Fares checked 2026-10-05 · from Seoul city and Tmoney pages
Where these numbers come from
- Fares: Seoul subway ₩1,550 with a transit card (single-use card ₩1,650), city bus ₩1,500 — Seoul city fare tables. One trip is counted as one base fare (within 10 km; transfers within 30 minutes are free). Longer trips add ₩100 per 5 km, which this calculator leaves out (est.).
- AREX all-stop train from the airport to Seoul Station: ₩4,750 from Terminal 1, ₩5,350 from Terminal 2.
- Climate Card (short-term): card ₩3,000 (Korea Tourism Organization), passes 1-day ₩5,000 · 2-day ₩8,000 · 3-day ₩10,000 · 5-day ₩15,000 · 7-day ₩20,000 — Seoul city. Covers Seoul subway lines and Seoul buses; at the airport you can only exit.
- Mpass: Tmoney's page, prices include a ₩5,000 deposit; this calculator subtracts the ₩4,500 refund (you return the card at Tmoney Town on a weekday). The 5 p.m. discount (₩3,000) is not included.
- Tmoney Travel Card ₩4,000 — Tmoney's page. WOWPASS card ₩5,000 — Korea Tourism Organization (WOWPASS's own pages did not list it).
- All prices are for one adult. Kids' fares are lower and are not covered here.
How to choose, in one minute
- Staying in Seoul for a few days: look at the Climate Card first — for 4 days with the airport train both ways, it wins from 2 trips a day (₩22,850 against ₩25,900 on T-money); at 1 trip a day, T-money is cheaper (₩19,700 against ₩22,850). The ride back to the airport is included in the Climate Card, which is why it pays off so early.
- Day trips outside Seoul (Suwon, Incheon, the Shinbundang Line to Pangyo): the Climate Card doesn't cover them. Carry a T-money for those days.
- Mpass only makes sense if you ride a lot and can reach Seoul Station on a weekday between 09:00 and 18:00 — it is never sold at the airport.
- WOWPASS costs the same as T-money on the subway and bus; pick it if you also want to pay in shops and exchange money with one card.
What this calculator doesn't know
Distance surcharges on long rides, the 5 p.m. Mpass discount, and whether you'll actually get a Climate Card refund. Check the official pages before you buy.
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Questions
Is the Climate Card worth it for a tourist?
Usually, if you stay in Seoul. For a 4-day stay with the AREX all-stop train both ways, it beats T-money from 2 trips a day: at 4 trips a day it costs ₩22,850 against ₩38,300 on T-money. It only covers Seoul — not the Shinbundang Line, GTX, or subways and buses outside Seoul.
Can I use the Climate Card from Incheon Airport?
Not into Seoul. The airport stations (Terminal 1 and 2) are exit-only for the Climate Card, so the ride into Seoul on arrival day needs a T-money or a single-use card. Going back to the airport on departure day is covered.
What is Mpass, and where do I get it?
A day pass for foreigners: up to 20 rides a day on the Seoul-area subway, the AREX all-stop train and Seoul buses. 1 day ₩15,000, 2 days ₩23,000, 3 days ₩30,500, 5 days ₩47,500, 7 days ₩64,500, including a ₩5,000 deposit (₩4,500 back when you return the card). It is sold only at Tmoney Town near Seoul Station Exit 10, on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00, for cash.
WOWPASS or T-money for the subway and bus?
Same fares — WOWPASS works as a T-money card for transit. The difference is the card (₩5,000 vs ₩4,000 for a Tmoney Travel Card) and that WOWPASS also pays in shops and exchanges money. Its transit balance is topped up separately from its payment balance.
Can I buy the Climate Card with a foreign credit card?
Yes, since March 17, 2026, at the new ticket machines in Line 1–8 stations (short-term passes only). Refunds of unused days go to a Korean bank account; without one, you have to visit Tmoney headquarters, so plan to use the days you buy.