Which place is cheaper, Nelson or Busan (Pusan)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Busan (Pusan) or Nelson?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Busan (Pusan) or Nelson, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Busan (Pusan) or Nelson?
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.
Nelson
Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to South Korea, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to New Zealand.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBusan (Pusan) $91Nelson $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Busan (Pusan) is $91, while the average daily cost in Nelson is $101. 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 Busan (Pusan) and Nelson in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBusan (Pusan) $41Nelson $43
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBusan (Pusan) $82Nelson $86
Compare Hotels in Busan (Pusan) and Nelson
Looking for a hotel in Busan (Pusan) or Nelson? 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.
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: Busan (Pusan) Hotel Prices and Nelson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Busan (Pusan) $21Nelson $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Busan (Pusan):
- Private Transfer from Busan Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Cruise Port: $74
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan city hotels: $80
- Private Transfer from Busan City Hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $80
- Private Transfer from Busan Port to Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS): $82
- Private Transfer Gaimhae Airport to Busan City: $85
- Private Transfer from Busan hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $88
- Busan Airport (PUS) to Busan Hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $124
- Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan - Arrival Private Transfer: $124
- Busan hotels to Busan Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $124
- Busan Airport to Busan Hotels Round-Trip Private Transfer: $248
Is it cheaper to fly into Busan (Pusan) or Nelson?
Prices for flights to both Nelson and Busan (Pusan) 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 dayBusan (Pusan) $27Nelson $29
Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
-
McDonald's$4.72
-
Carp Bread$0.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Busan (Pusan)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Busan (Pusan).
- Busan Jagalchi market Seafood Tour & Dinner : $50
- Busan history and market food tour with local chef: $51
- Busan Tailored Korean cooking class (Vegan OK)with market tour: $65
- Korean cooking class in Haeundae, Busan : $95
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Busan (Pusan) $21Nelson $25
Tours and Activities in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
- Haeundae Busan Walking Day Tour: $25
- The Way of Tea - Experience: $40
- Eden Valley Winter Ski Resort Day Tour from Busan+SPA LAND option: $41
- A well-rounded small group Busan tour with a certified guide: $46
- Busan: Jagalchi Market & Gamcheon Village Walking Tour With Guide: $51
- Full-Day Busan City Tour: $52
- Full-Day Tour Unmissable things to do in Busan: $56
- Historic and Natural Beauty- Gyeongju Autumn Foliage Day Tour: $62
- Jinhae Gunhangje Night Tour : $62
- Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival with Gamcheon Culture Village Tour: $63
- Ulsan Taehwa River National Garden Autumn Foliage One Day Tour: $64
- Gyeongju UNESCO World Heritage Guided Day Tour From Busan: $65
Tours and Activities in Nelson
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:
- Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $31
- Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $60
- Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire Experience: $70
- SKYWIRE Experience: $71
- Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure: $75
- Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure: $77
- Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $81
- Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $81
- Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $84
- Guided Quad Biking Tour Through Forest and Farmland: $86
- Spooners Tunnel to Nelson One Day Cycle Self Guided Tour: $87
- Cruise, Walk, and Sail in Abel Tasman National Park: $133
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayBusan (Pusan) $12Nelson $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Busan (Pusan)
Also in Busan (Pusan), these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Busan Pub Crawl: $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:
- Self-guided E-bike cycle tour with private wine tasting : $104
When comparing the travel costs between Busan (Pusan) and Nelson, we can see that Nelson is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Busan (Pusan) is in Asia and Nelson is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Busan (Pusan) Expensive? and Is Nelson Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Busan (Pusan) or Nelson?
Busan (Pusan) has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Nelson. When comparing the sizes of Busan (Pusan) and Nelson, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.