Street food vs restaurant vs convenience store
Korea has three real budget food categories: street food (₩2,000–₩5,000 per item, eaten standing), restaurants (분식, 포장마차, ₩5,000–₩12,000), and the legendary convenience store (CU/GS25/7-Eleven, ₩3,000–₩6,000 for ready meals). Each wins in a different scenario, and the famous "편의점 도시락" — convenience store dosirak — genuinely beats many ₩10,000 restaurants on quality. This tool estimates total food spend by mix.
Food budget calculator
What this solves
"Korean food is cheap" is too vague to plan a budget. Some travelers over-spend on every meal at Myeongdong stalls; others under-budget and end up at the same 7-Eleven all week. This tool gives a daily food spend estimate by mix and points out the surprising best-buy options.
Street food items
떡볶이 ₩3,000–₩5,000 · 호떡 ₩2,000–₩3,500 · 붕어빵 ₩1,000–₩2,000 · 순대 ₩3,000–₩5,000 · 꼬치 ₩3,000–₩5,000 · 튀김 ₩3,000–₩5,000. Best at 명동, 광장, 남대문, 동대문 markets. Cash mostly.
Restaurants (분식/포장마차)
분식 (snack-shops, ₩5,000–₩12,000): 떡볶이 + 김밥 + 라면 combos. 포장마차 (street tents, ₩8,000–₩15,000): fried chicken, sundae, mackerel. Both usually cash; some accept Kakao Pay.
Convenience store dosirak
CU, GS25, 7-Eleven. 삼각김밥 ₩1,200, 도시락 ₩3,500–₩5,500, 즉석밥 ₩4,000. Quality is shockingly high: "삼각김밥" with tuna mayo, egg dosirak, even rib dosirak. Best late-night buy.
Markets vs tourist markup
Gwangjang and Myeongdong markets charge tourist markup (1.5×–2×). 광장시장 items like 빈대떡 ₩3,000–₩5,000 (빈대 is rice pancake). Namdaemun at night is the most affordable; 광장 (Gwangjang) is a destination for the atmosphere, not the prices.
How to read the result
- Per-person per day = realistic food spend with mix.
- Best buy = the cheapest adequate option.
- Total trip = total food cost for your stay.
Limitations
- Tourist-area street food is 50–100% more expensive; this tool assumes mid-pricing.
- Dietary restrictions (vegetarian, halal) narrow the options significantly.
- Convenience store dosirak quality is good but not warm; plan a microwave stop.
- Markets often close on Mondays; check before going.
- Drinks (soju, beer, coffee) excluded from the food total.
FAQ
Is Gwangjang market worth the tourist price?
Yes for the experience and variety. The cheapest item is ₩2,000 bindaetteok; one order + drink = ~₩10,000 total. Quality is honest.
Can I really live on convenience store food?
For 1–3 days, easily. Variety, protein, and calorie targets all work. Beyond that, you'll miss variety.
Where to avoid street food?
Don't buy 호떡 or 붕어빵 from unmotivated stalls (mass-produced, less fresh). Look for queues or local eaters.
Best 1-day food crawl under ₩20k?
Breakfast: 삼각김밥 ₩1,500. Lunch: 분식 ₩7,000. Snack: 호떡 ₩3,000. Snack: 편의점 ₩3,500. Drinks ₩5,000. Total ₩20,000.