Which place is cheaper, Busan (Pusan) or Koh Lanta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Lanta 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 Koh Lanta 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: Koh Lanta or Busan (Pusan)?
Koh Lanta
Located on the southern coast of Thailand is a place populated by long beaches and diving hotspots. Consisting of several islands, Koh Lanta is a large island with nine beaches along the coast. The beautiful scenery makes this a quiet and relaxing spot for tourists. The crowds on this island tend to be older than the party-seekers on Ko Phi Phi so you'll find more activities like serene walks on the beach or travelers catching a sunset.
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 Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, 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 dayKoh Lanta $48Busan (Pusan) $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lanta is $48, 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 Koh Lanta and Busan (Pusan) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Lanta $24Busan (Pusan) $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Lanta $48Busan (Pusan) $78
Compare Hotels in Koh Lanta and Busan (Pusan)
Looking for a hotel in Koh Lanta 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: Koh Lanta Hotel Prices and Busan (Pusan) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Lanta $5.66Busan (Pusan) $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Lanta:
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Ferry from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lanta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lanta:
- One-Way Transfer from Koh Lanta to Krabi Town or Airport by Minivan: $11
- Pravate Transfer Lanta Island to Krabi Airport, Krabi Town, Ao nang: $74
- Koh Lanta :Krabi Airport Private Transfer:From Airport or Hotel: $111
- Koh lanta to phuket any hotel Private transfer: $171
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Busan (Pusan):
- Busan Airport to Busan Hotels Round-Trip Private Transfer: $120
- Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan - Arrival Private Transfer: $119
- Busan to Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $119
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Hotels: $84
- Private Transfer from Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Port: $79
- Private Transfer from Busan hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $84
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lanta or Busan (Pusan)?
Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) and Koh Lanta 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 dayKoh Lanta $11Busan (Pusan) $26
Typical Food Prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Lanta:
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Casual Breakfast$4.36
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Casual Lunch$7.36
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Casual Dinner$12
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Lanta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Koh Lanta.
- Cooking Experience at Lanta Thai Cookery School From Koh Lanta: $48
- Sukho Cuisine Thai Cooking School From Koh Lanta: $52
- Cooking Class and Market Tour at Lanta Thai Cookery School on Koh Lanta: $53
- Cooking Class & Market Tour with Thai Master Chef at Sukho Cuisine, Lanta: $62
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.Koh Lanta $31Busan (Pusan) $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Lanta
Here are a few typical costs in Koh Lanta for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Emerald Cave Tour$19
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Yoga Session (1 Hour)$9.55
Tours and Activities in Koh Lanta
Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lanta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half Day 2 Caves Ko Skull Tour Ko Lanta and Kayaking Ko Talabeng: $25
- Lanta 4 Islands + Emerald Cave Snorkeling Tour: $26
- Lanta 4 Islands tour (Longtail boat): $26
- 4 Island Tour to Emerald Cave by Longtail Boat from Koh Lanta: $28
- Half Day Mangrove Forest Kayaking Tour From Koh Lanta: $29
- Tung Yee Peng Mangrove Forest Tour By Longtail Boat From Koh Lanta: $30
- Lanta Mangrove Tour with Sea Cave Kayaking at Koh Talabeng: $30
- Koh Ngai, Koh Muk + Emerald Cave Snorkeling Tour by Classic Longtail Boat: $32
- Sea Cave and Mangrove Forest Kayaking Tour From Koh Lanta: $36
- Lanta Old Town and Mangrove Forest Sightseeing Tour: $40
- Snorkel Tour to Phi Phi Islands by Speed Boat from Koh Lanta: $42
- Koh Phi Phi Day Tour by Opal Travel Speedboat: $42
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 dayKoh Lanta $3.79Busan (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 Koh Lanta and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Busan (Pusan) is more expensive. And not only is Koh Lanta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Lanta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Lanta 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 Koh Lanta.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Lanta Expensive? and Is Busan (Pusan) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Lanta or Busan (Pusan)?
Busan (Pusan) has a larger population, and is about 600 times larger than the population of Koh Lanta. When comparing the sizes of Koh Lanta 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 Koh Lanta or Busan (Pusan)?
Busan (Pusan) has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Lanta experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Koh Lanta or Busan (Pusan) in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Lanta and Busan (Pusan). Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Lanta year-round.
Koh Lanta is around the same temperature as Busan (Pusan) in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Lanta averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
In Koh Lanta, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Lanta usually receives more sunshine than Busan (Pusan) during summer. Koh Lanta gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Busan (Pusan) receives 166 hours of full sun in the summer.
Busan (Pusan) receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Lanta gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koh Lanta usually receives around the same amount of rain as Busan (Pusan). Koh Lanta gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 257 mm (10.1 in) of rain each month for the summer. Also, June to September is the rainy season in Koh Lanta.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Lanta 27°C (81°F)Busan (Pusan) 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Koh Lanta or Busan (Pusan) in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Lanta as well as Busan (Pusan). Koh Lanta attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Koh Lanta is much warmer than Busan (Pusan). Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Lanta in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Busan (Pusan) averages at about 18°C (65°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Busan (Pusan). In the autumn, Koh Lanta often gets less sunshine than Busan (Pusan). Koh Lanta gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Busan (Pusan) receives 202 hours of full sun.
Koh Lanta receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Lanta usually gets more rain in October than Busan (Pusan). Koh Lanta gets 281 mm (11.1 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 OctoberKoh Lanta 27°C (81°F)Busan (Pusan) 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Koh Lanta or Busan (Pusan) in the Winter?
Both Busan (Pusan) and Koh Lanta are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Lanta throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Busan (Pusan). In January, Koh Lanta is generally much warmer than Busan (Pusan). Daily temperatures in Koh Lanta average around 27°C (80°F), and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
It's quite sunny in Busan (Pusan). The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Lanta. Koh Lanta usually receives more sunshine than Busan (Pusan) during winter. Koh Lanta gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Busan (Pusan) receives 200 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Koh Lanta usually receives more rain than Busan (Pusan). Koh Lanta gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Koh Lanta is January to April.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Lanta 27°C (80°F)Busan (Pusan) 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Koh Lanta or Busan (Pusan) in the Spring?
Both Busan (Pusan) and Koh Lanta during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Lanta because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Koh Lanta is much warmer than Busan (Pusan) in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Lanta averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
It's quite sunny in Koh Lanta. In the spring, Koh Lanta often gets more sunshine than Busan (Pusan). Koh Lanta gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Busan (Pusan) receives 196 hours of full sun.
Busan (Pusan) gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Lanta. Koh Lanta usually gets less rain in April than Busan (Pusan). Koh Lanta gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year. January to April is the dry season in Koh Lanta. June to September is the rainy season in Koh Lanta.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Lanta 29°C (85°F)Busan (Pusan) 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Busan (Pusan) and Koh Lanta
| Koh Lanta | Busan (Pusan) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 355 mm (14 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 116 mm (4.6 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.