Which place is cheaper, Busan (Pusan) or Istanbul?
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 Istanbul or Busan (Pusan)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Busan (Pusan), this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Istanbul or Busan (Pusan)?
Istanbul
Istanbul is strategically located on the Bosphorus and is split between Europe and Asia. It truly is a city where east meets west. Istanbul is the cultural and financial hub of Turkey, and also the most populous city. The sites are countless and there's something for everybody, whether you're interested in art, music, food, or adventure. You can pass many days exploring both the residential and commercial pockets of this city. Much of the appeal is hidden away along back alleys or within corner shops.
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 in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to South Korea, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul.
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Istanbul Prices
Turkey PricesBusan (Pusan) Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $154Busan (Pusan) $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $154, 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 Istanbul and Busan (Pusan) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $71Busan (Pusan) $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $142Busan (Pusan) $78
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Busan (Pusan)
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul 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: Istanbul Hotel Prices and Busan (Pusan) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $33Busan (Pusan) $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Metro Cards$4.43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Istanbul VIP Shopping Experience with Transfers and Refreshments: $9.00
- Princess Islands Day Trip w Hotel Transfer & Lunch: $18
- Istanbul Princes Island Tour with Lunch & Hotel Transfer: $20
- istanbul airport transfer: $24
- Princes Islands Tour with Hotel Transfer & Lunch: $24
- Transfer Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL) to City Center: $28
- Transfer Istanbul City Center to Istanbul Ataturk Airport: $28
- Istanbul Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $30
- Private Istanbul Airport Transfer to Blue Mosque Sultan Ahmet: $30
- Hotel to Ist Istanbul Airport Transfer: $30
- Istanbul Airport Private Departure Transfer: $31
- Istanbul Airport Private Transfer: $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Busan (Pusan):
- Busan Airport (PUS) to Busan Hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $62
- Busan hotels to Busan Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $62
- 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 Int Airport(PUS): $65
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan city hotels: $65
- Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) to Busan - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Busan to Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $68
- Busan Private Transfer: Airport & KTX Stn. to/from Hotel in Busan: $79
- Busan Airport and KTX Station Transfer Service: $79
- Private Airport, Train Station & Hotel Transfer Service in Busan: $80
- Private VIP Airport or Hotel Transfers in Busan: $300
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Busan (Pusan)?
Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) and Istanbul 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 dayIstanbul $57Busan (Pusan) $44
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Istanbul Food Tour 30 Tasting Stops with Audio Maps Written Guide: $8.00
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour With Turkish Night Show: $23
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour: $23
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Optional 4 Course Dinner: $25
- Budget Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Party: $30
- Bosphorus Night Cruise: Dinner, Drinks & Hotel Pickup: $30
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Folk Dance and Live Performances: $30
- Istanbul Luxury Bosphorus View Tavern Dinner & Belly Dance Show: $30
- İstanbul Mega Lüfer Dinner Cruise Bosphorus and Show - Pvt. Table: $30
- Bosphorus Turkish Night Show and Dinner Cruise with Private Table: $31
- Bosphorus Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Private Table: $32
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Night Show: $33
Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
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McDonald's$4.46
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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).
- Autumn Special: 2 Activities + Dinner Only 4 Exclusive Dates: $50
- Kimchi Kitchens Busan Food Tour with 10+ Tastings: $88
- Vegan Friendly Korean Food Cooking Class: $100
- Busan Seafood Tour : Jagalchi market Seafood Tour & Dinner: $110
- Busan Local Food Cooking Class with Market Tour: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $37Busan (Pusan) $20
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: Hidden Stories & Secret Places: $4.00
- Istanbul Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.22
- Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Istanbul Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h and 22 audio reviews: $6.39
- Walking Tour in Istanbul with Audio and Written Guide Balat&Asia: $8.00
- Istanbul Highlights Self guided scavenger hunt and Walking Tour: $8.30
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tour with Audio Guide: $8.31
- Istanbul Istiklal Street Story Self Guided Audio GPS Walking Tour: $9.99
- Istanbul Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $10
- Ihlamur Pavilion Skip-the-Line Ticket with Audio Guide: $11
- Istanbul Bosphorus and Golden Horn Cruise With Audio Guide: $12
- Enjoy Istanbul’s Bosphorus:2-Hour Daytime, Sunset & Night Cruises: $12
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 Blueline Park Sky Capsule or Beach Train Ticket: $14
- Busan Job Experience Theme Park Ticket for Kid: $15
- Busan Sky Tower Admission Ticket: $20
- Busan Yacht Tour – Gwangan Bridge & Marine City Cruise: $22
- Busan Tour: Haeundae Blueline Park, Yonggungsa, Gamcheon & more: $25
- Night View Experience in Busan in Small Group Tour: $25
- Vaunce Universe Busan Ticket: $26
- Busan Skyline Luge E Ticket: $28
- Authentic Busan Full-Day City Highlights Tour: $34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $10Busan (Pusan) $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus in Sultanahmet and Taksim: $31
- Pub Crawl Original Istanbul Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $31
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $78
- Istanbul Highlights Expert Guided Tour With Syriac Wine Tasting: $120
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries: $212
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 Istanbul and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Busan (Pusan) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul is in Europe 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 Busan (Pusan) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Busan (Pusan) 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 Istanbul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Istanbul than you might in Busan (Pusan).
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Busan (Pusan) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Busan (Pusan)?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Busan (Pusan). When comparing the sizes of Istanbul 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.
When is the best time to visit Istanbul or Busan (Pusan)?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Istanbul or Busan (Pusan) in the Summer?
Both Busan (Pusan) and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Istanbul because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Istanbul is around the same temperature as Busan (Pusan). Typically, the summer temperatures in Istanbul in July average around 24°C (74°F), and Busan (Pusan) averages at about 25°C (77°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Istanbul. Istanbul usually receives more sunshine than Busan (Pusan) during summer. Istanbul gets 333 hours of sunny skies, while Busan (Pusan) receives 166 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Busan (Pusan). In July, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Busan (Pusan). Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 257 mm (10.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIstanbul 24°C (74°F)Busan (Pusan) 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Busan (Pusan) in the Autumn?
Both Busan (Pusan) and Istanbul during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year.
In October, Istanbul is generally cooler than Busan (Pusan). Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 16°C (61°F), and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
In Busan (Pusan), it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Busan (Pusan). Istanbul gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Busan (Pusan) receives 202 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets more rain in October than Busan (Pusan). Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIstanbul 16°C (61°F)Busan (Pusan) 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Busan (Pusan) in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Busan (Pusan). Many travelers come to Istanbul for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Busan (Pusan) can get quite cold in the winter. Istanbul is much warmer than Busan (Pusan) in the winter. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 6°C (43°F) in January, and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Busan (Pusan) this time of the year. Istanbul usually receives less sunshine than Busan (Pusan) during winter. Istanbul gets 75 hours of sunny skies, while Busan (Pusan) receives 200 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Istanbul usually receives more rain than Busan (Pusan). Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIstanbul 6°C (43°F)Busan (Pusan) 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Busan (Pusan) in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Busan (Pusan). Many visitors come to Istanbul in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Istanbul is around the same temperature as Busan (Pusan). Typically, the spring temperatures in Istanbul in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Busan (Pusan) averages at about 14°C (57°F).
In the spring, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Busan (Pusan). Istanbul gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Busan (Pusan) receives 196 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Busan (Pusan). Istanbul usually gets less rain in April than Busan (Pusan). Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIstanbul 13°C (55°F)Busan (Pusan) 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Busan (Pusan) and Istanbul
| Istanbul | Busan (Pusan) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
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.