Which place is cheaper, Busan (Pusan) or Nairobi?
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 Nairobi 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 Nairobi 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: Nairobi or Busan (Pusan)?
Nairobi
Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.
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 Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Tours for Seniors to South Korea, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul.
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Nairobi Prices
Kenya PricesBusan (Pusan) Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $67Busan (Pusan) $108
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $67, while the average daily cost in Busan (Pusan) is $108. 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 Nairobi and Busan (Pusan) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $12Busan (Pusan) $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24Busan (Pusan) $80
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Busan (Pusan)
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi 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: Nairobi Hotel Prices and Busan (Pusan) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $11Busan (Pusan) $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
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Taxi from Airport$9.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- NBO Airport Private Transfer to/from Nairobi City Center: $8.85
- Safe and Private Airport transfer in Nairobi: $20
- Private Airport Transfer and Service in Nairobi: $20
- Safe Airport Transfer in Nairobi: $22
- Seamless Nairobi Airport Transfers: $25
- Private Airport Transfers To or From Nairobi Airports.: $25
- Private One-Way Transfer from Nairobi: $27
- Mwashi Airport Transfer & Taxi: $27
- Private One-Way Nairobi Airport Transfer: $29
- Airport Transfer in Nairobi- JKIA: $30
- Wilson Airport Private Transfer to Nairobi hotels or Airport: $30
- Safe Private Airport transfer in Nairobi: $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Busan (Pusan):
- Private VIP Airport or Hotel Transfers in Busan: $300
- Private Transfer from Busan hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $63
- Private Transfer from Busan Port to Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS): $63
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan city hotels: $63
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Int Airport(PUS): $63
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Hotels: $63
- Private Transfer Gaimhae Airport to Busan City: $85
- Private Transfer From Busan to Incheon or Seoul or GyeongJu city: $100
- Private Airport, Train Station & Hotel Transfer Service in Busan: $80
- Busan to Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $65
- Busan hotels to Busan Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $59
- Busan Private Transfer: Airport & KTX Stn. to/from Hotel in Busan: $79
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Busan (Pusan)?
Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) and Nairobi 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 dayNairobi $13Busan (Pusan) $46
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner for Two$5.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $21
- Kenyan Cooking Class & Authentic Dining Experience with a Local: $40
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $55
- Popular Kenyan Food Cooking Class and Local Market Experience: $60
- Carnivore restaurant Dinner or lunch from Nairobi: $65
- Carnivore Resturant Dinner Experience: $68
- Cooking Lesson of Local Food $ Lunch: $68
- Private Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $76
- Dinner Experience with Cat Show at Safari Park Hotel: $90
- The Carnivore Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with transport: $97
- Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
- Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant - Nairobi: $100
Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
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McDonald's$4.60
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Carp Bread$0.74
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Busan (Pusan)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Busan (Pusan).
- Busan Bites Food Tour with 10+ Tastings: $88
- Busan Seafood Tour : Jagalchi market Seafood Tour & Dinner: $110
- Korean cooking class in Haeundae, Busan: $110
- Busan Tailored Korean cooking class (Vegan OK)with market tour: $120
- Private Busan Culture and Food Tour with a Local Guide: $143
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $46Busan (Pusan) $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Village Visit$15
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Fashion African Fabric & Souvenir Market Tour: $12
- Ebike adventure Hire Nairobi (Electric mountain bike hire): $15
- Nairobi Matatu Culture Experience: $18
- Kibera Community Tour with Local Guide MC Dawn: $20
- Nairobi’s ultimate Walking City Tour with Hotel pickup: $20
- Nairobi Walking City Tour +pick-up: $20
- Nairobi City Walk Tour +pickup: $22
- Nairobi Green Bus City Sightseeing Tour 4 Hours: $23
- Kibera Slum Compassionate Walking Experience 3 Hours: $23
- Nairobi History, Culture and Modern City Walking Tour: $24
- Giraffe Center Karen Blixen and Kobe Beads Day Tour: $25
- Nairobi city walking tour: $25
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: $61
- 2027 New Year Countdown & Pohang Homigot Sunrise Tour from Busan: $69
- A Comprehensive Small-Group Busan Tour with Hotel Pickup: $58
- Authentic Busan Full-Day City Highlights Tour: $35
- BTS Landmarks Private Car Tour in Busan with a Licensed Guide: $170
- Best of Busan Day Tour: Coast, Culture and Local Markets: $36
- Busan 9 Highlights Small Group City Tour: $30
- Busan Blueline Park Sky Capsule or Beach Train Ticket: $14
- Busan City Top Attractions Tour with Haeundae Blueline Park: $35
- 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 dayNairobi $16Busan (Pusan) $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Busan (Pusan) is more expensive. And not only is Nairobi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nairobi 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 Nairobi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nairobi 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 Nairobi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nairobi Expensive? and Is Busan (Pusan) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Busan (Pusan)?
Busan (Pusan) has a larger population, and is about 34% larger than the population of Nairobi. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi 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.