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

Should you visit Dahab 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 Dahab 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: Dahab or Busan (Pusan)?

Dahab

Dahab is a small town on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It is located about 85 kilometers north of Sharm el-Sheikh and sits on the Gulf of Aqaba. It's a popular destination with divers and backpackers alike, and offers some of the best snorkeling and diving that you'll find in the Red Sea. It's a great alternative to the resort driven Sharm el-Sheikh, and is popular with independent travelers who are looking for affordable accommodation. There are some upmarket options however, predominantly in the Laguna area, but budget facilities are not hard to find.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, 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 Dahab?

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 Dahab is $23, 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 Dahab and Busan (Pusan) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dahab $8.49
    Busan (Pusan) $40
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dahab $17
    Busan (Pusan) $80
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Busan (Pusan)

Looking for a hotel in Dahab 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 Dahab


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: Dahab Hotel Prices and Busan (Pusan) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dahab $2.83
    Busan (Pusan) $21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab

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

  • Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh Airport (SSH): $34
  • Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour from Dahab with Lunch & Hotel Transfers: $45
  • Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm el Sheikh Airport or Hotels: $50
  • Beginner Scuba Dive at Lighthouse w Photos & Transfer: $58
  • Pickup transfer from Dahab To Sharm El Sheikh airport: $70
  • Private Pickup Transfer From Dahab To St. Catherine: $75
  • Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $100
  • Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $114
  • Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120
  • Private Pickup Transfers From Dahab To Cairo: $195

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 Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Port: $63
  • Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan city hotels: $63
  • Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Hotels: $63
  • Private Transfer from Busan City Hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $63
  • Private Transfer Gaimhae Airport to Busan City: $85
  • Private Transfer From Busan to Incheon or Seoul or GyeongJu city: $125
  • Busan to Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $65
  • Busan hotels to Busan Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
  • Busan Private Transfer: Airport & KTX Stn. to/from Hotel in Busan: $79
  • Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) to Busan - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $131

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

Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) and Dahab 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
    Dahab $12
    Busan (Pusan) $46
Typical Food Prices in Dahab

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


  • Seafood Dinner (for 2)
    $1.82
  • Juice
    $0.10
  • Breakfast for Two
    $0.57

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dahab

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

  • Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $39

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).

  • Autumn Special: 2 Activities + Dinner Only 4 Exclusive Dates: $50
  • Busan Korean Home Cooking Class and Local Market Tour: $79
  • 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 Local Food Cooking Class with Market Tour: $118
  • Busan Tailored Korean cooking class (Vegan OK)with market tour: $120

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dahab $5.98
    Busan (Pusan) $20

Tours and Activities in Dahab

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

  • Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
  • Full-Day Hike Tour at St. Catherine's Monastery: $35
  • Royal Seascope Submarine Guided Boat Tour: $40
  • Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $40
  • luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
  • Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $43
  • Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $50
  • Mount Sinai Sunrise and St Catherine Monastery Tour from Dahab: $50
  • Private City Tour In Sharm El Sheikh From Dahab: $65
  • Adventure Safari By Horse In Dahab At Laguna Beach: $65
  • Saint Catherine's Monastery half-day Tour with Lunch from Dahab: $70
  • Private Guided Diving Experience in Dahab: $80

Tours and Activities in Busan (Pusan)

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

  • 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
  • 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 Including Gamcheon Culture village and Haedong Yonggungsa Temple: $282
  • Busan Cruise Port – Premium Small Group Tour (Max 6 Guests): $99
  • Busan Cruise Shore Excursion with Guaranteed On-Time Return: $48
  • Busan Daily Private Tour with Hotel Pickup: $150
  • Busan Dynamic Maze Discount Ticket Foreigner Only: $12

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dahab $3.55
    Busan (Pusan) $12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dahab and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Busan (Pusan) is more expensive. And not only is Dahab much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dahab 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 Dahab would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dahab 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 Busan (Pusan) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Busan (Pusan) than you might in Dahab.

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


Which is Bigger, Dahab or Busan (Pusan)?

Busan (Pusan) has a larger population, and is about 460 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Dahab 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.