Which place is cheaper, Busan (Pusan) or Karachi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Karachi or Busan (Pusan)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Karachi or Busan (Pusan)? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Karachi or Busan (Pusan)?
Karachi
Karachi is the capital of the Pakistani province of Sindh. It is the most populous city in Pakistan, and sixth most populous city proper in the world. Karachi, located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, is the financial and commercial center of the nation, as well as its largest port. The pace of life here is more hurried, and social attitudes are far more liberal than elsewhere in Pakistan. Locals call it the City of Lights, the City of The Quaid, and the City that Never Sleeps. The city credits its growth to the mixed populations of economic and political migrants along with refugees from different national, provincial, linguistic and religious origins, who generally come to the city to settle permanently.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Pakistan, The Best Historical Tours in Pakistan, The Best Tours for Seniors to South Korea, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKarachi $26Busan (Pusan) $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Karachi is $26, while the average daily cost in Busan (Pusan) is $86. 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 Karachi and Busan (Pusan) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKarachi $11Busan (Pusan) $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKarachi $22Busan (Pusan) $78
Compare Hotels in Karachi and Busan (Pusan)
Looking for a hotel in Karachi 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: Karachi Hotel Prices and Busan (Pusan) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Karachi $4.58Busan (Pusan) $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Busan (Pusan):
- Private Transfer from Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Port: $79
- Private Transfer from Busan hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $84
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Hotels: $84
- Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan - Arrival Private Transfer: $119
- Busan to Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $119
- Busan Airport to Busan Hotels Round-Trip Private Transfer: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Karachi or Busan (Pusan)?
Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) and Karachi 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 dayKarachi $11Busan (Pusan) $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Karachi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Karachi.
- Private Karachi Street Food Tour: $94
- Half-Day Karachi Burns Road Private Victoria Ride with Dinner: $100
- Street Food Tour of Karachi: $199
Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
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McDonald's$4.48
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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: $49
- Korean cooking class in Haeundae, Busan : $95
- Busan Seafood Tour & Dinner with Busan Oppa: $105
- Kkakdugi(Korean radish Kimchi) Cooking class at Busan : $110
- Enjoy tailored Korean cooking class with Ocean view at Busan: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Karachi $5.07Busan (Pusan) $20
Tours and Activities in Karachi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Karachi are as follows:
- Karachi City Tour : $129
- UNESCO World Heritage Tour Near Karachi : $150
- Karachi Sightseeing Private tour: $159
- Full Day Private Tour in Karachi City: $161
- Full Day Private Tour to Mohatta Palace Zainab and Burns road: $195
- Experience local village life in Sindh: $200
Tours and Activities in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
- Busan Running Man Themed Activity Experience Ticket (내국인불가): $8.00
- Fun & Informative Busan in Korea Virtual Tour : $12
- Museum 1 Exhibition Ticket in Busan (내국인 불가): $13
- The Way of Tea - Experience: $38
- Full-Day Tour Unmissable things to do in Busan: $41
- Full-Day Busan City Tour: $51
- Full day Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Tour from Busan: $60
- Romantic Jinhae Cherry Blossom Night Tour - Depart from Busan: $65
- Tour to Busan Highlights Hydrangea, Songdo and Gamcheon : $67
- Old Korea Thousand History Tour of Gyeongju from Busan: $67
- West Busan Small Group Photo Tour (Max 7): $68
- Busan Night Small Group Photo Tour (Max 7): $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKarachi $3.35Busan (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 Pub Crawl: $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Karachi and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Busan (Pusan) is more expensive. And not only is Karachi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Karachi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Karachi 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 Karachi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Karachi Expensive? and Is Busan (Pusan) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Karachi or Busan (Pusan)?
Karachi has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Busan (Pusan). When comparing the sizes of Karachi 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 Karachi 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 Karachi or Busan (Pusan) in the Summer?
Both Busan (Pusan) and Karachi are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
In the summer, Karachi is a little warmer than Busan (Pusan). Typically, the summer temperatures in Karachi in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Busan (Pusan) averages at about 25°C (77°F).
Karachi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Busan (Pusan) during summer. Karachi gets 155 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, Karachi usually receives less rain than Busan (Pusan). Karachi gets 30 mm (1.2 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 JulyKarachi 30°C (86°F)Busan (Pusan) 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Karachi or Busan (Pusan) in the Autumn?
Both Busan (Pusan) and Karachi during the autumn are popular places to visit.
In October, Karachi is generally much warmer than Busan (Pusan). Daily temperatures in Karachi average around 29°C (84°F), and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
In Busan (Pusan), it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Karachi. In the autumn, Karachi often gets more sunshine than Busan (Pusan). Karachi gets 284 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Busan (Pusan) receives 202 hours of full sun.
Karachi usually gets less rain in October than Busan (Pusan). Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 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 OctoberKarachi 29°C (84°F)Busan (Pusan) 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Karachi or Busan (Pusan) in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Karachi and Busan (Pusan).
The weather in Busan (Pusan) can be very cold. Karachi is much warmer than Busan (Pusan) in the winter. The daily temperature in Karachi averages around 19°C (66°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. In Karachi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Karachi usually receives more sunshine than Busan (Pusan) during winter. Karachi gets 271 hours of sunny skies, while Busan (Pusan) receives 200 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Karachi usually receives less rain than Busan (Pusan). Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 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 JanuaryKarachi 19°C (66°F)Busan (Pusan) 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Karachi or Busan (Pusan) in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Karachi as well as Busan (Pusan).
In the spring, Karachi is much warmer than Busan (Pusan). Typically, the spring temperatures in Karachi in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Busan (Pusan) averages at about 14°C (57°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Karachi this time of the year. In the spring, Karachi often gets more sunshine than Busan (Pusan). Karachi gets 277 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Busan (Pusan) receives 196 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Busan (Pusan). Karachi usually gets less rain in April than Busan (Pusan). Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 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 AprilKarachi 29°C (84°F)Busan (Pusan) 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Busan (Pusan) and Karachi
| Karachi | Busan (Pusan) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (86°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.