Seoul Travel Money Guide

Seoul is one of the most card-friendly cities on earth — you'll tap a card or your phone far more often than you'll hand over won. The trick is carrying just enough cash for the handful of places that still want it, without over-exchanging.

How much cash to bring to Seoul

A rough daily budget for a comfortable mid-range trip:

• Food — ₩25,000–50,000/day (a solid meal is ₩8,000–15,000; Korean BBQ climbs higher)
• Local transport — ₩3,000–6,000/day on the subway with a T-money card
• Shopping & sights — ₩15,000–40,000/day (palaces, Myeongdong, a noraebang)

Paying your way around Seoul

• Get a T-money card — buy it at any convenience store; it covers the subway, buses, taxis and small purchases at GS25 / CU / 7-Eleven.
• Tap for almost everything else — cafés, shops, restaurants and taxis all take cards, and contactless is everywhere.
• Keep cash for traditional markets — Gwangjang and Namdaemun street-food stalls are still cash-first.
• Subway over taxis — Seoul's metro is vast, cheap and signed in English; it'll cover most of your trip.

Neighbourhood cash notes

• Myeongdong — shops and the big cosmetics stores take cards; the street-food carts are cash.
• Gwangjang Market — the famous food alley (bindaetteok, mayak gimbap) is cash-only; bring small notes.
• Hongdae — bars, cafés and shops tap fine; buskers and a few stalls are cash.
• Palaces (Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung) — buy tickets by card; nearby hanbok rentals usually take cards too.

One Seoul habit

• Let the T-money card do the work — keep it topped up for transit and convenience stores, and reserve physical cash for Gwangjang and the odd market stall. Tipping isn't expected anywhere.