Travel Costs Breakdown – South Korea Trip

How much should a South Korea trip cost you? In this post, I’ll be writing about the costs needed to travel from Lagos to Seoul, Jeonju, Boesong, Namwon and Busan. I made this trip from Nairobi, and apart from the costs of flights, everything else is applicable when travelling from Nigeria.

This breakdown is based solely on my experience and is only intended for trip planning and presenting a fair idea of how much to budget. All prices stated here represent the cost per person and are either approximate or exact at the time of this writing.

Gyeongbokgung Palace Seoul Hanbok on Black Girl

Getting There: The Cost of a Visa from Nigeria to South Korea & Required Documents

Nigerians visiting South Korea for tourism require a visa. In this post, I have written an extensive breakdown of how to apply for one and the documents needed. At the time of this writing, a regular single-entry tourist visa costs $40.

One of the requirements for this visa is a travel insurance certificate to cover the duration of your stay. I always buy mine through SafetyWing, as I find them affordable and swift. My insurance for 12 days cost me $18.

Oaxaca Centro Colourful buildings

stay safe while you travel

Protect yourself from the unexpected while you travel by purchasing insurance coverage. I use SafetyWing, which is affordable and covers several travel-related risks, such as unexpected illness or injury, eligible hospital expenses, lost luggage and more. Click here to purchase a cover for your travel and visa application needs.

South Korea Trip Cost: Flights from Nairobi or Lagos to Seoul

At the time of this writing, there are no direct flights from Nigeria to South Korea. Several airlines do make the trip, with stops at their various hubs. For my journey, I chose to fly with Qatar Airways. At $1,195, I found them to be the most affordable option to get to Seoul with the shortest overall layover time.

I also enjoy flying with Qatar Airways and thought the service from Nairobi to Seoul via Doha was excellent.

South Korea Trip Cost: Transportation Costs

My transportation bill came up to about $200. This included my taxi, bus and train tickets from Seoul to Jeonju, Jeonju to Boseong and Namwon, Namwon to Busan, and a ride on the First Class berth of the KTX train from Busan to Seoul.

Also included in this cost are the Sky Capsule and Beach train rides, as well as all the subway and bus rides I took in Busan and Seoul.

Cost-saving Tip: South Korea's public transportation system is excellent and affordable. Avoid taking taxis if you're looking to save costs on transportation

PS: if you’re booking a ride on the KTX train online, book directly from the official website – LetsKorail.com. Other sites come up when you search for train tickets. However, some of these websites have a markup of as much as $30 for a single trip.

South Korea Trip Cost: Accommodation Costs

I stayed in 4 accommodations in South Korea. My first place was at the 24 Guesthouse in Jeonju. I paid $67 for two nights in a double room. Next, I stayed at Namwonyechon Hanok Hotel in Namwon for one night and paid $117.

In Busan, I stayed at Arban Hotel for two nights and paid $97; in Seoul, I spent $212 for a four-night stay at the Centremark Hotel, Insadong.

All my accommodation prices were for two adults sharing a room. If you travel with a partner, these prices can be split between two people.

Feeding & Entertainment

Most places I went to were free to roam about. I usually just had to spend on food. My total food tab for 12 days came to $70, and I think I might have spent about $10 or so on entrance tickets to some of the attractions I visited.

Finally, I had a shopping bill of $150. I’ve grouped the costs for my SIM card, Hanbok Rental and photoshoot experience, as well as, the costs for souvenirs and K-Beauty products into this.

gyeongbokgung palace hanbok photoshoot experience

I have written several posts about I spent my time in South Korea. You can find them here. Here’s an overview of everything I spent. Again, this breakdown is based solely on my experience and is only intended for trip planning and to present a fair idea of how much to budget. All prices stated here are either approximate or exact at this time.

