain in July than Seoul. Surat Thani gets 143 mm (5.6 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 JulySurat Thani 28°C (82°F)Seoul 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Seoul in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Surat Thani and Seoul. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Surat Thani year-round. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Seoul because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In October, Surat Thani is generally much warmer than Seoul. Daily temperatures in Surat Thani average around 27°C (81°F), and Seoul fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Surat Thani gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Surat Thani usually receives more rain than Seoul. Surat Thani gets 240 mm (9.5 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 OctoberSurat Thani 27°C (81°F)Seoul 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Seoul in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Surat Thani as well as Seoul. Surat Thani attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, 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. Surat Thani is much warmer than Seoul in the winter. The daily temperature in Surat Thani averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Seoul fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).
Surat Thani usually gets more rain in January than Seoul. Surat Thani gets 51 mm (2 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 JanuarySurat Thani 25°C (77°F)Seoul -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Seoul in the Spring?
Both Seoul and Surat Thani are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Surat Thani throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Seoul for the activities around the city.
In the spring, Surat Thani is much warmer than Seoul. Typically, the spring temperatures in Surat Thani in April average around 29°C (83°F), and Seoul averages at about 13°C (55°F).
In April, Surat Thani usually receives less rain than Seoul. Surat Thani gets 55 mm (2.2 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 AprilSurat Thani 29°C (83°F)Seoul 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Seoul and Surat Thani
| Surat Thani | Seoul | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (83°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.