Planning a Budget Travel Guide to Complete Experience in Korea while keeping future life or property plans in Singapore open is easier than it sounds. This guide gives you a practical Korea 10 days plan, covering a complete Korea itinerary across Seoul, Busan, Jeju, with real cost estimates, safety tips, and clear connections to how Homejourney can support you if you later explore Singapore property or investment.
This article is a focused cluster guide that supports Homejourney’s main Asia lifestyle and relocation pillar content, and is best read together with our in-depth Korea itinerary guide Homejourney's Korea 10-Day Itinerary: Seoul, Busan, Jeju Complete Guide .
Why Korea Is Ideal for a Budget-Friendly Complete Experience
For many Singapore-based travellers and investors, Korea offers a strong mix of culture, food, nature and modern city life at a cost that is often lower than a week of city living in Singapore. Airfare between Singapore and Seoul can be competitive especially outside peak school holidays, and Korea’s well-developed subway, intercity trains, and guesthouse scene make it friendly for budget-conscious travellers.
In my own trips from Singapore, a carefully planned 10-day Korea loop (Seoul–Busan–Jeju–Seoul) can average around SGD 120–160 per day per person including accommodation, food, transport, and most attractions, if you avoid peak cherry blossom and autumn foliage weeks and book flights early. Prices fluctuate, so always verify against current airline and hotel rates before confirming your plans.
Best Time to Visit Korea on a Budget
Korea has four distinct seasons, which directly impact cost and crowd levels on any complete Korea trip:
- Spring (Apr–early May): Cherry blossoms, mild weather, but higher airfares and hotel rates in popular weeks.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Hot, humid, sometimes rainy; can find airfare deals but coastal areas like Busan and Jeju get busy.
- Autumn (late Sep–Nov): Cool weather and foliage; one of the most beautiful but also pricier periods.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Lowest temperatures, potential snow; often the best for budget if you pack proper winter gear.
From a Singapore perspective, shoulder periods (late May–mid June, early September, early December) often provide the best balance of cost, comfortable travel, and manageable crowds.
Getting from Singapore to Korea (and Between Cities)
Most Singapore travellers fly directly from Changi Airport to Incheon International Airport (Seoul). Flight time is about 6½ hours, with budget and full-service carriers operating daily. From Incheon, the AREX express train or all-stop train connects you to Seoul Station in roughly 45–60 minutes.
For a Seoul Busan Jeju route, a logical and budget-conscious flow is:
- Fly Singapore → Seoul (Incheon).
- Take KTX high-speed train Seoul → Busan (about 2½–3 hours).
- Fly Busan → Jeju (often cheaper and faster than ferries).
- Fly Jeju → Seoul (Gimpo) for your final days, then transfer to Incheon for your flight home.
Watch for multi-city tickets that combine Seoul and Busan or Jeju legs; they can sometimes be cheaper than piecing together one-way flights.
Korea Currency & Budgeting Tips (From a Singapore Lens)
Korea uses the South Korean Won (KRW). Many Singapore travellers mentally benchmark KRW against SGD to track spending. As a rule of thumb, everyday costs like subway rides, hanok guesthouses, and local meals can feel slightly cheaper than equivalent experiences in central Singapore, though premium cafes and trendy districts can be comparable.
Homejourney supports multi-currency insights when you later evaluate Singapore property, which helps you compare your Korea travel budget with long-term housing or investment decisions in SGD, KRW, or your home currency. For real estate planning, you can explore financing benchmarks via our bank comparison tools Bank Rates to understand how your travel budget compares to monthly mortgage affordability.
Must-See Highlights for a Complete Korea Trip
To create a true Budget Travel Guide to Complete Experience, focus on a mix of iconic sights and local, lower-cost experiences in each city.
Seoul Essentials
- Historic Seoul: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong. Palace tickets are modestly priced; walking Bukchon and Insadong is free if you skip paid museums.
- Urban Seoul: Myeongdong shopping streets, Hongdae nightlife, Gangnam for its business and café culture.
- Nature in the city: Namsan Seoul Tower (hike up to save cable car costs), Cheonggyecheon Stream for evening strolls.
Busan Highlights
- Beaches: Haeundae and Gwangalli for coastal walks, free city views, and night skyline photos.
- Gamcheon Culture Village: Colourful hillside art village; some small fees for specific exhibits, but general wandering is free.
- Jagalchi Fish Market: Fresh seafood at varying price points; budget travellers can share dishes to sample more.
Jeju Island Experiences
- Nature: Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak), coastal trails, waterfalls (Cheonjiyeon, Jeongbang) with low entry fees.
- Local culture: Traditional markets, black pork streets, and small local cafés inland, away from high-tourist beachfronts.
- Driving vs buses: Car rental offers flexibility but increases cost; Jeju’s bus network is workable if you cluster sights in the same region daily.
For in-depth food recommendations throughout this loop, pair this guide with our Korea food feature Best Food and Restaurants in Korea: Complete 10-Day Experience | Homejourney .
Sample Budget: Korea 10 Days (Seoul–Busan–Jeju)
Exact numbers shift with exchange rates and season, but a realistic, safety-conscious budget from a Singapore traveller’s perspective for a complete Korea trip can be outlined per person (excluding flights):
- Accommodation (guesthouse / budget hotel twin share): approx. SGD 45–70 per night → SGD 450–700 for 10 nights.
- Food (mix of convenience store breakfasts, local eateries, occasional café): SGD 25–40 per day → SGD 250–400.
- Transport (metro, buses, KTX, domestic flights): often around SGD 220–300 for this route.
- Attractions & extras: SGD 150–250 depending on paid palaces, observation decks, and Jeju activities.
Overall, a cautious working budget might be around SGD 1,000–1,600 per person, excluding international flights, for a 10-day Korea itinerary across Seoul, Busan, and Jeju.
Accommodation Guide: Where to Stay on a Budget
Seoul: Best Areas for First-Timers
- Myeongdong: Ideal if you want shopping and late-night food within walking distance. Expect slightly higher room rates but lower daily transport costs.
- Hongdae: Popular with younger travellers and students. Affordable guesthouses, lively streets, easy access to AREX line.
- Dongdaemun / Jongno: Good base for palaces and markets; practical for a balanced Seoul segment.
Busan: Coastal vs City-Centre
- Seomyeon: Central transport hub, usually better value than beachfront hotels, with quick metro access to most sights.
- Haeundae: If you prioritise staying by the sea, look for off-main-street guesthouses to keep within budget.
Jeju: North vs South
- Jeju City (North): Close to airport, cheaper city stays, convenient for short stays and bus routes.
- Seogwipo (South): Better access to waterfalls and southern attractions; accommodation spans from homestays to budget hotels.