Items, ActivitiesPricesComments
Flights to Seoul and back to Nairobi$1,195Flight on Qatar Airways
Visa fee$40
Travel Insurance$18SafetyWing
Travel from Incheon Airport to Jeonju by bus$20
Accommodation in Jeonju$67
Bus/Taxis and Trains from Jeonju to Boseong and Namwon$44
Accommodation in Namwon$117A Hanok Stay experience in Namwon
Bus from Namwon to Busan + Taxi to Hotel$23
Accommodation in Busan$97
Sky Capsule + Beach Train$26Solo travellers on the Sky Capsule have to pay the same fare as two people travelling.
Train from Busan to Seoul$58Seat on the first-class berth. I’ve read that there’s not much difference between the first and second-class coaches
Accommodation in Seoul$212
City Transportation$30
Feeding$70
Entertainment and Sightseeing$10
Shopping and Misc$150
Total costs for one person$2,180Rounded up
Gyeongbokgung Palace Seoul Hanbok on Black Girl

South Korea Travel Resources

Getting a visa to South Korea

Solo Tripping in South Korea – The Beginning

A simple travel checklist for first-time visitors

Buy a SIM card online and pick it up at the airport or get an eSIM here.

Rent your Hanbok online

Hanok Stay Experience in Namwon

Things to do in Gamcheon culture village Busan

I hope you find this South Korea Trip Cost breakdown helpful. Please leave me a comment to let me know what you think / if you have any questions!

And don’t forget to share (on Twitter) and follow my adventures on Instagram.

8 comments

  1. How much does a Nigerian need to have in their bank account to show as financial evidence when traveling to South Korea for a visit? What is the minimum balance required?

    1. The South Korean embassy does not mandate any minimum balance as far as I know. A good rule of thumb is to ensure that you have at least x2 or 3 your trip budget and healthy in and outflow.

  2. This was so helpful, detailed and an easy read.
    I don’t think I’ve read any blog that breaks prices, websites used etc. down like you did.
    Thank you!

  3. Beautiful photographs, Amarachi. I spend less and less money on souvenirs as I find that our own photos are really the best memory one can have. You wrote a very clear and well-organised cost-breakdown post. I was lucky to live in Asia for some years which saved me a lot of money on flights. I like Qatar Airways too, they are very professional. Was your layover in Doha long enough to take a city tour from the airport?

    1. Thank you, Leighton! I agree with you about buying souvenirs and the amounts I allocate to these have greatly reduced over the years. I would also love to live or spend an extended period of time in a central location in Asia and travel regionally. Maybe Mark and I may be able to do that in the future. We’ll see. About the layover in Doha, I had a 12-hour layover on my return leg and it was in the daytime too. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get a visa to leave the airport. The visa services were suspended at the time and still are as I write this. I’m hoping that they would resume services before my next trip to the region as all flights I have seen have long waits on the return leg.

I love to hear from you, Leave a comment here!

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Guess where! 👀
Guess where! 👀
19 hours ago
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1/9
Let me be honest, that tripod was never going to see the light of day! 🤭
Let me be honest, that tripod was never going to see the light of day! 🤭
2 days ago
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2/9
What a beautiful city! 😍

#kamoriver #kyoto #japan
What a beautiful city! 😍 #kamoriver #kyoto #japan
3 days ago
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3/9
Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰
_____________________

If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢

📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here
📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン)
📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats.

For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. 

Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day!

#lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰 _____________________ If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢 📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here 📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン) 📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats. For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day! #lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
4 days ago
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4/9
This town was a beautiful surprise in Japan 😍

To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it!

-------‐‐‐--‐

Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages.

The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture.

#travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
This town was a beautiful surprise in Japan 😍 To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it! -------‐‐‐--‐ Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages. The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture. #travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
6 days ago
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5/9
Black Crow Castle, standing strong since the 1500s — a true Japanese gem!
Black Crow Castle, standing strong since the 1500s — a true Japanese gem!
6 days ago
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6/9
Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂

Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel!

Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑

I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are!

+1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel!
_____________________________

Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below!

#travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂 Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel! Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑 I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are! +1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel! _____________________________ Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below! #travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
1 week ago
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7/9
An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍

#japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍 #japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June.

If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can:

🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌

You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays.

Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 

Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr
Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter

Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June. If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can: 🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌 You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays. Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
1 month ago
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9/9
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