Which place is cheaper, Busan (Pusan) or Pokhara?
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 Pokhara or Busan (Pusan)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Pokhara and Busan (Pusan) can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Pokhara or Busan (Pusan)?
Pokhara
Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal and is strategically located near the popular Annapurna Circuit. The Annapurna Circuit, or the "Apple Pie Trail", is a popular trek through the Annapurna Valley that makes a circular route through stunning mountainous landscapes. Several other trekking options can be found in this region, too. Many people use Pohkara as a place to prepare or recover from their recently completed treks because it is less intimidating than the larger city of Kathmandu.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best Tours for Seniors to South Korea, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul.
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Pokhara Prices
Nepal PricesBusan (Pusan) Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPokhara $22Busan (Pusan) $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Pokhara is $22, while the average daily cost in Busan (Pusan) is $104. 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 Pokhara and Busan (Pusan) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPokhara $3.40Busan (Pusan) $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPokhara $6.80Busan (Pusan) $78
Compare Hotels in Pokhara and Busan (Pusan)
Looking for a hotel in Pokhara 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: Pokhara Hotel Prices and Busan (Pusan) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pokhara $6.64Busan (Pusan) $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pokhara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Pokhara:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pokhara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pokhara:
- Airport Transfer by Private Car: $11
- Transfer To Kathmandu (VIP Sofa Tourist Bus) & Back: $12
- Pokhara Airport Shuttles & Private Transfer: $15
- Pokhara ↔️ Kathmandu: VIP Luxury Sofa Bus Transfer (Rainbow): $16
- Annapurna Foothills Day Hike with Transfers: $38
- From Private Car Transfer To Chitwan: $59
- Comfortable Private Transfer from Pokhara to Chitwan: $66
- Private Transfer:- Pokhara to Chitwan (Sauraha) by car: $68
- White Water Rafting Half Day with Hotel Transfers: $70
- One way transfer To or From Chitwan: $73
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu ↔ Pokhara by Car, Jeep & Hiace: $73
- Pokhara to Kathmandu One Way Transfer by Private AC Car: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Busan (Pusan):
- Busan Airport (PUS) to Busan Hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $62
- Busan Airport and KTX Station Transfer Service: $79
- Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) to Busan - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Busan Private Transfer: Airport & KTX Stn. to/from Hotel in Busan: $79
- Busan hotels to Busan Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $62
- Busan to Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $68
- Private Airport, Train Station & Hotel Transfer Service in Busan: $80
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Int Airport(PUS): $65
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan city hotels: $65
- Private Transfer from Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Port: $65
- Private Transfer from Busan hotels to Busan Cruise Port: $65
- Private VIP Airport or Hotel Transfers in Busan: $300
Is it cheaper to fly into Pokhara or Busan (Pusan)?
Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) and Pokhara 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 dayPokhara $12Busan (Pusan) $44
Typical Food Prices in Pokhara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pokhara:
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Dinner for Two$3.91
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Dessert (for 2)$2.61
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Pastries$1.30
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Dinner$5.54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pokhara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Pokhara.
- Nepali cultural dinner night in Pokhara: $21
- Nepali Nights: Dinner & Cultural Dance Delight in Pokhara: $26
- MoMo or Dal Bhat Cooking Class at Aama Kitchen in Pokhara: $29
- Nepalese Kitchen in Momos or Dal Bhat Cooking Class: $29
- 3 Hour MoMo cooking class: $31
- Nepali Cooking Class and Momo Making Workshop: $42
- 3 Hour Authentic Nepali Thakali Dish Cooking Class: $45
- Thakali food Cooking Class in Pokhara: $50
- Nepali Cooking Class in Pokhara with a Local Family: $60
- 1 Day Momo making cooking class: $75
- Tour with Dinner to Trout Fish Farm - Bhujung River: $98
- Organic Farm Tour and Cooking Class at Durku: $115
Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
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McDonald's$4.46
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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).
- Autumn Special: 2 Activities + Dinner Only 4 Exclusive Dates: $50
- Kimchi Kitchens Busan Food Tour with 10+ Tastings: $88
- Vegan Friendly Korean Food Cooking Class: $100
- Busan Seafood Tour : Jagalchi market Seafood Tour & Dinner: $110
- Busan Local Food Cooking Class with Market Tour: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pokhara $6.32Busan (Pusan) $20
Tours and Activities in Pokhara
Here are a few actual costs in Pokhara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Sarangkot Sunrise with Half or Full-Day City Tour: $7.47
- From Sarangkot Sunrise Himalayas Tour: $7.84
- Pokhara to Chitwan Tourist Bus Sofa seater: $9.00
- Sarangkot Sunrise Himalayas: Tour 3 hour private tour: $9.16
- Quick Devi’s Water Fall Tour: $9.26
- Visit Best Seven Tourist Destination by Sharing Bus: $9.52
- Guided Evening Walking Tour in Lakeside: $9.52
- Pokhara Places of Interest Tour by Sharing Bus: $10
- Paragliding, Bungy Jump and Zipline Combo Adventure: $10
- City Sightseeing Group Budget Bus Tour: $10
- City Sightseeing Group Bus Tour: $10
- Tourist Bus Pokhara to Kathmandu (Luxury Sofa Seat): $10
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 Blueline Park Sky Capsule or Beach Train Ticket: $14
- Busan Job Experience Theme Park Ticket for Kid: $15
- Busan Sky Tower Admission Ticket: $20
- Busan Yacht Tour – Gwangan Bridge & Marine City Cruise: $22
- Busan Tour: Haeundae Blueline Park, Yonggungsa, Gamcheon & more: $25
- Night View Experience in Busan in Small Group Tour: $25
- Vaunce Universe Busan Ticket: $26
- Busan Skyline Luge E Ticket: $28
- Authentic Busan Full-Day City Highlights Tour: $34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPokhara $5.71Busan (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 Social Pub Crawl(Seomyeon&Gwangalli Beach): $23
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pokhara and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Busan (Pusan) is more expensive. And not only is Pokhara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pokhara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pokhara 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 Pokhara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pokhara Expensive? and Is Busan (Pusan) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pokhara or Busan (Pusan)?
Busan (Pusan) has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Pokhara. When comparing the sizes of Pokhara 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.