Travel & Life · Published 2026-11-03

T-money vs Cashbee: Which Transit Card to Get in Korea (2026)

Short answer: For most visitors, a T-money card is the simplest choice. It is sold at common convenience stores, works on the Seoul subway and buses, and the official foreigner guide explains how to top it up and refund it. Cashbee is a competing prepaid transit card that also works for subway, bus and taxi payments and is also sold at convenience stores. For a short Seoul stay, either one is fine; the real differences are in the refund rules and the extra tourist products.

This guide compares the two cards using the operators’ own pages and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). Prices and limits change, so treat the numbers as a snapshot taken on November 3, 2026.

T-money vs Cashbee at a glance

Sources for the table: Tmoney foreigner guide, VisitKorea transport cards page, Visit Seoul, Cashbee English FAQ. The Tmoney guide does not state the card price, which is why two secondary official pages are quoted.

Where to buy and how to top up T-money

According to Tmoney’s English guide, you can buy and recharge at the convenience store chains listed above and at Tmoney Town near Seoul Station Exit 10 (Seoul City Tower, 1st floor). Subway stations have top-up machines, but the guide lists them as top-up only, not for buying a new card. VisitKorea and Visit Seoul also say the card has no expiry and is sold at most convenience stores.

To top up, hand your card and Korean won in cash to the staff. The Tmoney foreigner guide does not mention credit-card top-ups at sales points, so bring cash. Limits per the guide:

• Top-up unit: 1,000 KRW
• Per top-up: 1,000 to 90,000 KRW
• Maximum balance on the card: 500,000 KRW

Refunds and leftover balance

T-money. Per Tmoney’s guide, refunds are paid in cash (KRW) at sales and top-up locations, with a 500 KRW service fee, and the cost of the card itself is not refunded. Partial refunds are available only at Tmoney Town and the subway Tmoney service centers, for 10,000 to 50,000 KRW in 10,000 KRW steps, and only for plate-type cards. VisitKorea adds that balances over 50,000 KRW must go to Tmoney Town, while smaller amounts can be handled at convenience stores. Visit Seoul’s older wording gives a 20,000 KRW convenience-store limit. These figures differ between pages, so spend most of the balance before you leave and confirm the limit at the counter.

Cashbee / EZL. Cashbee’s refund page (in Korean, summarized here) says only EZL and Cashbee cards can be refunded and that lost or stolen cards cannot. For a working card, convenience stores and ATMs refund up to set amounts (the page lists limits of 20,000 KRW at GS25, 7-Eleven and Emart24, and 30,000 KRW at CU, each with a 500 KRW fee at the store). Larger refunds go through bank transfer or mail. The page also lists a usage-based fee schedule effective October 30, 2026, which depends on how much of the balance you have used, so the fee can differ from the flat 500 KRW. Check the page before relying on it.

Transfer discounts

Both cards are meant for public transport, but the transfer discount details below come from Tmoney’s guide, so verify them for Cashbee. Tmoney says you get a discount when you take another bus or subway within 30 minutes of tapping out (up to 1 hour from 9 PM to 7 AM), up to four discounts a day, as long as you tap in and out every time. Transfers between buses on the same route do not qualify.

Tourist products you may see

These come from VisitKorea and Tmoney. They are optional, and a standard card is cheaper for many visitors.

• Mpass (tourist T-money): VisitKorea and Visit Seoul list 1-day to 7-day versions (for example, 15,000 KRW for 1 day and 64,500 KRW for 7 days), up to 20 rides per day, valid for one month. Visit Seoul lists lower prices after 17:00. Cash only, sold at Tmoney Town. Do the math against your planned rides first.
• Climate Card (Seoul): Tmoney’s foreigner guide lists a 3,000 KRW card plus a 1-day to 7-day unlimited pass (5,000 KRW for 1 day, 20,000 KRW for 7 days). It covers the Seoul subway and Seoul city buses only, not T-money affiliates such as convenience stores. Tmoney warns that foreign-issued credit cards may be rejected or charged a surcharge when topping up. Refunds take extra steps, including a visit to T-Town.
• WOWPASS: VisitKorea describes it as a prepaid all-in-one card for foreign visitors that costs 5,000 KRW and requires a passport.

Things This guide could not verify

Mobile T-money and credit-card tap options are not described on the official pages checked, so this guide does not recommend them. Cashbee’s English FAQ gives no purchase locations, price, or top-up limits; the figures above come from VisitKorea. Ask the operator before you rely on them.

Quick checklist

• Buy a card at a major convenience store and keep the receipt.
• Carry cash in won for top-ups.
• Tap in and out every time, or you lose the transfer discount.
• Spend most of the balance before leaving the country.
• If you need a refund, check the current limit at the counter or call the operator.

Common mistakes

• Expecting the card price to be refunded (it is not, for T-money).
• Topping up with a foreign credit card where only cash is accepted.
• Buying a tourist pass without comparing it to pay-as-you-go fares.
• Forgetting to tap out on the bus or subway.

This guide is general information, not personal advice. Confirm current prices, limits and refund rules with Tmoney or Cashbee before you buy.

Sources

• Tmoney: User Guide for Foreigners (buying, top-up, refunds, transfers)
• Cashbee: Refund guide (EZL / Cashbee cards)
• Cashbee: Korea Travel Card FAQ
• VisitKorea (Korea Tourism Organization): Transport cards
• Visit Seoul: Transportation
• Tmoney: Climate Card guide for foreigners

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