How much cash do I need for Korea?
$100 a day for 1 person is a good base line for a tourist in Seoul. That'll buy you average food and transportation via subway/bus. If you want to take the taxi or eat at restaurants, maybe bump that up to $150.
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.
South Korea is a modern 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. Although most cards are accepted here, there will be times where it may not work as I have experienced.
Payment Options
For smaller restaurants, outdoor markets, and bus fare, cash is necessary. However, don't carry excessive amounts of cash.
â‚©1 and â‚©5 coins are rarely used and difficult to find, as prices are rounded to the nearest â‚©10. 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.
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).
Cash is the second most used payment method. More in South Korea, after credit cards (see Graph 2). According to a Bank of Korea (BOK) survey, the share of cash among all payment instruments fell from 26.4% in 2019 to 21.6% in 2021 by volume of transactions and from 17.4% to 14.6% by value (BOK 2023: 13).
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.
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.
You should plan to spend around $110 (â‚©147,903) per day on your vacation in South Korea. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average for one day: $28 (â‚©38,176) on meals.
Does South Korea prefer cash or card?
Sometimes cash is the easiest way to pay for small purchases and tipping. However, card payments are by far the most popular option in South Korea, so it's worth also having a travel card, to make sure you'll be able to pay no matter what happens.
Korea - Prohibited and Restricted ImportsKorea - Prohibited Imports. Includes a list of goods that are prohibited from being exported to the country or are otherwise restricted. Guns, narcotics, p*rnography, subversive material, treasonous material, and counterfeit goods are prohibited from entering Korea.
plenty of ATM's and money changers at the airport on arrival, so purchasing KRW before leaving home is not really necessary. If you do wish to change money before you arrive, be aware that the rates are not likely to be as good as those you will get in South Korea so it is probably worth changing as little as possible.
Conversion rates US Dollar / South Korean Won | |
---|---|
100 USD | 134,672.00000 KRW |
250 USD | 336,680.00000 KRW |
500 USD | 673,360.00000 KRW |
1000 USD | 1,346,720.00000 KRW |
$100 a day for 1 person is a good base line for a tourist in Seoul. That'll buy you average food and transportation via subway/bus. If you want to take the taxi or eat at restaurants, maybe bump that up to $150. Attractions and souvenirs are all uo to you.
For budget travelers, you can expect to spend around $50 to $70 per day in South Korea, including accommodation, food, transportation, and some activities. On the other hand, mid-range travelers can anticipate spending approximately $100 to $150 per day.
While Seoul is the modern capital city of South Korea, many locals aren't fluent in English. It's generally not a very widely spoken language in South Korea. However, you'll have better luck finding a local who can speak English in main tourist neighborhoods, such as Myeongdong, Dongdaemun and Hongdae.
KRW | USD |
---|---|
1,000 KRW | 0.73 USD |
2,500 KRW | 1.84 USD |
5,000 KRW | 3.69 USD |
10,000 KRW | 7.38 USD |
Card | Card scheme | Fees for spending |
---|---|---|
Wise | Visa / Mastercard | No fees to spend currencies you hold |
BMO | Mastercard | 2.5% foreign transaction fee for prepaid card |
KOHO | Mastercard | 1.5% foreign transaction fee with standard cards - this can be reduced or waived with premium cards |
Is it better to exchange money in US or Korea?
Some people try to exchange their money in their home country before heading to Korea, while others may deem it fit to exchange it in Korea. To get the best rates, you're going to want to exchange currency in Korea, rather than your home country!
Most taxis charge passengers according to the taximeter inside the cab and don't require tips. Passengers can use cash, credit card, or transportation card to pay. Taxi stands can easily be found at locations with a large influx of people such as bus terminals, major subway stations, and mega shopping malls.
Since Korea is largely a credit card-based society, cash is no longer accepted at many stores. With WOWPASS card, you can pay anywhere in Korea just like a local debit card, and use it as a Tmoney card to ride subways, buses and taxis.
What is the maximum withdrawal amounts on the automated teller machine? Automated Machine Withdrawal. Each withdrawal is limited to KRW one million in cash and KRW six million in checks.
It's not a local practise to tip in South Korea. Unlike in many Western countries where tipping waiters, taxi drivers, and hotel staff is so common it's almost automatic, in South Korea tipping can be considered rude. Tips may be turned down or cause embarrassment if they're offered.
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