Best location for a Subway in Seoul

6 neighbourhoods ranked for restaurant sites on footfall, competition, rent and business-type fit.

Brand location map

Best zones to open a Subway in Seoul

Compare neighbourhood fit for this business format. Published brand costs remain separate from local estimates.

Direct answer

Yeouido ranks first for Subway in Seoul with a Brand Location Score of 98/100. The ranking compares 6 mapped neighbourhoods using category evidence and operating-format requirements; it is not an earnings forecast.

Last reviewed: 2026-09-01

Restaurant · Seoul — key figures

Average investment: €120,000 - €400,000
Commercial rent: ₩80000-500000/sqm
Local competition index: 63/100
Break-even: 20-42 months

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Source: WhereToOpen.ai location intelligence · 6 mapped neighbourhoods · 2026-09-01. Figures are modelled planning estimates, not audited financials.

Published Subway costs

Initial investment

$199,135–$536,745

Franchise / licence fee

$15,000

Verified break-even

Not publicly disclosed

Official · United States · verified 2026-09-22. Values below are a separate local model.

Source: Subway Franchise →

Evidence and limitations

Confidence: 87%

Observed data: 6 mapped neighbourhoods, local competition, rent and location evidence.
Published data: Subway Franchise: Official cost information for United States.
Modelled data: Brand Location Score, local ROI scenario and payback estimate. These are not brand disclosures or guarantees.

Not available: Subway has not publicly disclosed verified break-even timing.

Brand-specific score: 78% category/location evidence plus operating-format signals for footfall, catchment, transit, delivery and parking. Confidence reflects input completeness.

Opening investment

€120,000 - €400,000

WhereToOpen.ai estimate

Annual ROI

22-39%

WhereToOpen.ai estimate

Payback

16-38 months

WhereToOpen.ai estimate

Rent risk

Moderate

WhereToOpen.ai estimate

Top areas for a Subway in Seoul

1
Yeouido
Footfall fit, office catchment, transit access
Rent: ₩150,000-300,000
98
88% confidence
2
Itaewon
Footfall fit, transit access, high footfall, strong fit for this business type, rising area
Rent: ₩100,000-200,000
96
88% confidence
3
Gangnam
Footfall fit, office catchment, transit access
Rent: ₩200,000-400,000
89
88% confidence
4
Hongdae
Footfall fit, high footfall, crowded market
Rent: ₩120,000-250,000
64
88% confidence
5
Myeongdong
Footfall fit, transit access, high footfall, crowded market, weak fit for this business type
Rent: ₩250,000-500,000
50
88% confidence
6
Seongsu
Transit access, weak fit for this business type, rising area
Rent: ₩80,000-160,000
50
88% confidence

Brand-specific score: 78% category/location evidence plus operating-format signals for footfall, catchment, transit, delivery and parking. Confidence reflects input completeness. Last reviewed 2026-09-01. Model confidence: 87%. The local ROI and payback below are modelled estimates, not Subway disclosures or guarantees.

Subway in Seoul: frequently asked answers

Where is the best location for a Subway in Seoul?

Yeouido scores 98/100 for restaurant locations in Seoul, ahead of Itaewon (96/100) and Gangnam (89/100). Scores rank footfall, competition, rent and business-type fit across 6 mapped neighbourhoods.

Which areas of Seoul rank highest for a quick service restaurant?

Yeouido (98/100), Itaewon (96/100), Gangnam (89/100). Ranking last reviewed 2026-09-01 by WhereToOpen.ai.

How much does it cost to open a quick service restaurant in Seoul?

Subway's sourced investment is $199,135–$536,745 for United States. A local restaurant category benchmark runs €120,000 - €400,000, with commercial rent around ₩80000-500000/sqm. These figures have different scopes and are shown separately.

How long does a quick service restaurant in Seoul take to break even?

Subway does not publicly disclose a verified break-even period. The WhereToOpen.ai local scenario is 16-38 months, with modelled annual ROI of 22-39%. This is a model, not a brand claim or guarantee.

How competitive is Seoul for this category?

The local competition index is 63/100 averaged over 6 mapped neighbourhoods (higher means more crowded).

Which area of Seoul should a Subway franchisee avoid?

Seongsu scores lowest at 50/100 for this category: transit access, weak fit for this business type, rising area.

Keep exploring

All cities for a Subway franchise →Opening a restaurant in Seoul →Subway cost source →

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