Which place is cheaper, Wellington or Busan (Pusan)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Busan (Pusan) or Wellington?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Busan (Pusan) or Wellington, 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 Wellington?
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.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital and second largest city in New Zealand. It sits on the southwestern edge of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It's a beautiful setting that is encircled by mountains giving it a beautiful backdrop. There are also many cultural sights and attractions around town. Wellington really is the perfect mix of New Zealand's natural beauty and a vibrant urban core. The film industry is also prevelant in the city. The city's production centers have helped create Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, Tin Tin, and District 9.
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 New Zealand, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBusan (Pusan) $91Wellington $110
The average daily cost (per person) in Busan (Pusan) is $91, while the average daily cost in Wellington is $110. 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 Wellington in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBusan (Pusan) $41Wellington $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBusan (Pusan) $82Wellington $128
Compare Hotels in Busan (Pusan) and Wellington
Looking for a hotel in Busan (Pusan) or Wellington? 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 Wellington Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Busan (Pusan) $21Wellington $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Busan (Pusan):
- Private Transfer from Busan hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $86
- Private Transfer from Busan Port to Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS): $80
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan city hotels: $78
- Private Transfer from Busan City Hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $78
- Private Transfer Gaimhae Airport to Busan City: $85
- Busan hotels to Busan Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $121
- Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan - Arrival Private Transfer: $121
- Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) to Busan Round-Trip Private Transfer: $243
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Wellington
Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Wellington hotels to Wellington Cruise Port: $27
- Private Transfer from Wellington Cruise Port to Wellington Hotels: $27
- Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington - Arrival Private Transfer: $29
- Wētā Workshop Experience + Guided Transfers: $60
- Wētā Workshop Experience with Guided Transfers: $63
- Private Transfer with Wellington Dial a Driver: $75
- Wellington Airport Transfer to Wellington Hotels and Vice versa: $78
- Wellington Transfer: Airport（WLG）to/from City Center: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Busan (Pusan) or Wellington?
Prices for flights to both Wellington 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) $27Wellington $31
Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
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McDonald's$4.72
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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 Tailored Korean cooking class (Vegan OK)with market tour: $65
- Vegan Friendly Korean Food Cooking Class: $70
- Korean cooking class in Haeundae, Busan : $95
- Busan Local Food Cooking Class with Market Tour: $116
- Busan big Barbecue dinner at the garden : $150
Typical Food Prices in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner$9.51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 3 Hour Walking Food Tour: $131
- Capital Bites, A food tour of Wellington: $140
- Walking Food Tour Of Wellington: $155
- A Taste Of Wellington Food Tour (half Day): $191
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Busan (Pusan) $21Wellington $17
Tours and Activities in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
- 1 Day Private Busan Guided Tour: $300
- A well-rounded small group Busan tour with a certified guide: $46
- 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 Hidden Gems Private Tour with a Certified Guide: $89
- Busan Market Tour after dialect class or Samgwangsa temple: $100
- Busan Night Small Group Photo Tour (Max 7): $68
- Busan Night Tour Including a Cruise w/ Fireworks: $110
- Busan Pick up & Drop off (Anywhere) or Night View Tour: $83
- Busan Private Bike Tour: $100
- Busan Private Taxi Car Charter Tour: $236
- Busan Private Tour for cruise ship passengers: $250
Tours and Activities in Wellington
For Wellington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Return Cable Car Ticket: $7.33
- Wellington Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Skip the Line: Staglands Wildlife Reserve Entry Ticket: $16
- Return Ferry Ticket to Days Bay: $20
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Spaceship: $28
- Wētā Workshop Experience and Guided Tour: $34
- Hidden Māori Treasures Tour: $34
- Wētā Workshop Experience in Wellington: $34
- Zealandia by Day Tour: $39
- Small Group Daytime 2-Hour Eco Wildlife Tour at Zealandia: $40
- E-Scooter or E-Bike Māori Cultural Guided Tour: $46
- Guided Small Group Walking Tour in Wellington: $53
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBusan (Pusan) $12Wellington $13
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 Wellington
Also in Wellington, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $98
- 1/2 day Martinborough Chefs Wine Tour with lunch from Wellington: $155
- Martinborough Full Day Wine Tour: $174
- From Martinborough Wine Tasting Tour: $177
- 6hr Martinborough Chefs private wine tour ŵ lunch from Wellington: $249
- Chefs Private Martinborough wine tour with Gourmet Lunch: $366
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Busan (Pusan) and Wellington, we can see that Wellington 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 Wellington is in Pacific, 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 Wellington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wellington 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 Wellington Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Busan (Pusan) or Wellington?
Busan (Pusan) has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Wellington. When comparing the sizes of Busan (Pusan) and Wellington, 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 Wellington?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Wellington is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Busan (Pusan) has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Busan (Pusan) or Wellington in the Summer?
Both Wellington and Busan (Pusan) during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Wellington for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Busan (Pusan) is a little warmer than Wellington in the summer. The daily temperature in Busan (Pusan) averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Wellington fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in January.
In Wellington, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Busan (Pusan) often gets less sunshine than Wellingtonin January. Busan (Pusan) gets 166 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wellington receives 242 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Busan (Pusan). Busan (Pusan) usually gets more rain in July than Wellingtonin January. Busan (Pusan) gets 257 mm (10.1 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryBusan (Pusan) 25°C (77°F)Wellington 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Busan (Pusan) or Wellington in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Busan (Pusan) and Wellington. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Wellington because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Busan (Pusan) is a little warmer than Wellington. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Busan (Pusan) in October average around 18°C (65°F), and Wellington averages at about 15°C (58°F)in April.
In Busan (Pusan), it's very sunny this time of the year. Busan (Pusan) usually receives more sunshine than Wellington during autumn. Busan (Pusan) gets 202 hours of sunny skies, while Wellington receives 163 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Busan (Pusan) usually receives less rain than Wellingtonin April. Busan (Pusan) gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilBusan (Pusan) 18°C (65°F)Wellington 15°C (58°F)
Should I visit Busan (Pusan) or Wellington in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Busan (Pusan) as well as Wellington. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Wellington this time of year.
The weather in Busan (Pusan) can be very cold. In January, Busan (Pusan) is generally much colder than Wellingtonin July. Daily temperatures in Busan (Pusan) average around 3°C (38°F), and Wellington fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Busan (Pusan) this time of the year. In the winter, Busan (Pusan) often gets more sunshine than Wellingtonin July. Busan (Pusan) gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wellington receives 122 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Wellington. Busan (Pusan) usually gets less rain in January than Wellingtonin July. Busan (Pusan) gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyBusan (Pusan) 3°C (38°F)Wellington 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Busan (Pusan) or Wellington in the Spring?
Both Wellington and Busan (Pusan) are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Wellington for the beaches.
Busan (Pusan) is around the same temperature as Wellington in the spring. The daily temperature in Busan (Pusan) averages around 14°C (57°F) in April, and Wellington fluctuates around 13°C (55°F)in October.
Busan (Pusan) usually receives more sunshine than Wellington during spring. Busan (Pusan) gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Wellington receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Busan (Pusan). In April, Busan (Pusan) usually receives more rain than Wellingtonin October. Busan (Pusan) gets 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberBusan (Pusan) 14°C (57°F)Wellington 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Wellington and Busan (Pusan)
| Busan (Pusan) | Wellington | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (65°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Dec | 6°C (43°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 69 mm (2.7 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.