Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Busan (Pusan)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Busan (Pusan) or Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Busan (Pusan) or Quepos, 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 Quepos?
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.
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
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 Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Busan (Pusan) Prices
South Korea PricesQuepos Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBusan (Pusan) $104Quepos $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Busan (Pusan) is $104, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $139. 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 Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBusan (Pusan) $39Quepos $76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBusan (Pusan) $78Quepos $152
Compare Hotels in Busan (Pusan) and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Busan (Pusan) or Quepos? 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 Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Busan (Pusan) $20Quepos $9.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Busan (Pusan):
- Private Transfer from Busan Port to Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS): $66
- Private Transfer from Busan Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Cruise Port: $66
- Private Transfer from Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Port: $66
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Int Airport(PUS): $66
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Hotels: $66
- Private Transfer Gaimhae Airport to Busan City: $85
- Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) to Busan - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $137
- Busan Airport to Busan Hotels Round-Trip Private Transfer: $125
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to/from Manuel Antonio (One Way): $99
- Puntarenas city to Juan Santamaria Intl Airport(SJO)-Departure Private Transfer : $105
- Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $135
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio with Scenic Stop.: $203
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $209
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to the Sierpe: $213
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San José (Airport SJO): $220
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $229
- Private Transfer from Quepos Port to Liberia Int Airport (LIR): $259
- Private transfer from Manuel Antonio Quepos to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $269
- Manuel Antonio & Quepos one way transfer to SJO hotels - Airport up to 5 people.: $274
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $276
Is it cheaper to fly into Busan (Pusan) or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos 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
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Food Meals for one dayBusan (Pusan) $44Quepos $51
Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
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McDonald's$4.43
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Carp Bread$0.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Busan (Pusan)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Busan (Pusan).
- Busan history and market food tour with local chef: $53
- Busan Tailored Korean cooking class (Vegan OK)with market tour: $95
- Busan seafood tour : Cod Auction and Clam Auction in Winter: $99
- Korean cooking class in Haeundae, Busan : $100
- Busan Local Food Cooking Class with Market Tour: $114
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$15
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in Manuel Antonio with Medicinal Plants Garden Visit: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
- Local Flavor Cooking Experience: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Busan (Pusan) $20Quepos $17
Tours and Activities in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
- "Walking Tour: Busan Foodie Experience + Live Like a Local": $73
- 1-DAY Busan and INCLUDED night tour: $220
- A well-rounded small group Busan tour with a certified guide: $58
- Authentic Busan Full-Day City Highlights Tour: $48
- Busan 4hr Private Walking Tour with Certified Guide: $228
- Busan 9 Highlights Tour: $40
- Busan CLUBD OASIS Spa and Water Park Ticket: $15
- Busan City Tour - Haedong Yonggung Temple And Shopping in Lotte Premium Outlet: $289
- Busan City Tour Including Gamcheon Culture village and Haedong Yonggungsa Temple: $282
- Busan City Tour Including Haedong Yonggungsa Temple And APEC House: $290
- Busan Comfortable Private Tour For 4hours: $196
- Busan Comfortable Private Tour For 8hours: $251
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $25
- Quepos Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $26
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $27
- Manuel Antonio Park: Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $27
- 2-3-Hour Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $29
- Manuel Antonio National Park guided tour : $29
- Guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park: $29
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $30
- Manuel Antonio with Mauro / Tickets not Included! : $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park Group Guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park Tour for 8 People: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBusan (Pusan) $12Quepos $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Busan (Pusan) and Quepos, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Busan (Pusan) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Busan (Pusan) is in Asia and Quepos is in Central America, 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos 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 Busan (Pusan) Expensive? and Is Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Busan (Pusan) or Quepos?
Busan (Pusan) has a larger population, and is about 470 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Busan (Pusan) and Quepos, 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.
When is the best time to visit Busan (Pusan) or Quepos?
Busan (Pusan) has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Quepos experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Busan (Pusan) or Quepos in the Summer?
Both Quepos and Busan (Pusan) during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
In the summer, Busan (Pusan) is cooler than Quepos. Typically, the summer temperatures in Busan (Pusan) in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Quepos averages at about 28°C (82°F).
In the summer, Busan (Pusan) often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Quepos. Busan (Pusan) gets 166 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun.
Quepos gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Busan (Pusan). Busan (Pusan) usually gets more rain in July than Quepos. Busan (Pusan) gets 257 mm (10.1 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBusan (Pusan) 25°C (77°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Busan (Pusan) or Quepos in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Busan (Pusan) and Quepos. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Busan (Pusan) is generally much colder than Quepos. Daily temperatures in Busan (Pusan) average around 18°C (65°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Busan (Pusan), it's very sunny this time of the year. Busan (Pusan) usually receives more sunshine than Quepos during autumn. Busan (Pusan) gets 202 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Quepos receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Busan (Pusan) usually receives less rain than Quepos. Busan (Pusan) gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to April in Quepos is the dry season. May to November is the hurricane season in Quepos.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBusan (Pusan) 18°C (65°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Busan (Pusan) or Quepos in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Busan (Pusan) as well as Quepos. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Busan (Pusan) in the winter. Busan (Pusan) is much colder than Quepos in the winter. The daily temperature in Busan (Pusan) averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Quepos. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Busan (Pusan) this time of the year. In the winter, Busan (Pusan) often gets less sunshine than Quepos. Busan (Pusan) gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun.
Busan (Pusan) usually gets more rain in January than Quepos. Busan (Pusan) gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBusan (Pusan) 3°C (38°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Busan (Pusan) or Quepos in the Spring?
Both Quepos and Busan (Pusan) are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Busan (Pusan) is much colder than Quepos. Typically, the spring temperatures in Busan (Pusan) in April average around 14°C (57°F), and Quepos averages at about 29°C (85°F).
It's quite sunny in Quepos. Busan (Pusan) usually receives less sunshine than Quepos during spring. Busan (Pusan) gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Busan (Pusan). In April, Busan (Pusan) usually receives more rain than Quepos. Busan (Pusan) gets 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Quepos is December to April. May to November in Quepos is the hurricane season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBusan (Pusan) 14°C (57°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Busan (Pusan)
| Busan (Pusan) | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (65°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 6°C (43°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
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.