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 $96. 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 $8.47
    Busan (Pusan) $36
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dahab $17
    Busan (Pusan) $72
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 $2.82
    Busan (Pusan) $19

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): $35
  • Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $42
  • Dahab to Sharm El-Sheikh: Private Door-to-Door Transfer: $63
  • Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $100
  • Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $117
  • Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120

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: $65
  • Private Transfer from Busan Port to Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS): $65
  • Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan city hotels: $65
  • Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Hotels: $65
  • Private Transfer – Anywhere in Busan, including Airport & Station: $64
  • Private Airport, Train Station & Hotel Transfer Service in Busan: $80
  • Busan Private Transfer: Airport & KTX Stn. to/from Hotel in Busan: $79
  • Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) to Busan - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $135
  • Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) to Busan - Arrival Private Transfer: $67

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) $41
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

Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)

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


  • McDonald's
    $4.10
  • Carp Bread
    $0.66

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Busan (Pusan)

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Busan (Pusan).

  • Busan Traditional Market Food Tour: $47
  • Busan Market Tour Cooking Class and Games: $70
  • Kimchi Kitchens Busan Food Tour with 10+ Tastings: $88
  • Busan Tailored Korean cooking class (Vegan OK)with market tour: $90
  • Busan Local Food Cooking Class with Market Tour: $104
  • Korean cooking class in Haeundae, Busan: $104

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dahab $5.96
    Busan (Pusan) $18

Tours and Activities in Dahab

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

  • Full-Day Hike Tour at St. Catherine's Monastery: $30
  • Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
  • Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $40
  • luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
  • Royal Seascope Submarine Guided Boat Tour: $41
  • 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $42
  • Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $43
  • Seascope Submarine Tour from Dahab: $45
  • 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 Day Tour To Blue Lagoon And Ras Abu Galum From Dahab: $65
  • Private City Tour In Sharm El Sheikh From Dahab: $65

Tours and Activities in Busan (Pusan)

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

  • (Guaranteed Return) Busan Shore Excursion for Cruise Guests: $66
  • (On-Time Return) Busan Cruise Shore Excursion for Small Group: $89
  • (Return Assurance) Busan Small Group Cruise Shore Excursion: $85
  • Authentic Busan Full-Day City Highlights Tour: $31
  • Busan 9 Highlights Tour: $40
  • 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: City Highlights and Food Taste Tour: $73
  • Busan Day Tour with Pickup at the KTX Station-Family Couple Alone: $76
  • Busan Dynamic Maze Discount Ticket Foreigner Only: $12
  • Busan Food Market Tour Seafoods and Street Foods: $52
  • Busan Group Tour for Cruise ship passengers (Max 12 Guests): $85

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dahab $3.54
    Busan (Pusan) $11

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 with Traditional Korean Pub Experience: $23


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.