Which place is cheaper, Busan (Pusan) or Halong Bay?
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 Halong Bay 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 Halong Bay 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: Halong Bay or Busan (Pusan)?
Halong Bay
Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the north of Vietnam, near the Chinese border. Known for its thousands of beautiful limestone karsts and stalactite-filled caves, it is one of the most visited destinations in Vietnam. If you appreciate natural scenery and want an adventure at sea, you'll love cruising among more than 1,900 islands in Ha Long Bay.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, The Best 10-Day Tours from Hanoi, The Best Tours for Seniors to South Korea, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul.
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Halong Bay Prices
Vietnam PricesBusan (Pusan) Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHalong Bay $66Busan (Pusan) $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Halong Bay is $66, while the average daily cost in Busan (Pusan) is $95. 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 Halong Bay and Busan (Pusan) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHalong Bay $27Busan (Pusan) $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHalong Bay $54Busan (Pusan) $72
Compare Hotels in Halong Bay and Busan (Pusan)
Looking for a hotel in Halong Bay 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.
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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Halong Bay $13Busan (Pusan) $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halong Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Halong Bay:
- Bus Transfer From Cat Ba Island To Ninh Binh/Ninh binh To Cat Ba: $19
- Transfer Ha Long and Ninh Binh by Limousine Bus: $23
- From Hanoi with Expessway Transfer to Halong Bay 1 Day Trip: $42
- Halong Bay Full Day Cruise from Hanoi by Transfer Expressway: $42
- Halong Day Tour: Islands, Cave, Kayak. Lunch. Transfers: $45
- Best Seller Halong Full Day Tour All Included Expressway Transfer: $48
- Halong Bay Full Day With Cave, Kayaking,Swimming,Highway Transfer: $49
- Alova Premium Cruise to Halong Bay 1 Day Trip by Highway Transfer: $50
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Haiphong Airport (HPH): $55
- Private Transfer from Tuan Chau to Haiphong (HPH) Airport: $55
- Halong Bay 06 Hours Dragon King Cruise From Halong with Transfer: $60
- Arcady Premium Cruise Halong Bay Day Tour with Optional Transfer: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Busan (Pusan):
- Busan Airport and KTX Station Transfer Service: $79
- Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) to Busan - Arrival Private Transfer: $67
- Busan Private Transfer: Airport & KTX Stn. to/from Hotel in Busan: $79
- Private Transfer From Busan to Incheon or Seoul or GyeongJu city: $100
- Private Transfer Gaimhae Airport to Busan City: $85
- Private Transfer from Busan City Hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $64
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Hotels: $64
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan city hotels: $64
- Private Transfer from Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Port: $64
- Private Transfer from Busan Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Cruise Port: $64
- Private Transfer from Busan hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $64
Is it cheaper to fly into Halong Bay or Busan (Pusan)?
Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) and Halong Bay 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 dayHalong Bay $26Busan (Pusan) $40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halong Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Halong Bay.
- Sunset and Bioluminescent Kayaking Tour in Lan Ha Bay with Dinner: $37
- Halong Bay Luxury Dinner Cruise - Ambassador: $79
- 1-day private Hanoi city tour with fun and night street walking food tour: $101
- Best 2D1N Lan Ha Bay Cruise: BBQ dinner, Viet Hai Ancient Village: $200
Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
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McDonald's$4.05
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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 Food Tour Jagalchi Market BIFF Square and Gukje Market: $57
- Busan Seafood Tour : Jagalchi market Seafood Tour & Dinner: $60
- Busan Market Jokbal Dinner Beach Experience Tour: $75
- Kimchi Kitchens Busan Food Tour with 10+ Tastings: $88
- Korean cooking class in Haeundae, Busan: $104
- Busan Local Food Cooking Class with Market Tour: $105
- Busan Tailored Korean cooking class (Vegan OK)with market tour: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Halong Bay $16Busan (Pusan) $18
Tours and Activities in Halong Bay
Here are a few actual costs in Halong Bay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Halong Bay UNESCO Cruise Tour: Sung Sot & Luon Cave, Titov Island: $1.79
- Cat Ba: Lan Ha Bay - Viet Hai Village - Kayaking Tours: $13
- Sunset Tour in Lan Ha Bay | 4-star Daiichi Cruise: $19
- Ha Long Bay Cruise Day Tour - best selling: Kayaking, Swimming, hiking & Lunch: $23
- Đón ở Cát Bà - Tour 3 tiếng ngắm Hoàng Hôn: $23
- Cat Ba Kayak Tour in Mangrove Forests and Explore Thien Long Cave: $24
- Sky Tour - Entertainment: $25
- Lan Ha Bay Cruise Day Tour : Kayaking, Swimming, Hiking & Lunch: $25
- Hanoi: Ha Long Bay Day Cruise with Lunch, Cave & Kayaking: $25
- Hanoi: Ha Long Bay Day Cruise: Cave Exploration - Swim and Kayak: $27
- From Cat Ba Island: Majestic Sunset Boat Tour Explore Lan Ha Bay: $27
- Most favorite full day boat tour with kayaking in Lan Ha bay, Ha Long bay: $27
Tours and Activities in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
- Busan Dynamic Maze Discount Ticket Foreigner Only: $12
- Museum 1 Exhibition Ticket in Busan (내국인 불가): $12
- Busan Running Man Themed Activity Experience Ticket (내국인불가): $12
- Busan Job Experience Theme Park Ticket for Kid: $14
- Night View Experience in Busan in Small Group Tour: $25
- South Korea: Skyline Luge Busan Entry Ticket: $30
- Authentic Busan Full-Day City Highlights Tour: $31
- Korean Serenity Incense Tea and Meditation Experience: $34
- Busan Tour: Sky Capsule, Gamcheon, Haeundae Blueline Park & more: $38
- Gyeongju UNESCO World Heritage Guided Day Tour from Busan: $39
- Busan 9 Highlights Tour: $40
- From Busan to Gyeongju UNESCO Authentic Tour: $41
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHalong Bay $12Busan (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 Halong Bay and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Busan (Pusan) is more expensive. And not only is Halong Bay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Halong Bay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Halong Bay 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 Halong Bay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Halong Bay Expensive? and Is Busan (Pusan) Expensive?.
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.