What Things Actually Cost in Korea
Not estimates from a guidebook. These are prices I see on signboards in my own neighbourhood — a market town on Korea’s east coast — and in Seoul when I visit. Switch between the two and watch what happens.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|
Written by a local in Pohang, a port city on Korea’s east coast.
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Getting around · verified fares
What public transport actually costs in Korea
One tap, one price. Korean buses and subways charge a flat base fare and only add money if you ride a long way. Here are the exact 2026 numbers — capital and countryside — from the operators themselves.
How much is a bus in Korea?
It depends which city you are standing in, and the gap is wider than visitors expect. Pohang, where I live, is 300 won cheaper than Seoul for exactly the same ride. Gyeongju — half an hour down the road — costs almost as much as the capital.
| Adult, paying by card | Seoul | Pohang | Gyeongju |
|---|---|---|---|
| City bus | 1,500 won | 1,200 won | 1,450 won |
| Village / community bus | 1,200 won | same flat fare | — |
| Wide-area (long-distance) bus | 3,000 won | — | — |
| Subway, base fare | 1,550 won | no subway | no subway |
Seoul bus fares in force since 12 Aug 2023. Seoul and Gyeonggi subway base fare rose from 1,400 to 1,550 won on 28 June 2025. Pohang fares in force since 1 July 2025. Gyeongju fares in force since 1 April 2026, per Gyeongju City Transport Information Centre.
Does it cost more to ride further?
On the Seoul subway, the base fare covers the first 10 km. After that it is +100 won every 5 km. Crossing the whole capital region therefore costs about 2,000 won, not 1,550 — but it is still one of the cheapest big-city networks in the world.
On a city bus in Pohang the fare is flat. One tap, 1,200 won, ride to the end of the line if you want. There is no distance charge and, since June 2021, no difference between a regular bus and a seated (좌석) bus.
Card or cash?
Always card. In Pohang cash costs 100 won more — 1,300 won instead of 1,200 — and cash pays for one ride only. Tap a card and your transfer is free.
| Pohang city bus | Card | Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (19–69) | 1,200 won | 1,300 won |
| Youth (13–18) | 900 won | 1,000 won |
| Child (7–12) | 600 won | 700 won |
| 70 and over | Free | Free |
Are transfers free?
Yes, if you tap a card — and the window you get is longer than most visitors expect. In Pohang:
| Pohang | Free transfer window |
|---|---|
| Regular buses and the 900 series | 40 minutes |
| 600 / 700 series and express buses | 90 minutes |
| Village buses | 120 minutes |
Two buses across town in Pohang, done properly, cost 1,200 won total — not 2,400.
Gyeongju is stricter. One free transfer only, and you must tap on again within 30 minutes of tapping off. Boarding the same route again does not count as a transfer, and if several people tap one card, only one of them gets the transfer.
You know the fare. Now, which bus?
This is the part nobody solves for you. Google Maps returns no bus directions inside Korea, and the local apps are Korean-only. So I rebuilt Pohang’s network in English — every route, every stop, from the city’s own open data.
How much does it cost in Korea?
The ten questions people ask most, answered with the same numbers used in the calculator above. First figure is regional Korea, second is Seoul.
How much is a bottle of water in Korea?
A 500ml bottle of water costs 800–1,200 won at a convenience store — about the cheapest thing you will buy in Korea. Tap water is safe to drink and restaurants give it free.
How much is kimbap in Korea?
One kimbap roll costs 3,500–4,500 won. It is the standard cheap meal — filling, sold everywhere, and often the best value on any menu.
How much is a taxi in Korea?
Taxi base fare is 4,000–4,800 won. A 15-minute ride across town runs 8,000–14,000 won depending on the city.
How much is coffee in Korea?
An americano at a local cafe costs 3,000–4,800 won. Big chains like Starbucks charge a flat 4,700 won nationwide.
How much is soju in Korea?
A bottle of soju is 1,800–2,200 won at a convenience store. The same bottle at a restaurant costs 4,000–6,000 won.
How much is Korean BBQ?
Pork belly runs 14,000–19,000 won per portion, and one portion is rarely enough for one person. Two people usually order two or three.
How much is the KTX from Seoul to Busan?
A one-way KTX ticket from Seoul to Busan is about 60,000 won. The price is the same wherever you buy it.
How much is a subway ride in Korea?
One subway or city bus ride costs 1,500–1,600 won with a transit card. Transfers within 30 minutes are usually free.
How much is fried chicken in Korea?
A whole fried chicken delivered costs 18,000–22,000 won. That is one of the bigger everyday expenses here, not a cheap snack.
How much does a meal cost in Korea?
A baekban — rice with many side dishes — costs 9,000–13,000 won and is the standard sit-down lunch outside Seoul.
Prices checked in 2026 in Pohang and Seoul by a Korean local who pays them every week. Regional figures come from a city of 500,000 people — most of Korea outside Seoul looks like this. Prices move, so treat these as a working range, not a quote.