A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Masai Mara vs. Busan (Pusan) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Masai Mara 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 Masai Mara 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: Masai Mara or Busan (Pusan)?

Masai Mara

Masai Mara National Reserve is a beautiful, scenic, nature reserve in southwest Kenya, just west of the capital city, Nairobi. The reserve belongs to the Masai people and was created in order to protect the land and the people and animals living on it. Masai Mara is considered to be one of the best reserves in all of Africa, offering the quintessential African safari experience.

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 Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, The Best Tours for Seniors to South Korea, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul.


Which place is cheaper, Busan (Pusan) or Masai Mara?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Masai Mara is $133, while the average daily cost in Busan (Pusan) is $95. 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 Masai Mara and Busan (Pusan) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Masai Mara $37
    Busan (Pusan) $36
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Masai Mara $74
    Busan (Pusan) $72
Compare Hotels in Masai Mara and Busan (Pusan)

Looking for a hotel in Masai Mara 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.

Hotels in Masai Mara


Hotels in Busan (Pusan)


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: Busan (Pusan) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Masai Mara $47
    Busan (Pusan) $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Masai Mara

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Masai Mara:

  • Nairobi Airport (NBO) Private Transfer to Nairobi City/Hotels: $17

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 Cruise Port to Busan Hotels: $64
  • Private Transfer from Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Port: $64
  • Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Int Airport(PUS): $64
  • Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan city hotels: $64
  • Private Transfer from Busan City Hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $64
  • Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) to Busan - Arrival Private Transfer: $66
  • Busan Private Transfer: Airport & KTX Stn. to/from Hotel in Busan: $79
  • Busan Airport and KTX Station Transfer Service: $79
  • Private Transfer Gaimhae Airport to Busan City: $85
  • Private Transfer From Busan to Incheon or Seoul or GyeongJu city: $100
  • Busan Airport to Busan Hotels Round-Trip Private Transfer: $121

Is it cheaper to fly into Masai Mara or Busan (Pusan)?

Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) and Masai Mara 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Masai Mara $57
    Busan (Pusan) $40

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Masai Mara

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Masai Mara.

  • Nairobi Private Carnivore Dinner Experience: $125
  • Nairobi National Museum and Carnivore Restaurant Food Tour: $275

Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)

Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:


  • McDonald's
    $4.05
  • 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).

  • Kimchi Kitchens Busan Food Tour with 10+ Tastings: $88
  • Busan Local Food Cooking Class with Market Tour: $103
  • Korean cooking class in Haeundae, Busan: $104
  • Busan Tailored Korean cooking class (Vegan OK)with market tour: $120

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Masai Mara $60
    Busan (Pusan) $18

Tours and Activities in Masai Mara

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Masai Mara are as follows:

  • Half Day Giraffe Center,Baby Elephant&Karen Blixxen Guided Tour: $38
  • Cultural Day Tour to Bomas of Kenya Nairobi: $51
  • David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Half-Day Tour in Nairobi: $55
  • Guided "Matatu" Experience Half Day Tour Within Nairobi.: $60
  • Bomas of Kenya cultural Dance and Acrobatic Show Tour: $64
  • Giraffe Center Guided Tour from Nairobi: $65
  • Giraffe Center and David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Tour: $72
  • Nairobi National Park Half Day Tour From Nairobi: $75
  • Half Day Private Tour to Lake Nakuru National Park: $80
  • Nairobi City Tour and Afternoon Visit to Bomas of Kenya: $80
  • Ngong Hills Adventure from Nairobi: $85
  • Nairobi National Park Guided Day Tour From Nairobi: $95

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
  • Museum 1 Exhibition Ticket in Busan (내국인 불가): $12
  • Busan Running Man Themed Activity Experience Ticket (내국인불가): $12
  • Busan Vaunce Trampoline Yongho W Center Discount Ticket(내국인불가): $21
  • Night View Experience in Busan in Small Group Tour: $25
  • South Korea: Skyline Luge Busan Entry Ticket: $30
  • Authentic Busan Full-Day City Highlights Tour: $31
  • Korean Serenity Incense Tea and Meditation Experience: $33
  • Busan Tour: Sky Capsule, Gamcheon, Haeundae Blueline Park & more: $38
  • Gyeongju UNESCO World Heritage Guided Day Tour from Busan: $39
  • Busan 9 Highlights Tour: $40
  • Busan to Gyeongju UNESCO Legacy Tour: $40

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Masai Mara $26
    Busan (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: $22


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Masai Mara and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Masai Mara is more expensive. And not only is Busan (Pusan) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Masai Mara is in Africa and Busan (Pusan) is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Busan (Pusan) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Busan (Pusan) 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 Masai Mara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Masai Mara than you might in Busan (Pusan).

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Masai Mara Expensive? and Is Busan (Pusan) Expensive?.