For South Korea, bring only a little cash and rely mostly on cards: Korea is one of the most cashless countries in the world. A safe plan is to carry the equivalent of roughly 100,000–200,000 KRW for your first day, then withdraw won from Global ATMs as you go and tap a Visa or Mastercard for almost everything else. Before you travel, check the current indicative won rate on the fxkrw.com KRW to USD converter so you know roughly what your money is worth.
South Korea runs on cards and mobile payments, so you do not need a thick wallet of won. For most short trips, the equivalent of about 100,000–200,000 KRW in cash is enough to cover arrival taxis, a meal, and any small cash-only spots while you settle in. After that, top up from ATMs only as needed. Carrying large amounts is unnecessary and adds theft and loss risk — though Korea is very safe, there is simply no need.
If you are visiting traditional markets, rural areas, or planning festival and street-food days, lean toward the higher end of that range, because those are exactly the places more likely to be cash-only.
The better option for most travellers is to bring a small amount of won from home and get the rest in Korea, either from ATMs or downtown exchange booths. Here is why:
So bring just enough won to get from the airport to your accommodation comfortably, and source the bulk locally.
Card acceptance in South Korea is very high — you can tap or insert at convenience stores, restaurants, taxis, shops and transport. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere. American Express is accepted less widely, so if Amex is your only card, bring a Visa or Mastercard as backup. Contactless works in most modern terminals, and many places accept mobile wallets too.
A few older or very small vendors run Korea-only domestic card networks and may wave away a foreign card. That is the exception, not the rule, but it is the main reason to keep some cash on hand.
ATMs are everywhere, including inside the 24-hour convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) on almost every block. The key detail: not every domestic machine accepts foreign cards. Look for machines marked Global ATM or displaying a Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus or Plus logo. These offer an English menu and reliably accept overseas cards.
T-money is a rechargeable contactless card for the subway, buses and many taxis nationwide, and it doubles as a payment card at convenience stores. Buy one at any convenience store or subway station for a few thousand won, then top it up with cash at station machines or store counters (most top-up points are cash-only, so keep some notes for this). It gives small free-transfer discounts between bus and subway and removes the hassle of single tickets. A T-money card is one of the few genuinely cash-dependent parts of a Korea trip.
When you pay by card or withdraw from an ATM, you may be asked whether to be charged in Korean won (KRW) or in your home currency. Always choose KRW. Choosing your home currency triggers Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), where the terminal applies its own poor exchange rate plus a markup — often several percent worse than letting your own bank convert it. Paying in KRW lets your card network use the near-mid-market rate. This single habit can save more than any other money tip on this page.
Tipping is essentially not part of Korean culture. Restaurants, taxis and hotels do not expect tips, prices already include service, and leaving nothing is completely normal and polite. Some upscale hotels and Western-style venues add a service charge, which appears on the bill — that is the exception. You do not need to budget extra for tips.
These are indicative ranges to help you budget; actual prices vary by location and season. Convert any figure to your currency using our live KRW converter.
| Item | Approximate cost (indicative) |
|---|---|
| Coffee (cafe) | 4,000–6,000 KRW |
| Casual meal (kimbap, bibimbap, noodles) | 7,000–12,000 KRW |
| Restaurant meal (sit-down, per person) | 12,000–25,000 KRW |
| Subway single ride | 1,400–1,800 KRW |
| Taxi base fare (city) | 4,000–5,000 KRW |
| Convenience-store snack/drink | 1,000–3,000 KRW |
| Bottle of water | 800–1,200 KRW |
As a rough daily guide, a budget traveller might spend around 50,000–80,000 KRW per day on food and local transport, while a mid-range day with sit-down meals and taxis lands closer to 100,000–150,000 KRW — all indicative.
Even in cashless Korea, keep some won for: traditional markets (Gwangjang, Namdaemun and the like), small family-run eateries and street-food stalls, T-money top-ups, some rural shops, and the occasional vendor on a Korea-only card network. A modest cash buffer means you never get stuck.
If you arrive carrying a large amount of cash, Korea requires you to declare amounts over a set USD-equivalent threshold on arrival. The exact limit and rules change, so check the current Korea Customs Service requirement before you fly if you plan to carry substantial cash. For ordinary tourists keeping cash light, this rarely applies — another reason to rely on cards and ATMs rather than hauling notes.
For close-to-mid-market spending and withdrawals, multicurrency travel cards like Wise and Revolut are popular with travellers to Korea. They convert at rates near the interbank mid-market (with transparent, usually small fees), let you hold and spend won, and pair well with the "always pay in KRW" rule. Compare their fee schedules and any monthly withdrawal allowances against your usual bank card before the trip.
For most travellers it is better to bring a small amount of won from home for arrival expenses and then withdraw the rest from ATMs in Korea or pay by card. Korean banks and downtown exchange booths (especially in Myeongdong) usually give a better rate than your home-country airport, and far better than airport kiosks on either side. Avoid exchanging large sums at airport counters.
Card acceptance in South Korea is very high. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, from convenience stores to taxis. American Express is accepted less widely, so carry a Visa or Mastercard as your main card. You still need some cash for traditional markets, small family-run eateries and a few street vendors.
For a short trip, many travellers find that the equivalent of roughly 100,000 to 200,000 KRW in cash for the first day or two is plenty, then they rely on cards and ATM withdrawals. Korea is largely cashless, so you rarely need to carry large amounts. Bring enough for taxis, markets and small eateries that may be cash-only.
Yes. ATMs are everywhere, including inside the 24-hour convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven). Look for machines labelled Global ATM or showing a Visa/Mastercard/Cirrus/Plus logo, as not every domestic machine accepts foreign cards. Global ATMs offer an English menu and charge a small withdrawal fee, often around 3,000 to 5,000 KRW.
Tipping is essentially not part of Korean culture. Restaurants, taxis and hotels do not expect tips, and prices already include service. You can leave nothing without any awkwardness. Some upscale hotels and Western-style restaurants may add a service charge, which will be shown on the bill.
T-money is a rechargeable contactless transport card used for the subway, buses and many taxis across Korea, and it also works at convenience stores. You buy a card at any convenience store or subway station and top it up with cash at machines or store counters. It gives small transfer discounts and is far more convenient than buying single tickets.