Which place is cheaper, Seoul or Taipei?
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 Taipei or Seoul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Taipei and Seoul. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Taipei or Seoul?
Taipei
Few cities in the world are full of more diverse opportunities than the cultural crosshairs city of Taipei. As the capital of Taiwan, this 300-year-old city is the financial, cultural and governmental center of Taiwan. Located in the northern part of the island between the Yangming Mountains and Central Mountains, this city of 2.6 million people is always ready to welcome more visitors.
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 Cultural Tours in Taiwan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Taiwan, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
-
Taipei Prices
Taiwan PricesSeoul Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTaipei $206Seoul $128
The average daily cost (per person) in Taipei is $206, 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 Taipei and Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTaipei $155Seoul $54
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTaipei $310Seoul $108
Compare Hotels in Taipei and Seoul
Looking for a hotel in Taipei 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: Taipei Hotel Prices and Seoul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Taipei $11Seoul $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Taipei
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Taipei:
-
Easycard$2.15
-
Easycard$9.92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taipei
Also for Taipei, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Taoyuan Airport (TPE) Return Bus Transfer: $9.26
- Taoyuan Airport (TPE) Private Transfer to Multiple Destinations: $28
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Taipei HTL-APT (TSA): $28
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Taipei APT-HTL (TSA): $28
- TPE Airport: one-way private transfer to or from Taipei City: $40
- Private Transfer：Taoyuan International Airport to Hotel: $40
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Taipei APT- HTL (TPE): $41
- One-way Private Transfer between Jiufen and Taipei: $42
- Taipei City to Keelung Port Private Transfer: $42
- Keelung: one-way private transfer to or from Taipei City: $42
- Jiufen: one-way private transfer to or from Taipei City: $42
- Taipei City to Taoyuan Airport Private Transfer: $46
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:
- [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): $165
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport: $98
- 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: $133
- Private Transfer from Seoul to Incheon Cruise Terminal(12 pax): $190
Is it cheaper to fly into Taipei or Seoul?
Prices for flights to both Seoul and Taipei 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 dayTaipei $29Seoul $51
Typical Food Prices in Taipei
For Taipei, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
EasyCard$17
-
Lunch at The Can$7.28
-
EasyCard$33
-
Lunch$3.14
-
Lunch$1.98
-
Dinner$6.62
-
Lunch$3.80
-
Lunch$4.96
-
Louisa coffee$3.14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Taipei
For Taipei, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Taipei Food Tour Taiwan Traditional Breakfast and Market and Tea: $45
- Food Tours w/ Top 10 Taiwan Food (Breakfast/Dinner): $45
- Taipei Food Tour: Night Market & Convenience Store(Food Included): $45
- Taipei Walking Food Tour in Ningxia Night Market(10 Foods Incl.): $45
- Local Favorites: Taiwan Night Market Food Tour in 2 hours: $49
- Taipei Hidden Eats, Market & Street Food Tour with 8+ Tastings: $55
- Street Food & Hidden Eats Night Market Food Tour: $55
- Xiao long bao, Pork thick soup, Bubble milk tea. (Taiwan Cooking Class)-B : $65
- Private Walking Food Tour in Ningxia Night Market(10 Foods Incl.): $70
- Xiao Long Bao, Chicken vermicelli with mushroom and sesame oil, Tofu strips salad, Bubble milk tea. Taiwan Traditional Delicacies Experience-A (Taipei Cooking Class): $77
- Iconic Food Tour: Local Street Food, Drinks & Sites: $83
- Private Street Food Tour of Taipei with a Local Guide: $84
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: $52
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals; Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $53
- Wine & K-BBQ: A Perfect Pairing Dinner: $53
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $57
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $58
- Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
- Seoul by Night: Palaces, Market & Street Food Tour (Vegan Option): $65
- Namdaemun Market Food Tour: $65
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $67
- Cooking Class in Seoul with Korean Grandma: $68
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Taipei $18Seoul $26
Tours and Activities in Taipei
For Taipei, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Taipei's Origin & Longshan Temple - Taiwan Cultural Tour: $0.50
- Old Town Walking Tour: $0.55
- Vintage Taipei - Best of Taiwan and Sunset Walking Tour: $0.60
- Chiang Kai-Shek Shilin Residence Ticket: $3.31
- Zoo Entrance Ticket: $4.37
- Taipei's Origin & Longshan Temple - Taiwan Cultural Walking Tour: $5.00
- Taipei Historic Shared Walking Tour: $5.00
- Night Market Walking Tours in Shilin, Ningxia, Longshan, Ximen: $5.00
- Walking Tours in Taipei Dihua, Longshan Temple, Shuanglian Market: $5.00
- Miramar Ferris Wheel Ticket: $6.62
- Taiwan Museum, MOCA Taipei & Miniatures Museum Entry Tickets: $8.60
- Taipei Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
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:
- 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: $122
- 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
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayTaipei $19Seoul $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Taipei
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Taipei:
- Taipei Nightlife: Taipei Pub Crawls (2 Different Routes): $27
- Private Tour to Yilan Kavalan Whisky Distillery: $145
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: $29
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $42
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $47
- 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: $79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Taipei and Seoul, we can see that Taipei is more expensive. And not only is Seoul much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Seoul would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Seoul 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 Taipei would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taipei than you might in Seoul.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Taipei Expensive? and Is Seoul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Taipei or Seoul?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 31% larger than the population of Taipei. When comparing the sizes of Taipei 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.
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.