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

Should you visit Busan (Pusan) or Rotterdam?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Busan (Pusan) or Rotterdam, 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 Rotterdam?

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.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands and has the largest port in Europe. It's famously known as a city of architecture. In a few square kilometers of the city center you can get a complete overview of twentieth century architecture within Rotterdam.

Rotterdam is a very diverse, international, and hard working city. Nearly half of the city's population is not native to the Netherlands or have at least one parent from outside the country. Muslim's make up a significant portion of the population. Other area's represented include Cape Verde and the Dutch Antilles.

There's an air of optimism that permeates the entire city. There are frequent events, festivals and performances, making Rotterdam an enjoyable place to spend some time. Water is also an integral part of the city design.

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 River Cruises from Amsterdam, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands.


Which place is cheaper, Rotterdam 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Busan (Pusan) is $104, while the average daily cost in Rotterdam is $221. 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 Rotterdam in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Busan (Pusan) $39
    Rotterdam $94
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Busan (Pusan) $78
    Rotterdam $188
Compare Hotels in Busan (Pusan) and Rotterdam

Looking for a hotel in Busan (Pusan) or Rotterdam? 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 Busan (Pusan)


Hotels in Rotterdam


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 Rotterdam Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Busan (Pusan) $20
    Rotterdam $30

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 Airport, Train Station & Hotel Transfer Service in Busan: $80
  • Busan Private Transfer: Airport & KTX Stn. to/from Hotel in Busan: $79
  • Busan Airport and KTX Station Transfer Service: $79
  • Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) to Busan - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
  • Busan to Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $68
  • Private Transfer from Busan hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $65
  • Private Transfer from Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Port: $65
  • Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Int Airport(PUS): $65
  • Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan city hotels: $65
  • Busan Airport (PUS) to Busan Hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $62
  • Busan hotels to Busan Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $62

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rotterdam

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

  • Madurodam: Train + tram transferring to/from Rotterdam: $10
  • Rotterdam to Rotterdam Airport (RTM) - Departure Private Transfer: $71
  • Rotterdam Airport RTM Private Transfer to Rotterdam in Sedan Car: $83
  • Private Transfer from Rotterdam Airport (RTM) to Rotterdam Port: $88
  • Private Transfer from Rotterdam Cruise Port to Rotterdam hotels: $88
  • Private Transfer from Rotterdam Port to Rotterdam Airport (RTM): $88
  • Rotterdam Private Transfer to Rotterdam Airport RTM by Luxury Van: $90
  • Private Transfer from Rotterdam Airport (RTM) to IJmuiden Port: $133
  • Rotterdam Airport(RTM) to Rotterdam - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $142
  • Rotterdam Airport RTM Round-Trip Private Transfer: $167
  • Private Transfer from Cruise Port Rotterdam to Amsterdam: $169
  • Private Transfer From Cruise Port Rotterdam to Schiphol Airport: $169

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

Prices for flights to both Rotterdam 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 day
    Busan (Pusan) $44
    Rotterdam $103
Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)

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


  • McDonald's
    $4.46
  • 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).

  • Autumn Special: 2 Activities + Dinner Only 4 Exclusive Dates: $50
  • Kimchi Kitchens Busan Food Tour with 10+ Tastings: $88
  • Vegan Friendly Korean Food Cooking Class: $100
  • Busan Seafood Tour : Jagalchi market Seafood Tour & Dinner: $110
  • Busan Local Food Cooking Class with Market Tour: $115

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rotterdam

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

  • Pizza Cruise: $46
  • Rotterdam Food Tour: Taste The Alternative Side Of The City: $79
  • Guided Food Tour: $80
  • Historic Delfshaven: Lunch or Dinner with a Private Chef: $87
  • Food Tour by Bike: $104
  • Guided Walking Food Tour: $104
  • Rotterdam Walking Food Tour with Delicious Tastings: $106
  • Private Walking Food Tour of Rotterdam: $131
  • Rotterdam Private 2-Hour Food Tour with Tastings: $175

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Busan (Pusan) $20
    Rotterdam $36

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: $59
  • A Comprehensive Small-Group Busan Tour with Hotel Pickup: $58
  • Authentic Busan Full-Day City Highlights Tour: $34
  • BTS Landmarks Private Car Tour in Busan with a Licensed Guide: $170
  • Best of Busan Day Tour: Coast, Culture and Local Markets: $36
  • Busan Blueline Park Sky Capsule or Beach Train Ticket: $14
  • Busan City Top Attractions Tour with Haeundae Blueline Park: $34
  • 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
  • Busan Cruise Shore Excursion with Guaranteed On-Time Return: $39
  • Busan Daily Private Tour with Hotel Pickup: $150

Tours and Activities in Rotterdam

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Rotterdam.

