Budgeting Seoul With Kids
Seoul is one of the easiest big cities in Asia to do on a budget — as long as you understand what’s worth spending on and where families accidentally overspend. This guide breaks the whole city down into predictable numbers, smart substitutions, and kid-friendly choices that help you stretch your money without ever feeling restricted. Families travel differently, and this budget is built for real days with real kids: extra snacks, sudden detours, and the occasional meltdown meal included.
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How to Think About Money in Seoul
Seoul is a city where you can spend $40 a day or $400 a day — and both trips can feel amazing. The difference lies in three things:
1. What you choose to prepay (flights, hotels, passes).
2. How often you eat in sit-down restaurants vs bakeries or food courts.
3. How many premium activities you stack together (Lotte World, Everland, COEX Aquarium, N Seoul Tower lounges, etc.).
Families overspend in Seoul when everything is spontaneous. When you build a flexible but intentional money rhythm, the trip feels smoother and cheaper — without ever feeling like you “cut back.”
Your REAL Daily Costs in Seoul (Kid-Adjusted)
This is what you should expect for a typical family of four.
✔ Average Daily Breakdown (Family of 4)
Breakfast: free (hotel) – $12 (bakery) – $24 (café)
Lunch: $20–$35
Dinner: $30–$50 (higher if BBQ)
Snacks: $6–$15
Transport: $5–$10
Attractions: $15–$100 depending on the day
Total: $80–$140/day (normal days)
$180–$260/day (big attractions like Everland)
You can keep costs toward the lower end with:
• hotel breakfast buffets (worth choosing in your hotel search)
• bakeries (Paris Baguette, Tous Les Jours)
• mall food courts
• transport passes (T-money cards)
• free parks and cultural sites
• avoiding back-to-back attraction days
How Much Should You Spend on a Hotel?
This is the #1 make-or-break budget factor for families. Seoul hotels vary massively by neighborhood and room size.
Mid-Range Budget (Sweet Spot)
$80–$150/night
Comfortable rooms, great locations (Hongdae, Myeongdong, Dongdaemun), often family-friendly.
Use:
Seoul Hotel Search
and filter for:
• “Family rooms”
• “Breakfast available”
• “Public transport nearby”
• “Washer in room / laundry”
High-End Comfort
$200–$450/night
Top neighborhoods: Gangnam, Itaewon, Jamsil.
These often offer pools, bigger family rooms, and exceptional service — but are optional luxuries, not necessity.
Look for: • Lotte, Novotel, Signiel, Mondrian
Big money saver: choose a hotel with strong breakfast reviews. You’ll save $20–$35/day instantly.
Food Budgeting for Families
Seoul’s food scene is loved by budget travelers for a reason. Even “nice” meals are often cheaper than in the US, Canada or Europe.
Average Prices
• Bakery breakfast: $2–$6 per person
• Mall food court: $6–$12 per adult, $3–$7 per kid
• Mid-range sit-down: $30–$50 total
• Korean BBQ: $45–$85 total
• Convenience store snacks: $0.80–$3
How to Save Without Feeling Restricted
• Eat at bakeries for breakfast.
• Choose food courts on busy attraction days.
• Order 2 mains + side dishes and share (big portions).
• Keep a snack stash for picky eaters.
• Let kids choose one “fun food” a day to avoid impulse buys.
If your kid is a picky eater, pair this with the Picky Eater Survival Guide.
Transport Budgeting
Seoul’s subway is one of the cheapest, safest and most efficient systems in the world.
Subway
Most trips: $1–$1.40 Kids often receive discounts with T-money cards.
Taxis
Short rides: $4–$8 Airport taxi: $40–$60 Use taxis sparingly; the subway is faster and cheaper.
If planning day trips or convenience, compare Seoul car rentals.
Attraction Budgeting (Where Money Disappears Fast)
Seoul is full of free parks, free temples and low-cost cultural sites — but also several “big ticket” attractions that add up fast if you stack them.
Big Attractions (Premium Days)
• Lotte World: $35–$60 per person • Everland: $35–$55 per person • COEX Aquarium: $20–$28 per person • N Seoul Tower (observatory): $10–$16 • KidZania: $30–$40 per child • Seoul Children’s Museum: $4–$7
Strategy: one premium day every 2–3 days. Not back-to-back.
Prebook through Viator tickets to skip lines and get guaranteed pricing.
Sample Budgets (3 Styles)
✔ Budget Family ($80–$120/day)
• Hotel: $80/night (breakfast included)
• Food: bakeries + food courts
• Activities: mostly free parks + 1–2 paid attractions
• Transport: subway only
✔ Mid-Range Family ($140–$220/day)
• Hotel: $120–$160
• Mix of restaurants + bakeries
• 2–3 major attractions
• A few tours (food tour, palace tour)
✔ Comfort/Luxury Family ($250–$420/day)
• Hotel: $200–$350
• Restaurants daily
• Multiple premium attractions
• Taxis + tours + airport pickup
10 Ways to Save Money in Seoul Without Feeling Cheap
These are your real-world, kid-proof savings.
1. Choose a hotel with breakfast included.
2. Use bakeries as your secret weapon.
3. Avoid ordering 4 full meals — share mains.
4. Space out big attractions.
5. Use T-money cards for subway discounts.
6. Use convenience stores for emergency “I’m starving” moments.
7. Book tickets through Viator before landing.
8. Avoid taxis during rush hour.
9. Let kids pick one “treat” item daily.
10. Compare flights through Booking.com for the best family itineraries.
The Smartest Money Move (Parents Forget This)
If a child gets sick, gets injured, loses luggage, or your flight delays, costs spike fast. Protect everything with SafetyWing family travel insurance.
It saves you hundreds when you least expect it.
Some links in this guide are affiliate links. Your price never changes. When you book through them, you help keep “Stay Here, Do That” growing into the largest family travel resource online — helping thousands of families plan stress-free, confidently budgeted international trips.
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