Which place is cheaper, Busan (Pusan) or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu 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.
Kota Kinabalu, originally Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah, which is on the northern part of the island of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu is located just between the western side of the island and Tambunan Rafflesia Forest Reserve. Most of Kota Kinabalu's historic buildings were destroyed by bombing during World War II, so the city had to be rebuilt. KK, as it's commonly called, is a compact, but booming town today, with its new shopping centers, seaside condominiums, and bustling marketplaces.
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 Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to South Korea, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, 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 Kota Kinabalu and Busan (Pusan) in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Busan (Pusan):
Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) and Kota Kinabalu 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Busan (Pusan).
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
Also in Busan (Pusan), these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Busan (Pusan) is more expensive. And not only is Kota Kinabalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kota Kinabalu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kota Kinabalu 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 Kota Kinabalu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive? and Is Busan (Pusan) Expensive?.
Busan (Pusan) has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu 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.
Busan (Pusan) has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kota Kinabalu experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Both Busan (Pusan) and Kota Kinabalu are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.
In July, Kota Kinabalu is generally around the same temperature as Busan (Pusan). Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Busan (Pusan) during summer. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 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). It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In July, Kota Kinabalu usually receives around the same amount of rain as Busan (Pusan). Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 257 mm (10.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Busan (Pusan) and Kota Kinabalu during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Busan (Pusan) in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
In Busan (Pusan), it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Busan (Pusan). Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Busan (Pusan) receives 202 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in October than Busan (Pusan). Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Busan (Pusan). Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
The weather in Busan (Pusan) can be very cold. In the winter, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Busan (Pusan). Typically, the winter temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Busan (Pusan) averages at about 3°C (38°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Busan (Pusan) this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Busan (Pusan) during winter. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Busan (Pusan) receives 200 hours of full sun in the winter.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Busan (Pusan). Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Busan (Pusan). Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Busan (Pusan). Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 28°C (82°F), and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. In the spring, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Busan (Pusan). Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Busan (Pusan) receives 196 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Busan (Pusan). Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kota Kinabalu usually gets less rain in April than Busan (Pusan). Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
Kota Kinabalu | Busan (Pusan) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) |
Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |