How Much To Bring To Korea For 7 Days | Money & Packing Guide (2024)

FAQs

How Much To Bring To Korea For 7 Days | Money & Packing Guide? ›

$200 USD should be enough to pay for small items and in case your card doesn't work. All of your other expenses should be paid with your card. Bring at least 2 cards and inform your bank you will be traveling to South Korea. With your cards you can pay in most shops and even withdraw money.

The average price of a 7-day trip to South Korea is $1,452 for a solo traveler, $2,504 for a couple, and $1,084 for a family of 4. South Korea hotels range from $45 to $202 per night with an average of $67, while most vacation rentals will cost $110 to $440 per night for the entire home.

However, if you enter the country with foreign currency, KRW notes, or checks above USD 10,000 or the equivalent in total, you must report it to the Customs. The same goes for cashier's checks in Korean won.

Traveling to South Korea? Don't forget your plastic. South Korea is a modern and cosmopolitan country, with exciting culture and food. Credit cards, debit cards, and cash are all accepted without issue in South Korea, with cash becoming less common.

Check-in luggage: Suitcase or backpack

If you're moving to Korea, you'll be allowed 2 checked-in bags. I recommend bringing one large suitcase and one big backpack.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2021, around 34.5 percent of millionaires surveyed stated that households with a minimum annual income of 500 million South Korean won or more can be perceived as rich.

It is recommended to bring at least around 200$ in cash. You can use this in places that don't accept cash or in emergencies. Most shops accept card but small market or street vendors will only accept cash payments.

Although card payments are widely accepted, some merchants won't accept cards for purchases under ₩10,000. Also, only some ATMs will accept foreign credit/debit cards.So it's handy to have cash on you at all times to avoid a sticky situation.

Crime levels in Korea are relatively low, and whilst one should not be careless, carrying a little more money is generally a lot safer than it would be at home. Credit cards are accepted at most major hotels, department stores and high-end city restaurants, but should not be relied upon.

Can I use my US credit card in Korea? ›

CREDIT CARDS ISSUED OVERSEAS can be used in Korea with most merchants, although Korean credit cards are often required for online purchases. You must continue to make payments on your overseas credit card to your own country's card issuer. Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted networks in South Korea.

Almost everywhere in South Korea Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards are accepted, however, not all ATM's accept foreign cards, even though debit cards can be used to make purchases. When trying to use an ATM, make sure the word "Global" is present.

South Korean won is the only reliable currency in South Korea. Some places, especially in larger cities, will accept US dollars, but change will generally be given in won.

You should count U$100/ day if you want to enjoy life in Seoul. +/- KRW 120.000 a day is nothing in Seoul. Koreans spend easily KRW 150.000/day for transportation, food and amusem*nt life. If you travel to Seoul you will need a bigger budget than if you stay in the country side.

Dimensions. The total of the dimensions of a carry-on bag must be 115cm(45in) or less, or each side must not exceed 20cm (A), 55cm (B), and 40cm (C).

Illegal drugs such as opium, marijuana/cannabis, cocaine, etc. * Including but not limited to: medicines, handbags, wallets, stoles, taxidermy and ivory from animals such as elephants, leopards, and alligators. Cashier's checks, overdraft checks, postal money orders, etc.

US$100 a day is more than enough. My personal experience in Itaewon was it is more expensive than other parts of Seoul and you must bargain.

1 USD = 1,309.168447 KRW Jun 23, 2023 15:18 UTC

Check the currency rates against all the world currencies here. The currency converter below is easy to use and the currency rates are updated frequently. This is very much needed given the extreme volatility in global currencies lately.

Overall, I recommend not spending less than three days in Seoul, or else you'll likely miss out on too much. A week is a good introduction to the city and, if you plan it right, will give you enough time to see a lot of the highlights.

How much money should I bring to Korea for 10 days? ›

This depends on your style of travel, but a mid-range budget for a solo traveler spending 10 days in South Korea would be about $65USD per day. If you're willing to stay in cheap hostels, stick to more free activities in Seoul, and eat local foods, then you could get it down to maybe $40USD per day.

Visa, MasterCard and Amex are the most widely accepted credit card types for cross-border ecommerce transactions. In addition to Visa and MasterCard, there are several other card brands operating in Korea – BC Card, Lotte Card, and T-Money.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to South Korea. Book at least 4 weeks before departure in order to get a below-average price. High season is considered to be January, November and December. The cheapest month to fly from the United States is April.

Tipping is not required nor expected in Korea.

You can use your Visa or Mastercard branded credit card, debit card or travel money card almost everywhere in South Korean cities, but rural areas are a different story. In fact, you'll find that South Korea is ahead of the UK when it comes to mobile payments.

