How to use the fuel cost calculator
- Pick a start city and a destination city and the one-way distance fills in automatically. If you know the navigation distance, enter it in "Distance override".
- Choose the fuel type and enter the fuel price and your car's mileage. Add tolls and the number of people to see the cost per person.
- Keep "Round trip" ticked to double the distance, and use the table below to see how cost changes when mileage changes.
How the fuel cost is calculated
Fuel cost is "distance ÷ mileage × price per liter". Driving about 325 km one way from Seoul to Busan in a gasoline car that does 12 km/L needs about 27 liters, which at 1,700 KRW per liter is about 46,000 KRW one way and about 92,000 KRW round trip. Adding tolls gives the total transport cost of the trip.
Distances between cities depend on the actual road route. For major pairs such as Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon and Ulsan this tool uses approximate highway distances, and for other pairs it multiplies the straight-line distance by 1.3. Korean roads go around mountains and rivers, so road distance is often 1.2 to 1.4 times the straight line.
Driving habits that cut fuel cost
Mileage depends heavily on how you drive. Avoiding hard acceleration and braking and holding a steady 90 to 100 km/h on highways often improves mileage. Removing unnecessary luggage and keeping tire pressure correct also help.
Before a trip, schedule your departure to avoid congestion, and remember that fuel in towns is usually cheaper than at highway rest stops, so filling up before you leave can save money. Carpooling with someone going the same way lowers the cost per person.
Trip budget checklist
- Add fuel and tolls to get the transport cost.
- Check parking fees, especially in busy city centers.
- Plan departure times around rest breaks on long drives.
- Use your dashboard average or your own measured mileage rather than the official figure.
- For electric or hybrid cars you can enter an equivalent mileage for comparison.
FAQ
How do I find my car's mileage?
Official mileage figures are in the manufacturer catalog and national energy agency data, but real mileage is usually lower. The most accurate method is to fill the tank, reset the trip meter, and at the next fill-up divide the distance by the fuel added. If your dashboard shows an average mileage, you can use that.
Are highway tolls included?
Tolls depend on the route and vehicle class, so they are not calculated automatically. Enter the total in the toll field and it is added to the total cost. Use the national highway operator's fare lookup or your navigation app, since discounts may apply.
Is round-trip fuel always double the one-way cost?
The distance doubles, but mileage changes with hills, luggage weight, air conditioning and traffic. If the way there and back differ, the mileage may differ too, so use the sensitivity table to see how much the cost moves when mileage changes.
Notes & limitations
Fuel prices and distances between cities are approximate and for reference. Real costs depend on traffic, route and driving style, so check navigation and current fuel prices before you leave.