Which place is cheaper, Busan (Pusan) or Jakarta?
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 Jakarta or Busan (Pusan)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Jakarta and Busan (Pusan). We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Jakarta or Busan (Pusan)?
Jakarta
As Indonesia's capital and largest city, Jakarta rests on the northwest coast of the island of Java. It is the country's economic, cultural, and political center with plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, nightlife, shopping, and entertainment.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to South Korea, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul.
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Jakarta Prices
Indonesia PricesBusan (Pusan) Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJakarta $68Busan (Pusan) $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Jakarta is $68, 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 Jakarta and Busan (Pusan) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJakarta $30Busan (Pusan) $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJakarta $60Busan (Pusan) $78
Compare Hotels in Jakarta and Busan (Pusan)
Looking for a hotel in Jakarta 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: Jakarta Hotel Prices and Busan (Pusan) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jakarta $18Busan (Pusan) $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jakarta
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jakarta are as follows:
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Taxi to Station$0.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jakarta
Also for Jakarta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Airport Soekarno Hatta (CGK) to All City Destination: $13
- All-inclusive Private Jakarta Airport Transfer: $15
- Jakarta Airport Transfer Service: $20
- Private Transfer from Soekarno Hatta Airport to Jakarta Hotels: $22
- Private Hotel Transfer Service to Airport Jakarta: $22
- Jakarta Private Airport Transfer: $25
- Airport Jakarta, Private Transfer: $26
- Airport Transfer Jakarta - Bogor: $27
- Jakarta Airport Transfer for Small/Big Group: $28
- Private Airport Transfer: Hotel → Jakarta Airport (CGK): $30
- Soekarno Hatta Int. Airport To Bogor city ( Private Transfer ): $30
- Airport Transfer Jakarta ( Private Car ): $30
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 Airport to Busan Hotels Round-Trip Private Transfer: $124
- Busan Private Transfer: Airport & KTX Stn. to/from Hotel in Busan: $79
- Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) to Busan - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Busan to Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $68
- Private Transfer from Busan hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $66
- Private Transfer from Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Port: $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
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan city hotels: $66
- Busan hotels to Busan Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $62
Is it cheaper to fly into Jakarta or Busan (Pusan)?
Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) and Jakarta 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 dayJakarta $26Busan (Pusan) $44
Typical Food Prices in Jakarta
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jakarta:
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Dinner$2.46
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Dinner$0.67
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jakarta
For Jakarta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Mangga Besar Food Tour: $49
- Jakarta Night Tour with Dinner at Café or Food street: $50
- Kota Tua Food Tour: $64
- Melawai Night Street Food Tour: $67
- Halfday Batavia by Night with dinner at Cafe Batavia & souvenir: $120
- Jakarta Private Cooking Class and Experience Tour: $120
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
- Busan Bites Food Tour with 10+ Tastings: $88
- Kimchi Kitchens Busan Food Tour with 10+ Tastings: $88
- Busan Seafood Tour : Jagalchi market Seafood Tour & Dinner: $110
- Busan Local Food Cooking Class with Market Tour: $114
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jakarta $11Busan (Pusan) $20
Tours and Activities in Jakarta
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jakarta.
- Ancol Entrance Gate Entry Ticket: $4.03
- Gondola Ancol Entry Ticket: $4.84
- Jakarta City Center: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Atlantis Water Adventures at Ancol Entry Ticket: $9.69
- Jakarta Aquarium Safari Admission Ticket: $11
- Dunia Fantasi at Ancol Entry Ticket: $20
- Watercolor & Wellness : A Healing Art Therapy Experience: $27
- Jakarta Culture and History Walking Tour: $33
- Jakarta Private Custom Walking Tour with A Guide: $37
- Experience Jakarta Street Food Scene with MRT Transportation: $40
- Highlights of Jakarta City : Half-Day Tour All around Jakarta: $42
- 3 Hours Jakarta City Tour (Jakarta's Iconic Places): $45
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: $59
- 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: $34
- BTS Landmarks Private Car Tour in Busan with a Licensed Guide: $170
- Best of Busan Day Tour: Coast, Culture and Local Markets: $36
- Busan City Top Attractions Tour with Haeundae Blueline Park: $34
- Busan Cruise Port – Premium Small Group Tour (Max 6 Guests): $99
- Busan Cruise Shore Excursion with Guaranteed On-Time Return: $48
- Busan Cruise Shore Excursion: City Highlights and Food Taste Tour: $73
- Busan Daily Private Tour with Hotel Pickup: $150
- Busan Dynamic Maze Discount Ticket Foreigner Only: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJakarta $3.80Busan (Pusan) $12
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: $23
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jakarta and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Busan (Pusan) is more expensive. And not only is Jakarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jakarta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jakarta 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 Jakarta.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jakarta Expensive? and Is Busan (Pusan) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jakarta or Busan (Pusan)?
Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Busan (Pusan). When comparing the sizes of Jakarta 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.