Research shows that in most cases you can save by opting to spend in the local currency. For example, that would mean choosing euros in Spain or dollars in the US. When you choose to pay in the currency of the region or country you're visiting, Visa or Mastercard will set the exchange rate.

Although credit cards and debit cards combined made up over 70 percent of in-store payments in the Asian country, credit cards were far more dominant than debit cards. This is not surprising, as South Korea had on one of the highest credit card penetration rates in APAC in 2021.

Payment Options

Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted types, with some high-end hotels and restaurants accepting American Express. For smaller restaurants, outdoor markets, and bus fare, cash is necessary. However, don't carry excessive amounts of cash.

With a commanding 40.7% share of the ewallet market, KakaoPay is the go-to application for both Korean residents and merchants. It is widely utilized for peer-to-peer money transfers and in making payments online. Additionally, KakaoPay offers the convenience of offline payments through its QR code scanning feature.

How much is the ATM fee in Korea? ›

ATMs In Seoul

Unless you have an ATM card from South Korea, you will most likely have to pay a transaction fee for using the ATM along with another fee by your bank at home. These fees are usually $3-$5 each.

Integrate Korean Payment Methods

Visa, MasterCard and Amex are the most widely accepted credit card types for cross-border ecommerce transactions. In addition to Visa and MasterCard, there are several other card brands operating in Korea – BC Card, Lotte Card, and T-Money.

1 USD = 900 KPW Jun 28, 2023 12:31 UTC

Check the currency rates against all the world currencies here. The currency converter below is easy to use and the currency rates are updated frequently. This is very much needed given the extreme volatility in global currencies lately. Sending money abroad is as easy as ever.

On a national level, a family of four can expect to spend an average of 2,300,000 KRW per month (2,000 USD) in living expenses (excluding rent). A single expat can expect to pay 652,000 KRW (560 USD) per month (excluding rent).

How much money do I need in South Korea per day? Many travelers allocate around $100 per day for a comfortable travel experience. However, South Korea has a wide range of options for budget travelers, so it is absolutely possible to spend less than this amount.

As per my experience, the price for one whole meal (that is rice with viand on a regular eatery) ranges from KRW 6,000 - KRW 12,000 (roughly USD 6-12). Fast food price also falls almost the same range. For street food, average price is from KRW 3,000 - KRW 5,000 (roughly USD 3-5).

Free Baggage Allowance

Korean Air provides one free baggage (23 kg) per Economy Class passenger.

Korean Air allows 1 personal item and 1 carry-on item for economy passengers and 2 standard carry-on for first class and Prestige passengers. Korean Air doesn't specify maximum sizes but for Economy, the combined weight of both items must not exceed 22 pounds (10 kg) and 40 pounds (18 kg) for first class and Prestige.

Visitors must bring the original prescriptions, a letter from your doctor specifying the medical condition, and a statement from your doctor on the medicines you are importing. The Korean Customs Service at Incheon Airport has authority over which medications will be allowed to be carried into the country.

Can you bring your phone to Korea? ›

Contact your current carrier to unlock your smartphone and make it ready to use internationally. Since your device is not a registered device in Korea, you need to register to confirm that you will use your device in Korea. You'll need to register both IMEI 1 and IMEI 2 codes if your phone supports dual SIMs.

For those on a mid range budget, 120 000 krw should be enough and for those on a luxury budget, a minimum of 200 000 krw should be ok. It is recommended to bring at least around 200$ in cash. You can use this in places that don't accept cash or in emergencies.

How much money do I need in South Korea per day? Many travelers allocate around $100 per day for a comfortable travel experience. However, South Korea has a wide range of options for budget travelers, so it is absolutely possible to spend less than this amount.

You should count U$100/ day if you want to enjoy life in Seoul. +/- KRW 120.000 a day is nothing in Seoul. Koreans spend easily KRW 150.000/day for transportation, food and amusem*nt life. If you travel to Seoul you will need a bigger budget than if you stay in the country side.

The best time to visit South Korea is between March and May if you want to see the vibrant pink of the cherry blossoms in bloom. If you want to see the landscapes come alive as the leaves change in the cooler weathers, then we'd recommend visiting between September and November.

This depends on your style of travel, but a mid-range budget for a solo traveler spending 10 days in South Korea would be about $65USD per day. If you're willing to stay in cheap hostels, stick to more free activities in Seoul, and eat local foods, then you could get it down to maybe $40USD per day.

US$100 a day is more than enough. My personal experience in Itaewon was it is more expensive than other parts of Seoul and you must bargain.

Yes, food in Korea is cheap.