Which place is cheaper, Busan (Pusan) or Shenzhen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen 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: Shenzhen or Busan (Pusan)?
Shenzhen
Located in the Guangdong Province of southeastern China, Shenzhen is a metropolis that connects Hong Kong to China's mainland. It is one of China's most populous cities, inhabited by vast array of people from other Chinese regions. It is perhaps best known for it shopping, collection of amusement parks, green parks, museums and galleries, and a few historic sites. It is on UNESCO's Creative Cities list.
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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Tours for Seniors to South Korea, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShenzhen $123Busan (Pusan) $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Shenzhen is $123, 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 Shenzhen and Busan (Pusan) in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShenzhen $89Busan (Pusan) $39
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShenzhen $178Busan (Pusan) $78
Compare Hotels in Shenzhen and Busan (Pusan)
Looking for a hotel in Shenzhen 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: Busan (Pusan) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Shenzhen $15Busan (Pusan) $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer:Shenzhen City Hotel to Any Shenzhen Railway Station : $29
- Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) Private Transfer: $30
- [Airport Transfer] Shenzhen Airport 送 迎 Shenzhen City Transfer High reputation for service! : $32
- Kai Tak Cruise Terminal to Hong Kong City - Arrival Private Transfer : $36
- Private Transfer from Kai Tak Cruise Terminal to Hong Kong Hotels: $36
- Private Transfer from Shekou Cruise Port to Shenzhen city hotels: $41
- Private Transfer from Shenzhen city hotels to Shekou Cruise Port: $41
- Private Transfer from Shekou Cruise Port to Shenzhen Airport(SZX): $41
- Private Transfer from Shenzhen Int Airport (SZX) to Shekou Port: $41
- Private Transfer - Kai Tak Cruise Port to Hong Kong Airport (HKG): $45
- Private Transfer - Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Kai Tak Cruise Port: $45
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal - Arrival Private Transfer : $45
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: $84
- Private Transfer from Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Port: $79
- Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Hotels: $84
- Busan to Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $119
- Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan - Arrival Private Transfer: $119
- Busan Airport to Busan Hotels Round-Trip Private Transfer: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Shenzhen or Busan (Pusan)?
Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) and Shenzhen 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 dayShenzhen $20Busan (Pusan) $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Vegetarian Food Tour: $77
- Wet market tour & cooking class with local mum: $90
- Hong Kong Food Tour: Sham Shui Po District: $108
- Hong Kong Food Tour: Central and Sheung Wan Districts: $108
- Secret Food Tour With the Locals in Tin Hau Hong Kong w/ Private Tour Option: $109
- Traditional Chinese Pun Choi cooking class in Hong Kong: $112
- Hong Kong Food Tour with a Local: A Feast for Foodies 100% Personalized: $160
- Kowloon Street Food Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized & Private: $160
- The 10 Tastings of Hong Kong With Locals: Private Street Food Tour : $161
Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
-
McDonald's$4.48
-
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).
