Which place is cheaper, Busan (Pusan) or Kuala Lumpur?
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 Kuala Lumpur 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 Kuala Lumpur 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: Kuala Lumpur or Busan (Pusan)?
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, often referred to as KL, is the cosmopolitan capital of Malaysia. It is also the largest city in the country, having grown out of a small Chinese mining village. Today Kuala Lumpur is a microcosm of the country of Malaysia. The population is split between the Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures which you can see reflected in the city's neighborhoods, cuisine, and entertainment. It's also a fairly affordable city by global standards, even if you're looking for the comforts of a five star hotel or a luxury restaurant. Prices are almost always a fraction of what you would pay in Europe or the United States.
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 Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to South Korea, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul.
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Kuala Lumpur Prices
Malaysia PricesBusan (Pusan) Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKuala Lumpur $86Busan (Pusan) $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Kuala Lumpur is $86, 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 Kuala Lumpur and Busan (Pusan) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKuala Lumpur $43Busan (Pusan) $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKuala Lumpur $86Busan (Pusan) $72
Compare Hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Busan (Pusan)
Looking for a hotel in Kuala Lumpur 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: Kuala Lumpur Hotel Prices and Busan (Pusan) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kuala Lumpur $7.45Busan (Pusan) $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$3.69
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Metro Ride (for Two)$0.79
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Short Taxi Ride$3.69
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Taxi From Airport$22
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Bus from Airport$1.97
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Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$2.95
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Train to Airport$1.20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kuala Lumpur
Also for Kuala Lumpur, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer KLIA1/KLIA2: $13
- Kuala Lumpur Airport Private Transfer From or To All Kuala Lumpur: $15
- Exclusive Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer: $17
- Private Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $17
- Private Kuala Lumpur Airport Arrival Transfer: $17
- Private: Kuala Lumpur Departure Transfer: $17
- PVT Departure Transfer Kuala Lumpur to KLIA 1/2: $17
- PVT Arrival TransferKLIA 1/2 to Kuala Lumpur: $17
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer to City Hotels: $17
- Kuala Lumpur City to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer: $18
- Kuala Lumpur Hotel to Airport Transfer: $18
- Kuala Lumpur Airport Arrival Transfer: $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Busan (Pusan):
- Private Transfer from Busan hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $64
- Private Transfer from Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Port: $64
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan city hotels: $64
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Hotels: $64
- Private Transfer from Busan City Hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $64
- Private Transfer From Busan to Incheon or Seoul or GyeongJu city: $100
- Busan Private Transfer: Airport & KTX Stn. to/from Hotel in Busan: $79
Is it cheaper to fly into Kuala Lumpur or Busan (Pusan)?
Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) and Kuala Lumpur 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 dayKuala Lumpur $30Busan (Pusan) $41
Typical Food Prices in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner at Ding Tai Fung$9.83
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Roti Bread$0.25
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Food Court Lunch$3.54
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Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)$5.28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Night Tour Batu Caves and South Indian Dinner: $20
- From Batu Caves Night Tour + Indian Set Dinner: $28
- Nightlife Street Food Tour with 6 Tastings: $41
- Sambal Street Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $52
- Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Laksa Lanes Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
- Malaysia Cooking Class With Local (Hands-On!): $60
- Kuala Lumpur Food Tour: $60
- Spiritual Healing and Authentic Cooking with Local Host: $61
- Kuala Selangor Fireflies & Blue Tears Guided Tour w Dinner (SIC): $62
- Kuala Selangor Fireflies Tour Include Seafood Dinner (Free Boat Ride): $65
- 'Kelip Kelip' Fireflies & Batu Caves Tour include Seafood Dinner & Boat Ride: $65
Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
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McDonald's$4.13
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Carp Bread$0.67
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: $50
- Busan Market Jokbal Dinner Beach Experience Tour: $75
- Busan Bites Food Tour with 10+ Tastings: $88
- Kimchi Kitchens Busan Food Tour with 10+ Tastings: $88
- Busan Local Food Cooking Class with Market Tour: $108
- Busan Seafood Tour : Jagalchi market Seafood Tour & Dinner: $110
- Busan Tailored Korean cooking class (Vegan OK)with market tour: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kuala Lumpur $16Busan (Pusan) $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kuala Lumpur's activities, tours, and tickets:
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KL Tower Admission (for Two)$11
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Canopy Walk at FRIM Forest Reserve$1.23
Tours and Activities in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Kuala Lumpur at Your Own Pace: The Complete Self-Guided Tour: $1.14
- Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park Ticket with Unlimited Rides: $5.54
- Genting Highlands Premium Outlets Cable Car Ticket: $6.40
- Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Pass: $7.41
- Kuala Lumpur Half Day City Guided Tour (SIC/Shared Tour): $8.00
- KL Tower Admission E-Ticket with Options: $8.65
- Museum Of Illusions Standard Admission Ticket: $9.88
- Selangor: Zoo Negara E-Ticket: $11
- Aquaria KLCC Entry Ticket: $11
- Malaysia Cruise Tasik Putrajaya: $12
- Kuala Lumpur NU Sentral Breakout Escape Game Entry Ticket: $12
- Kuala Lumpur's Cultural Highlights and Landmarks: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
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: $56
- (Guaranteed Return) Busan Shore Excursion for Cruise Guests: $68
- (On-Time Return) Busan Cruise Shore Excursion for Small Group: $89
- (Return Assurance) Busan Small Group Cruise Shore Excursion: $80
- 7 Highlights Gyeongju City One Day Group Tour from Busan: $65
- A Comprehensive Small-Group Busan Tour with Hotel Pickup: $58
- Authentic Busan Full-Day City Highlights Tour: $32
- Busan 9 Highlights Tour: $40
- Busan City Top Attractions Tour with Haeundae Blueline Park: $32
- Busan City Tour - Haedong Yonggung Temple And Shopping in Lotte Premium Outlet: $289
- Busan City Tour Including Haedong Yonggungsa Temple And APEC House: $290
- Busan Cruise Port – Premium Small Group Tour (Max 6 Guests): $99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKuala Lumpur $6.80Busan (Pusan) $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$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 Social Pub Crawl: $22
When comparing the travel costs between Kuala Lumpur and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Busan (Pusan) is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kuala Lumpur Expensive? and Is Busan (Pusan) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kuala Lumpur or Busan (Pusan)?
Busan (Pusan) has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kuala Lumpur. When comparing the sizes of Kuala Lumpur 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 Kuala Lumpur or Busan (Pusan)?
Busan (Pusan) has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kuala Lumpur experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Busan (Pusan) in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kuala Lumpur as well as Busan (Pusan). Kuala Lumpur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Kuala Lumpur is a little warmer than Busan (Pusan). Typically, the summer temperatures in Kuala Lumpur in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Busan (Pusan) averages at about 25°C (77°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kuala Lumpur this time of the year. In the summer, Kuala Lumpur often gets more sunshine than Busan (Pusan). Kuala Lumpur gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Busan (Pusan) receives 166 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Busan (Pusan). Kuala Lumpur receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kuala Lumpur usually gets less rain in July than Busan (Pusan). Kuala Lumpur gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 257 mm (10.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Busan (Pusan) 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Busan (Pusan) in the Autumn?
Both Busan (Pusan) and Kuala Lumpur are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kuala Lumpur throughout the year.
In October, Kuala Lumpur is generally a little warmer than Busan (Pusan). Daily temperatures in Kuala Lumpur average around 27°C (81°F), and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
It's quite sunny in Busan (Pusan). Kuala Lumpur usually receives less sunshine than Busan (Pusan) during autumn. Kuala Lumpur gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Busan (Pusan) receives 202 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Kuala Lumpur. In October, Kuala Lumpur usually receives more rain than Busan (Pusan). Kuala Lumpur gets 280 mm (11 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Busan (Pusan) 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Busan (Pusan) in the Winter?
Both Busan (Pusan) and Kuala Lumpur during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kuala Lumpur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Busan (Pusan) in the winter. Kuala Lumpur is much warmer than Busan (Pusan) in the winter. The daily temperature in Kuala Lumpur averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
In Busan (Pusan), it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Kuala Lumpur often gets less sunshine than Busan (Pusan). Kuala Lumpur gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Busan (Pusan) receives 200 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur usually gets more rain in January than Busan (Pusan). Kuala Lumpur gets 239 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Busan (Pusan) 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Busan (Pusan) in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kuala Lumpur and Busan (Pusan). Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kuala Lumpur year-round.
In the spring, Kuala Lumpur is much warmer than Busan (Pusan). Typically, the spring temperatures in Kuala Lumpur in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Busan (Pusan) averages at about 14°C (57°F).
Kuala Lumpur usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Busan (Pusan) during spring. Kuala Lumpur gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while Busan (Pusan) receives 196 hours of full sun in the spring.
Busan (Pusan) receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kuala Lumpur gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Kuala Lumpur usually receives more rain than Busan (Pusan). Kuala Lumpur gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Busan (Pusan) 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Busan (Pusan) and Kuala Lumpur
| Kuala Lumpur | Busan (Pusan) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 239 mm (9.4 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 280 mm (11 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 250 mm (9.8 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.