Work it out Out and about
Is This Price Normal?
Pick the region and dish, type the menu price, and see how it compares with the official local average.
Average prices (September 2026 data) last checked Oct 2026. Always confirm with the official source.
- Average
- Your price
Range across 16 regions:
Averages: Korea Consumer Agency (참가격), September 2026. Exchange rate: European Central Bank via frankfurter.app, 2026-10-29.
How the check works
Every month the Korea Consumer Agency's price portal 참가격 (Chamgagyeok) publishes the average price of eight popular eat-out dishes in each of Korea's regions, using survey data from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Korea's national statistics office. We compare your menu price with the average for the region you pick and show the gap as a percentage. Within 7% either way counts as "about average". This page uses the September 2026 figures, the latest month published when we last checked. The portal marks them as provisional, and we update them when a new month appears.
Pork belly is surveyed by the portion on the menu (roughly 100–250 g) and then converted to 200 g, so the tool does the same with the weight you enter. A 180 g portion at ₩18,000 works out at ₩20,000 per 200 g.
Why a fair price can still look high
- The average is a mean of the restaurants surveyed in that region, not a price cap. Plenty of honest places sit 10–20% above it.
- Tourist areas such as Myeongdong, Insadong, Haeundae or a Jeju beachfront usually charge more for the same dish, because rent is higher.
- Premium ingredients push prices up: Hanwoo beef broth in naengmyeon, black pork in Jeju, abalone in samgyetang, or a bigger set with extra sides.
- Service charges are unusual in everyday restaurants but can appear in hotels and upmarket places, so read the small print on the menu. Menu prices already include VAT, and there is no tipping.
- Regions differ. The portal itself warns that restaurants and quality vary between regions, so compare with where you are, not with Seoul.
Seoul at a glance (September 2026)
| Kimbap (one roll) | ₩3,923 |
|---|---|
| Jajangmyeon (one serving) | ₩7,808 |
| Kimchi-jjigae set meal (one serving) | ₩8,846 |
| Kalguksu (one serving) | ₩10,038 |
| Bibimbap (one serving) | ₩12,000 |
| Naengmyeon (one serving) | ₩12,692 |
| Samgyetang (one serving) | ₩18,269 |
| Samgyeopsal (pork belly) (per 200 g) | ₩21,321 |
For cheap meal ideas and a sample daily food budget, read Korea on a Budget. For how BBQ portions, minimum orders and grilling work, see how to order Korean BBQ.
Questions people ask
Where do the average prices come from?
From the Korea Consumer Agency's price portal 참가격 (price.go.kr), which publishes the average price of eight common eat-out dishes in each region every month, based on government survey data. The figures here are for September 2026. The portal labels them provisional, so they can be revised slightly.
My pork belly menu says 150 g. How do I compare it?
Choose samgyeopsal and enter the portion weight from the menu. The tool converts your price to 200 g, the same way the survey does. For example, ₩16,000 for 150 g is about ₩21,333 per 200 g, almost exactly the Seoul average of ₩21,321.
Is a price above average a rip-off?
Not necessarily. The average is a mean across surveyed restaurants, so roughly half charge more. Expect 10–30% more in tourist streets, for premium ingredients or for a larger set. A price far above average is a cue to check what is included, not proof you are being overcharged.
Why is Seoul not always the most expensive region?
Each region surveys its own restaurants, and the menus and quality differ, so the portal warns that comparisons between regions may not be fair. In September 2026, for example, Jeonbuk had a higher average bibimbap price (₩12,100) than Seoul (₩12,000). Compare with the region you are actually in.
Do I need to add tax or a tip to the menu price?
No. Prices on Korean menus include 10% VAT, and tipping is not expected. The price you see is normally what you pay, unless the menu clearly states a service charge.