A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Arusha vs. Busan (Pusan) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Arusha or Busan (Pusan)?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Arusha and Busan (Pusan) can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Arusha or Busan (Pusan)?

Arusha

Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Arusha is Tanzania’s gateway to the northern circuit of stellar national parks and the starting point of many a memorable safari. It’s also a large, sprawling city which offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road – it has excellent places to stay and eat and, for the most part, it’s lush and green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Arusha is a great destination, and you're sure to enjoy your time here, no matter what your interests are.

Busan (Pusan)

An important port city in South Korea, Busan is known for its beaches, mountains, and temples. With a thriving harbor, the city's main revenue comes from international shipping, although the area is quite popular with tourists from all over the globe, too. The place is bustling with sailors from around the world as well as tourists who come to enjoy the culture of this modern and dynamic city.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best Tours for Seniors to South Korea, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul.


Which place is cheaper, Busan (Pusan) or Arusha?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $189, while the average daily cost in Busan (Pusan) is $108. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Arusha and Busan (Pusan) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $126
    Busan (Pusan) $40
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $252
    Busan (Pusan) $80
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Busan (Pusan)

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Busan (Pusan)? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Arusha


Hotels in Busan (Pusan)


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Arusha Hotel Prices and Busan (Pusan) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $13
    Busan (Pusan) $21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha

Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Arusha Airport and Hotel Transfer: $35
  • Private Transfer from Arusha to Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO): $46
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
  • Moshi - Arusha Transfer: $149

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Busan (Pusan)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Busan (Pusan):

  • Private VIP Airport or Hotel Transfers in Busan: $300
  • Private Transfer from Busan hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $63
  • Private Transfer from Busan Port to Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS): $63
  • Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan city hotels: $63
  • Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Int Airport(PUS): $63
  • Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Hotels: $63
  • Private Transfer Gaimhae Airport to Busan City: $85
  • Private Transfer From Busan to Incheon or Seoul or GyeongJu city: $100
  • Private Airport, Train Station & Hotel Transfer Service in Busan: $80
  • Busan to Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $65
  • Busan hotels to Busan Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $59
  • Busan Private Transfer: Airport & KTX Stn. to/from Hotel in Busan: $79

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Busan (Pusan)?

Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) and Arusha change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Arusha $40
    Busan (Pusan) $46
Typical Food Prices in Arusha

For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • A Quick Lunch (for 2)
    $2.09

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha

For Arusha, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Traditional Tanzania Cooking Class & Food Market Tour: $43
  • NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
  • Local Tanzanian Food Cooking Class by Kingstone Asilia (Arusha): $75
  • Homestay + Cooking + Animal Care + Fruit Harvesting + Much More: $187

Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)

Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:


  • McDonald's
    $4.60
  • Carp Bread
    $0.74

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Busan (Pusan)

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Busan (Pusan).

  • Busan Bites Food Tour with 10+ Tastings: $88
  • Busan Seafood Tour : Jagalchi market Seafood Tour & Dinner: $110
  • Korean cooking class in Haeundae, Busan: $110
  • Busan Tailored Korean cooking class (Vegan OK)with market tour: $120
  • Private Busan Culture and Food Tour with a Local Guide: $143

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $44
    Busan (Pusan) $20

Tours and Activities in Arusha

For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Arusha City Walking Tour: Markets, Culture & Hotel Pickup: $15
  • Best Arusha City Tour: $15
  • Coffee Tourism & Banana Farms Experience: $20
  • Personalized Arusha City Tour Culture History and Market: $20
  • Arusha Guided City Tour &Hotel Pickup (History, Culture &Market: $21
  • Arusha Mountain Village and Coffee Tour: $24
  • Arusha City Tour with Local Culture and Food Markets: $25
  • Arusha Town Tour: $30
  • Microfinance family farm tour - all proceeds to charity: $35
  • Private Meru Coffee Tour in Nkoaranga: $35
  • Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40
  • Tanzanite Shopping Experience in Arusha: $45

Tours and Activities in Busan (Pusan)

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Busan (Pusan) are as follows:

  • "Walking Tour: Busan local Experience + private guide: $61
  • 2027 New Year Countdown & Pohang Homigot Sunrise Tour from Busan: $69
  • A Comprehensive Small-Group Busan Tour with Hotel Pickup: $58
  • Authentic Busan Full-Day City Highlights Tour: $35
  • BTS Landmarks Private Car Tour in Busan with a Licensed Guide: $170
  • Best of Busan Day Tour: Coast, Culture and Local Markets: $36
  • Busan 9 Highlights Small Group City Tour: $30
  • Busan Blueline Park Sky Capsule or Beach Train Ticket: $14
  • Busan City Top Attractions Tour with Haeundae Blueline Park: $35
  • Busan City Tour - Haedong Yonggung Temple And Shopping in Lotte Premium Outlet: $289
  • Busan City Tour Including Haedong Yonggungsa Temple And APEC House: $290
  • Busan Cruise Port – Premium Small Group Tour (Max 6 Guests): $99

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $11
    Busan (Pusan) $12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Busan (Pusan) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arusha is in Africa and Busan (Pusan) is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Busan (Pusan) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Busan (Pusan) and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Arusha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arusha than you might in Busan (Pusan).

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arusha Expensive? and Is Busan (Pusan) Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Arusha or Busan (Pusan)?

Busan (Pusan) has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Busan (Pusan), keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.