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.
Jump to 
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 Historical Tours in Vietnam, The Best 10-Day Tours in Vietnam, The Best Tours for Seniors to South Korea, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul.
-
Ho Chi Minh City Prices
Vietnam PricesBusan (Pusan) Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHo Chi Minh City $88Busan (Pusan) $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Ho Chi Minh City is $88, 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
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHo Chi Minh City $48Busan (Pusan) $39
-
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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ho Chi Minh City $15Busan (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:
-
Short Taxi Ride$1.34
-
Taxi From Airport$7.66
-
Cyclo Ride (One Hour)$1.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ho Chi Minh City
Also for Ho Chi Minh City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Mui Ne Beach: Bus transfer from/to Saigon City: $8.00
- Ho Chi Minh: SGN Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $8.85
- 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
- Private Car Transfer: Cam Ranh Airport to Nha Trang City: $14
- Ho Chi Minh Airport: Private Transfer: $14
- Transfer from Ho Chi Minh to Phan Thiet or Mui Ne, Japan Quality: $14
- Ho Chi Minh City Private Airport Transfers: $14
- Ho Chi Minh Airport Arrival Or Departure Private Car Transfers: $15
- Ho Chi Minh Airport Arrival Or Departure By Private Car Transfers: $15
- Private Transfer From Saigon Center To Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN): $16
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
- Busan Private Transfer: Airport & KTX Stn. to/from Hotel in Busan: $79
- Busan Airport and KTX Station Transfer Service: $79
- Busan to Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $68
- Private Transfer from Busan hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $65
- Private Transfer from Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Port: $65
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan city hotels: $65
- Private Transfer from Busan City Hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $65
- Busan hotels to Busan Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $62
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
-
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:
-
Street Food Dinner (for Two)$4.10
-
Pizza$4.98
-
Sweet Rice$1.15
-
Pork Sandwich$0.57
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.50
-
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:
- Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour with Local LGBT Student Guide: $1.89
- Water Puppet Show And Dinner Cruise On Saigon River Private Tour: $1.89
- Ho Chi Minh City Local Street Food Tour With Local Students: $1.89
- Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour & Hidden Local Gems Sightseeing: $9.83
- Mekong With Cai Be Less Tourist - Cooking Class: $14
- 1 hour Egg Coffee Cooking Class with Snack and Local Instructor: $15
- Saigon Food Tour & Culture Explore Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour: $15
- Mekong Delta 4 Islands, TukTuk, Boat, Try Khot Cake Local Cooking: $16
- HCM: Mekong Delta Boat, Khotcake cooking Coconut Village: $16
- Saigon Sightseeing & Street Food Tour By scooter with Student: $20
- Saigon Scooter Adventure - City Sights & Street Food Tour: $21
- Ho Chi Minh city Walking Chinatown / HCM city walking food tour: $25
Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
-
McDonald's$4.46
-
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).
- Autumn Special: 2 Activities + Dinner Only 4 Exclusive Dates: $50
- Busan Seafood Tour : Jagalchi market Seafood Tour & Dinner: $110
- Korean cooking class in Haeundae, Busan: $110
- Busan Tailored Korean cooking class (Vegan OK)with market tour: $120
- Private Busan Culture and Food Tour with a Local Guide: $170
Entertainment
-
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:
-
Massage$5.36
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 – Ho Chi Minh City Free Walking Tour: $0.64
- Hidden Bunker & Vietnam War - Ho Chi Minh City Free Walking Tour: $0.64
- Pho-nomenal 10+ Tastings Saigon Street Food & Hidden Alleys Tour: $0.64
- Ghosts & Legends of Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City Night Walking Tour: $0.64
- Highlights & Hidden Gems - Free Walking Tour: $0.64
- Ho Chi Minh City private walking tours with young local volunteers: $1.81
- 2-Day Mekong Delta Tour: Can Tho Floating Market, Flower Village: $1.89
- Da Lat Highlights Highlands Heritage and Natural Wonders Tour: $1.89
- Ho Chi Minh City Sightseeing Panoramic Cyclo Private Tour: $1.89
- Cu Chi Tunnels and Handicraft Lacquer Workshop Experience Tour: $1.89
- Cu Chi Tunnels History And Mekong Delta Culture River Cruise Tour: $1.89
- Tan Lap Floating Village Authentic Mekong Delta Nature Tour: $1.89
Tours and Activities in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
- "Walking Tour: Busan local Experience + private guide: $60
- 7 Highlights Gyeongju City One Day Group Tour from Busan: $55
- A Comprehensive Small-Group Busan Tour with Hotel Pickup: $58
- Authentic Busan Full-Day City Highlights Tour: $35
- BTS Landmarks Private Car Tour in Busan with a Licensed Guide: $170
- Best of Busan Day Tour: Coast, Culture and Local Markets: $36
- Busan Blueline Park Sky Capsule or Beach Train Ticket: $14
- Busan City Top Attractions Tour with Haeundae Blueline Park: $35
- 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 with Guaranteed On-Time Return: $39
- Busan Daily Private Tour with Hotel Pickup: $150
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayHo Chi Minh City $7.65Busan (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:
-
Beer$0.38
Sample the Local Flavors in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ho Chi Minh City:
- Bike And Craft Beer Brewery Mekong Delta Cycling Tour: $152
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 Social Pub Crawl(Seomyeon&Gwangalli Beach): $23
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.