- Busan history and market food tour with local chef: $49
- Korean cooking class in Haeundae, Busan : $95
- Busan Seafood Tour & Dinner with Busan Oppa: $105
- Kkakdugi(Korean radish Kimchi) Cooking class at Busan : $110
- Enjoy tailored Korean cooking class with Ocean view at Busan: $110
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shenzhen $17Busan (Pusan) $20
Tours and Activities in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line! Walk to the Peak: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.34
- Victoria Peak: Climb to the summit via the Mid-Levels escalato on an audio tour: $5.40
- Yau Ma Tei: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in the Heart of Kowloon: $5.40
- Hong Kong Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Hong Kong Airport Express E-Ticket : $14
- Hong Kong Airport Express Train Tickets(Avoid Heavy Traffic): $15
- Lovely Hong Kong Self-Guided Audio Tour: $16
- [Entry After 6pm] sky100 Min. 2pax Ticket Offer (F-II_2P): $17
- Walking Tour in Hong Kong - Local Experience (New & Best) : $17
- TramOramic Sightseeing Tour plus 2-Day Tramways Ticket: $23
- sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck Tickets: $23
- Dukling Boat Tour in Victoria Harbour: $25
Tours and Activities in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
- Full Day Private Guided Tour in Hidden Spot, Daegu: $180
- 2-Day Busan East and South Private Tour: $300
- 4Hour Tour From Seokbulsa Temple To Geumjeongsan Fortress: $90
- Adventures in Blossoms: Daegu E-World Cherry Blossoms Tour: $77
- Beomeosa Temple and Hongbeopsa Temple Tour and local market tour: $81
- 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 Custom-made Car Tour （Private Tour）: $187
- Busan Essential Private Tour with Heaedong Yonggungsa and Gamcheon Village: $240
- Busan Glowing Panorama Private Night Tour for Max 6 Guests: $300
- Busan Guided Small Group Tour for Up to 6 Cruise Guests.: $99
- Busan Hidden Gems Private Guided Tour: $89
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayShenzhen $19Busan (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 Pub Crawl: $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shenzhen and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Shenzhen is more expensive. And not only is Busan (Pusan) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Shenzhen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen Expensive? and Is Busan (Pusan) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Shenzhen or Busan (Pusan)?
Busan (Pusan) has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Shenzhen. When comparing the sizes of Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen or Busan (Pusan)?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Shenzhen or Busan (Pusan) in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Shenzhen as well as Busan (Pusan).
In July, Shenzhen is generally a little warmer than Busan (Pusan). Daily temperatures in Shenzhen average around 30°C (85°F), and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Shenzhen this time of the year. In the summer, Shenzhen often gets more sunshine than Busan (Pusan). Shenzhen gets 231 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Busan (Pusan) receives 166 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Busan (Pusan). Shenzhen receives a lot of rain in the summer. Shenzhen usually gets more rain in July than Busan (Pusan). Shenzhen gets 323 mm (12.7 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 257 mm (10.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyShenzhen 30°C (85°F)Busan (Pusan) 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Busan (Pusan) in the Autumn?
Both Busan (Pusan) and Shenzhen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
Shenzhen is a little warmer than Busan (Pusan) in the autumn. The daily temperature in Shenzhen averages around 26°C (78°F) in October, and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
It's quite sunny in Busan (Pusan). Shenzhen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Busan (Pusan) during autumn. Shenzhen gets 190 hours of sunny skies, while Busan (Pusan) receives 202 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Shenzhen. In October, Shenzhen usually receives more rain than Busan (Pusan). Shenzhen gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberShenzhen 26°C (78°F)Busan (Pusan) 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Busan (Pusan) in the Winter?
Both Busan (Pusan) and Shenzhen during the winter are popular places to visit.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Busan (Pusan). In the winter, Shenzhen is much warmer than Busan (Pusan). Typically, the winter temperatures in Shenzhen in January average around 16°C (60°F), and Busan (Pusan) averages at about 3°C (38°F).
In Busan (Pusan), it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Shenzhen often gets less sunshine than Busan (Pusan). Shenzhen gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Busan (Pusan) receives 200 hours of full sun.
Shenzhen usually gets less rain in January than Busan (Pusan). Shenzhen gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryShenzhen 16°C (60°F)Busan (Pusan) 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Busan (Pusan) in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Shenzhen and Busan (Pusan).
In April, Shenzhen is generally much warmer than Busan (Pusan). Daily temperatures in Shenzhen average around 23°C (73°F), and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
Shenzhen usually receives less sunshine than Busan (Pusan) during spring. Shenzhen gets 95 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. Shenzhen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Shenzhen usually receives around the same amount of rain as Busan (Pusan). Shenzhen gets 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilShenzhen 23°C (73°F)Busan (Pusan) 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Busan (Pusan) and Shenzhen
| Shenzhen | Busan (Pusan) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (60°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 325 mm (12.8 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (83°F) | 382 mm (15 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 393 mm (15.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 300 mm (11.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (78°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Dec | 17°C (63°F) | 27 mm (1.1 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.