Which place is cheaper, Busan (Pusan) or Ho Chi Minh City?
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 Ho Chi Minh City or Busan (Pusan)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Ho Chi Minh City and Busan (Pusan) can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Ho Chi Minh City or Busan (Pusan)?
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam. It previously served as the capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). The metropolitan area, including Ho Chi Minh City, Thu Dau Mot, Di An, Bien Hoa, and other surrounding towns, has a population of more than 9 million people and continues to grow.
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 2-Week Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Vietnam, The Best Tours for Seniors to South Korea, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul.
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Ho Chi Minh City Prices
Vietnam PricesBusan (Pusan) Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHo Chi Minh City $87Busan (Pusan) $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Ho Chi Minh City is $87, while the average daily cost in Busan (Pusan) is $104. 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 Ho Chi Minh City and Busan (Pusan) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHo Chi Minh City $48Busan (Pusan) $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHo Chi Minh City $96Busan (Pusan) $78
Compare Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and Busan (Pusan)
Looking for a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City 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: Ho Chi Minh City Hotel Prices and Busan (Pusan) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ho Chi Minh City $14Busan (Pusan) $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ho Chi Minh City:
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Short Taxi Ride$1.33
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Taxi From Airport$7.58
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Cyclo Ride (One Hour)$1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ho Chi Minh City
Also for Ho Chi Minh City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Vietnam Fast Track + Private Transfer : $8.23
- Mui Ne Beach: Bus transfer from/to Saigon City: $8.67
- Transfer from Ho Chi Minh to Phan Thiet or Mui Ne, Japan Quality: $8.93
- Private transfer Tan Son Nhat airport - Hotels in Ho Chi Minh : $12
- Ho Chi Minh City airport transfer: $13
- Ho Chi Minh Airport Arrival Or Departure By Private Car Transfers: $13
- Ho Chi Minh Airport Arrival Or Departure Private Car Transfers: $15
- Private Departure Transfer: Ho Chi Minh City Hotels to Tan Son Nhat Airport: $15
- Private Arrival Transfer: Tan Son Nhat Airport to Ho Chi Minh City Hotels: $15
- Private Transfer From Saigon Center To Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN): $16
- Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) to Ho Chi Minh hotels Arrival Transfer: $17
- Ho Chi Minh to Ho Chi Minh City Airport (SGN) Departure Transfer: $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Busan (Pusan):
- Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) to Busan - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $137
- Busan Airport to Busan Hotels Round-Trip Private Transfer: $125
- Private Transfer Gaimhae Airport to Busan City: $85
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Hotels: $66
- Private Transfer from Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Port: $66
- Private Transfer from Busan Port to Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS): $66
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Int Airport(PUS): $66
- Private Transfer from Busan Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Cruise Port: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Ho Chi Minh City or Busan (Pusan)?
Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) and Ho Chi Minh City 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 dayHo Chi Minh City $23Busan (Pusan) $44
Typical Food Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ho Chi Minh City:
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Street Food Dinner (for Two)$4.06
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Pizza$4.93
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Sweet Rice$1.14
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Pork Sandwich$0.57
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.43
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Western Lunch (for Two)$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ho Chi Minh City
For Ho Chi Minh City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1 hour Egg Coffee Cooking Class with Snack and Local Instructor : $12
- Vietnamese Cooking and Craft Workshop by the Lake: $12
- Saigon Food Tour & Culture Explore Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour: $15
- Mekong Delta 4 Islands, TukTuk, Boat, Try Khot Cake Local Cooking: $20
- Saigon Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $25
- Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour On American Jeep/ Motorbike: $25
- Committed Non-Touristy Saigon Street Food Tour By Scooters/Car : $25
- HO CHI MINH Street Food Tour and Vietnamese Coffee: $25
- Street Food Tour In Ho Chi Minh City By Motorbike: $26
- Ho Chi Minh Scooter Adventure - City Sights & Street Food Tour: $27
- Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour With Students: $27
- Saigon - Tasty Food Tour By Scooters: $28
Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
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McDonald's$4.43
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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).
- Busan history and market food tour with local chef: $53
- Busan Tailored Korean cooking class (Vegan OK)with market tour: $95
- Busan seafood tour : Cod Auction and Clam Auction in Winter: $99
- Korean cooking class in Haeundae, Busan : $100
- Busan Local Food Cooking Class with Market Tour: $114
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ho Chi Minh City $19Busan (Pusan) $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
For Ho Chi Minh City, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Massage$5.31
Tours and Activities in Ho Chi Minh City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ho Chi Minh City.
- Chinatown Hidden Treasures – Free Walking Tour: $0.74
- All In One Saigon Walking Tour: $3.11
- Saigon Local Sightseeing Free Walking Tour: $3.84
- Ho Chi Minh Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.49
- Ho Chi Minh city private tour guide: $5.00
- Walking Tour: $5.00
- Essential Saigon Free Walking Tour: All Must-see: $5.00
- Free Walking Tour: Saigon's Sword and Shield: $5.00
- Essential Ho Chi Minh City Free Walking Tour: All Must-see: $5.00
- Night Bus Tour in Ho Chi Minh City: $7.50
- Ho Chi Minh City Tour and Independence Palace Ticket 2 in 1: $8.46
- Private Ho Chi Minh 30 minutes Experience by Electric Cart: $9.71
Tours and Activities in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
- "Walking Tour: Busan Foodie Experience + Live Like a Local": $73
- 1-DAY Busan and INCLUDED night tour: $220
- A well-rounded small group Busan tour with a certified guide: $58
- Authentic Busan Full-Day City Highlights Tour: $48
- Busan 4hr Private Walking Tour with Certified Guide: $228
- Busan 9 Highlights Tour: $40
- Busan CLUBD OASIS Spa and Water Park Ticket: $15
- 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 City Tour Including Haedong Yonggungsa Temple And APEC House: $290
- Busan Comfortable Private Tour For 4hours: $196
- Busan Comfortable Private Tour For 8hours: $251
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHo Chi Minh City $7.57Busan (Pusan) $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Ho Chi Minh City:
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Beer$0.38
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ho Chi Minh City and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Busan (Pusan) is more expensive. And not only is Ho Chi Minh City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ho Chi Minh City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ho Chi Minh City 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 Ho Chi Minh City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ho Chi Minh City Expensive? and Is Busan (Pusan) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ho Chi Minh City or Busan (Pusan)?
Busan (Pusan) has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Ho Chi Minh City. When comparing the sizes of Ho Chi Minh City 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.
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.