Jeju is South Korea's largest island province, located off the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula, renowned for its dramatic volcanic landscapes, pristine beaches, and unique cultural heritage. Often called the 'Hawaii of Korea,' the island is home to Hallasan, South Korea's highest peak, UNESCO World Natural Heritage sites, and the legendary haenyeo female divers. With a subtropical climate and year-round appeal, Jeju blends natural wonders with modern resorts.
Local currency: South Korean Won (KRW).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Jeju.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $18-25 (dorm bed)
- Budget
- $30-50 (budget guesthouse/pension private room)
- Midrange
- $60-130 (mid-range hotel)
- Luxury
- $180-400+ (5-star resort)
Food
- Street
- $3-8 (market stalls, street food, convenience stores)
- Local
- $7-15 (local noodle shops, casual Korean restaurants)
- Midrange
- $20-40 (BBQ restaurants, seafood spots)
- Fine
- $60-120+ (fine dining, premium sashimi courses)
Transport
- Bus
- $1.20 per trip (T-money card discount)
- Taxi
- $3-15 (city trips; $20-40 for cross-island trips)
- Airport
- $1.20-5 (bus from airport)
- Daytrip
- $35-60 (rental car per day; $30-60 guided tour)
Activities
- Museum
- $2-18 (Jeju National Museum free; Bonte $18)
- Sites
- $0-12 (most natural attractions free; parks $5-12)
- Tour
- $25-60 (guided day tours)
- Excursion
- $15-45 (Udo Island ferry + scooter rental)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Jeju costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$230 for 7 days ($33/day)
Midrange traveller
$840 for 7 days ($120/day)
Luxury traveller
$2,450+ for 7 days ($350/day)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Get a T-money transit card at the airport for discounted bus fares (saves $0.10-0.30 per trip)
Rent a car for 3+ days to access free attractions that are hard to reach by bus
Eat gogi guksu (pork noodle soup) at Noodle Street for the best value full meal at $7-8
Visit traditional markets (Dongmun, Seogwipo Olle) for cheap street food and fresh produce
Most of Jeju's best natural attractions are free — beaches, viewpoints, and trails
Book rental cars Monday-Thursday for significantly lower rates than weekends
Stay in a pension (minbak) in the countryside for authenticity and lower prices
Take public buses between major sites and supplement with taxis only for remote locations
Hallasan summit trails require only a permit (free) — one of Asia's best free hikes
Convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) offer cheap, fresh Korean meals for $3-6
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Hallasan National Park hiking (Eorimok/Yeongsil trails)
Non-summit trails are free and pass through beautiful volcanic landscapes
Hyeopjae Beach
Arguably Jeju's most beautiful beach with free public access
Hamdeok Beach
Crystal-clear lagoon beach with free public swimming
Oedolgae Rock coastal walk
Free coastal walk around Seogwipo's dramatic sea stack
Yongduam Rock
Free access to the Dragon Head Rock coastal walkway
Jeju National Museum
Free admission to the island's premier history museum
Seongeup Folk Village
Free entry to Jeju's preserved traditional village
Woljeongri Beach
Beautiful northeast coast beach with free access
Samseonghyeol Shrine
Sacred founding site of Jeju's civilization
Jeju Olle Trail
437km of free coastal walking trails around the island
Jungmun Beach
Free access to the colorful volcanic sand beach
Jeju City street art and architecture walk
Explore Jeju City's colorful street art and traditional buildings at no cost