  • Rotterdam 2-Hour Walking Tour | Discover The City With A Local: $3.55
  • Rotterdam Self Guided Highlights and Hidden Gems Walking Tour: $3.56
  • Breda Fun Puzzle Quest: True Lord Self-Guided Tour: $5.92
  • Rotterdam Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.93
  • Risen from Ruins Self Guided Tour of Rotterdam: $6.29
  • Rotterdam Self-Guided Walking Tour Cube Houses, Audio and Quiz: $6.65
  • Rotterdam Highlights & Spies: Exploration Game & Tour: $7.47
  • Windmills and Dutch Ingenuity: A Kinderdijk Audio Walking Tour: $8.99
  • Team Up for a Playful Tour of Rotterdam: $12
  • Rotterdam Walking Tour with Audio Guide on Your Smartphone: $12
  • Delfshaven Self-Guided Tour: A Guide to Rotterdam’s Old Town: $12
  • From River to Metropolis: A Rotterdam City Self Guided Audio Tour: $12

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Busan (Pusan) $12
    Rotterdam $22

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 Social Pub Crawl(Seomyeon&Gwangalli Beach): $23

Sample the Local Flavors in Rotterdam

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rotterdam:

  • Beer Brewery 'Noordt' Beer Tasting: $9.31
  • Brewery Noordt Tour Including Two Beers: $20
  • Stadshaven Brewery Tour with Beer Tastings: $26
  • The Ultimate Rotterdam Bar Crawl Experience: $41
  • Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $52
  • Ludwig's Private Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $576


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Busan (Pusan) and Rotterdam, we can see that Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam is in Europe, 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 Rotterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Busan (Pusan) or Rotterdam?

Busan (Pusan) has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Rotterdam. When comparing the sizes of Busan (Pusan) and Rotterdam, 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 Rotterdam?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Busan (Pusan) or Rotterdam in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Busan (Pusan) as well as Rotterdam. Additionally, many visitors come to Rotterdam in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Busan (Pusan) is a little warmer than Rotterdam. Typically, the summer temperatures in Busan (Pusan) in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Rotterdam averages at about 17°C (62°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rotterdam. In the summer, Busan (Pusan) often gets less sunshine than Rotterdam. Busan (Pusan) gets 166 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rotterdam receives 202 hours of full sun.

Busan (Pusan) receives a lot of rain in the summer. Busan (Pusan) usually gets more rain in July than Rotterdam. Busan (Pusan) gets 257 mm (10.1 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Busan (Pusan) 25°C (77°F) 
    Rotterdam 17°C (62°F)

Should I visit Busan (Pusan) or Rotterdam in the Autumn?

Both Rotterdam and Busan (Pusan) are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Rotterdam for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In October, Busan (Pusan) is generally much warmer than Rotterdam. Daily temperatures in Busan (Pusan) average around 18°C (65°F), and Rotterdam fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Busan (Pusan). Busan (Pusan) usually receives more sunshine than Rotterdam during autumn. Busan (Pusan) gets 202 hours of sunny skies, while Rotterdam receives 105 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Busan (Pusan) usually receives less rain than Rotterdam. Busan (Pusan) gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Busan (Pusan) 18°C (65°F) 
    Rotterdam 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Busan (Pusan) or Rotterdam in the Winter?

Both Rotterdam and Busan (Pusan) during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Rotterdam because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Rotterdam can be very cold. Busan (Pusan) can be very cold during winter. Busan (Pusan) is much warmer than Rotterdam in the winter. The daily temperature in Busan (Pusan) averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Rotterdam fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

It's quite sunny in Busan (Pusan). In the winter, Busan (Pusan) often gets more sunshine than Rotterdam. Busan (Pusan) gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rotterdam receives 47 hours of full sun.

Busan (Pusan) usually gets less rain in January than Rotterdam. Busan (Pusan) gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Busan (Pusan) 3°C (38°F) 
    Rotterdam 2°C (36°F)

Should I visit Busan (Pusan) or Rotterdam in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Busan (Pusan) and Rotterdam. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Rotterdam this time of year.

In the spring, Busan (Pusan) is much warmer than Rotterdam. Typically, the spring temperatures in Busan (Pusan) in April average around 14°C (57°F), and Rotterdam averages at about 8°C (46°F).

Busan (Pusan) usually receives more sunshine than Rotterdam during spring. Busan (Pusan) gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Rotterdam receives 158 hours of full sun in the spring.

Busan (Pusan) gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Busan (Pusan) usually receives more rain than Rotterdam. Busan (Pusan) gets 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Busan (Pusan) 14°C (57°F) 
    Rotterdam 8°C (46°F)

Typical Weather for Rotterdam and Busan (Pusan)

Busan (Pusan) Rotterdam
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 3°C (38°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) 2°C (36°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Feb 5°C (40°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 3°C (37°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Mar 9°C (48°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 5°C (41°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Apr 14°C (57°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 8°C (46°F) 52 mm (2 in)
May 18°C (65°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 12°C (54°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 21°C (70°F) 224 mm (8.8 in) 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 257 mm (10.1 in) 17°C (62°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Aug 27°C (80°F) 204 mm (8 in) 17°C (62°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 23°C (73°F) 187 mm (7.4 in) 14°C (57°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Oct 18°C (65°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 11°C (51°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Nov 12°C (54°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 6°C (43°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Dec 6°C (43°F) 24 mm (0.9 in) 3°C (38°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)