Which place is cheaper, Busan (Pusan) or Kathmandu?
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 Kathmandu or Busan (Pusan)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kathmandu and Busan (Pusan) can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Kathmandu or Busan (Pusan)?
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.
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 Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best Tours for Seniors to South Korea, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul.
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Kathmandu Prices
Nepal PricesBusan (Pusan) Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKathmandu $55Busan (Pusan) $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Kathmandu is $55, while the average daily cost in Busan (Pusan) is $96. 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 Kathmandu and Busan (Pusan) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKathmandu $35Busan (Pusan) $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKathmandu $70Busan (Pusan) $72
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and Busan (Pusan)
Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu 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: Kathmandu Hotel Prices and Busan (Pusan) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kathmandu $6.09Busan (Pusan) $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:
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Taxi Ride$1.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Tribhuvan International Airport Transfer Service: $12
- Airport Transfers in Kathmandu – Pickup OR Drop-Off Service: $15
- Private car transfer from Kathmandu Airport to hotels in Kathmandu: $15
- Kathmandu - Private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport: $15
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfer: Arrival or Departure Service: $15
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfers: $16
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfer Service: $17
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Hotels to Domestic Airport Vehicle: $20
- Deluxe Toyota Coaster Mini Bus Transfer From Kathmandu to Pokhara or V. V.: $22
- Rent a Private Car with Driver for Kathmandu City Transfer: $25
- Kathmandu Airport Transfer: $30
- Kathmandu to Nagarkot One Way Transfer by Private AC Car: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Busan (Pusan):
- Private Transfer – Anywhere in Busan, including Airport & Station: $65
- Private Transfer from Busan Port to Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS): $65
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Int Airport(PUS): $65
- Busan Private Transfer: Airport & KTX Stn. to/from Hotel in Busan: $79
- Private Transfer From Busan to Incheon or Seoul or GyeongJu city: $100
- Busan Airport to Busan Hotels Round-Trip Private Transfer: $123
- Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) to Busan - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $135
Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or Busan (Pusan)?
Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) and Kathmandu 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 dayKathmandu $13Busan (Pusan) $41
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.18
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Dinner for Two$2.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Local Foodie Food Tour around Durbar Square: $15
- Cultural Stay in Kathmandu and experience dinner with family: $18
- Home Made Authentic Nepali Dinner (veg/non vegg): $18
- Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo-Making Class: $20
- Authentic Private Nepali Cooking Class in Kathmandu: $23
- Cook and Eat: Cooking Class in Kathmandu near Thamel: $24
- Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip: $30
- Momo Cooking Class -The Art Of Making MoMo with Home Chef: $35
- Walking Food Tour in Hidden Local Eateries of Kathmandu: $36
- Women Empowerment Project(Nepali cooking class & jewelry workshop: $50
- Cooking Class with HSJ: $60
- Half Day Nepal Cooking Class in Thamel: $60
Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
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McDonald's$4.10
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Carp Bread$0.66
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Busan (Pusan)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Busan (Pusan).
- Busan Traditional Market Food Tour: $48
- Busan Bites Food Tour with 10+ Tastings: $88
- Vegan Friendly Korean Food Cooking Class: $100
- Korean cooking class in Haeundae, Busan: $104
- Busan Local Food Cooking Class with Market Tour: $106
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kathmandu $7.04Busan (Pusan) $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Monkey Temple for Two$1.32
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.29
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.32
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- Full Day Private Tour of Seven World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu: $5.00
- Private Chandragiri Cable Car and The Monkey Temple Tour: $5.00
- Full Day Guided Tour in Kathmandu: $5.00
- All Seven UNESCO Sightseeing Tour in Kathmandu Valley: $5.00
- Chandragiri Cable Car Ride & Monkey Temple Tour - Private/Group: $5.00
- From 2 Stupas & Kopan Monastery Spiritual Tour: $7.00
- Private Full Day Kathmandu Day Tour | Top 4 UNESCO Heritage Sites: $9.50
- Private World Heritage Sites Tour/ 4 UNESCO Tour.: $10
- Full Day 7 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $10
- Monkey Temple - Swayambhunath Tour - Private/Small Group: $11
- Kathmandu to Pokhara Premium sofa bus ticket: $12
- Kathmandu to Chitwan luxurious tourist bus tickets reservation: $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
- Busan Running Man Themed Activity Experience Ticket (내국인불가): $12
- Museum 1 Exhibition Ticket in Busan (내국인 불가): $12
- Busan Job Experience Theme Park Ticket for Kid: $14
- Busan CLUBD OASIS Spa and Water Park Ticket: $17
- Busan Vaunce Trampoline Yongho W Center Discount Ticket(내국인불가): $21
- Authentic Busan Full-Day City Highlights Tour: $31
- Busan Tour: Sky Capsule, Gamcheon, Haeundae Blueline Park & more: $38
- Busan 9 Highlights Tour: $40
- Old Korea Thousand History Tour of Gyeongju from Busan: $41
- Busan Night One Day Tour Maximum 7 Pax: $41
- From Busan to Gyeongju UNESCO Authentic Tour: $41
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKathmandu $5.06Busan (Pusan) $11
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 with Traditional Korean Pub Experience: $23
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kathmandu and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Busan (Pusan) is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kathmandu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kathmandu Expensive? and Is Busan (Pusan) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or Busan (Pusan)?
Busan (Pusan) has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kathmandu. When comparing the sizes of Kathmandu 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.