T-money or Climate Card — which is cheaper for your trip?
Seoul's subway costs ₩1,550 per ride with a T-money card, while Climate Card tourist passes give unlimited Seoul rides from ₩5,000/day — from roughly 3 rides a day, the pass usually wins. The 30-day Climate Card is being retired in October 2026, but the 1–7 day tourist passes stay on sale. Enter your trip below; airport trains are handled separately because the pass only covers the airport-bound leg.
Climate Card wins — you save about
₩13,000
T-money, pay per ride
₩35,750
- city rides₩23,250
- card cost₩3,000
- airport legs₩9,500
Climate Card short-term pass
cheaper₩22,750
- 5-day ×1₩15,000
- card cost₩3,000
- airport legs (departure free ✓)₩4,750
Climate Card fine print that changes the math:
- AREX all-stop trains: you can EXIT at Incheon Airport T1/T2 at no extra cost (covers your departure trip), but you cannot BOARD at the airport — pay the arrival trip separately (e.g. with T-money).
- Sinbundang Line (extra fare charged)
- GTX
- Red express (gwangyeok) buses and airport limousine buses
- Sections outside Seoul — exit fare charged if you tap out beyond the covered area
Questions travelers actually ask
Is the Climate Card still available now that it’s being discontinued?
The 30-day commuter pass ends on 2026-10-01, but Seoul City has confirmed the short-term tourist passes (1-day ₩5,000, 2-day ₩8,000, 3-day ₩10,000, 5-day ₩15,000, 7-day ₩20,000) continue. This page tracks the official notices — check the Last verified dates below.
Does the Climate Card cover the airport train (AREX)?
AREX all-stop trains: you can EXIT at Incheon Airport T1/T2 at no extra cost (covers your departure trip), but you cannot BOARD at the airport — pay the arrival trip separately (e.g. with T-money). The Express train is never covered.
Can iPhone users get the Climate Card?
The mobile version is Android-only, so iPhone users buy the physical card (₩3,000, cash, at station machines) and top it up with a short-term pass. This calculator always includes the card cost.
What happened to the Korea Tour Card?
It was discontinued in July 2025. Its successor, the Tmoney Travel Card (₩4,000), is a prepaid T-money with tourist discounts — not an unlimited pass — so compare it as "T-money + card cost".
How do transfers work with T-money?
Free transfers between subway and bus up to 4 times (5 boardings total) within 30 min of tap-out (60 min 21:00–07:00). Card only — tap out or you lose it.
Does the pass work for trips outside Seoul, like Everland or Nami Island?
No — the Climate Card is Seoul-area only. If you tap out beyond the covered area you pay the fare for that ride, and red express buses to the suburbs are excluded entirely. Keep a T-money balance for day trips.
Where these numbers come from
- Subway base fare (card)₩1,550/ride서울교통공사 — 운임안내verified 2026-08-12
- Climate Card short-term passes1d ₩5,000 · 2d ₩8,000 · 3d ₩10,000 · 5d ₩15,000 · 7d ₩20,000서울특별시 — 기후동행카드 소개verified 2026-08-12
- Climate physical card₩3,000서울특별시 — 기후동행카드 소개verified 2026-08-12
- Airport coverage ruleexit-only at ICN서울특별시 — 기후동행카드 공항철도 안내verified 2026-08-12
- AREX all-stop fareT1 ₩4,750 / T2 ₩5,350공항철도(주) — 일반열차 운임안내verified 2026-08-12
- AREX Express fare₩13,000공항철도(주) — 직통열차 이용안내verified 2026-08-12
- Limousine bus (central Seoul)₩17,000–₩18,000한국공항리무진·공항리무진(주) — 요금표verified 2026-08-12
- T-money card cost₩3,000티머니 — 카드 구입안내 (+KTO VisitKorea)verified 2026-08-12
Assumes base subway fare per ride (typical for tourist distances) and free transfers within 30 minutes. Taxi meter: ₩4,800 base for 1.6 km, then ₩100/131 m — not compared here because door-to-door distance varies.