A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Busan (Pusan) vs. New York City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Busan (Pusan) or New York City?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Busan (Pusan) or New York City, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Busan (Pusan) or New York City?

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.

New York City

The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to South Korea, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.


Which place is cheaper, New York City or Busan (Pusan)?

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

  • Busan (Pusan) Prices
    South Korea Prices
    New York City Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Busan (Pusan) $104
    New York City $363

The average daily cost (per person) in Busan (Pusan) is $104, while the average daily cost in New York City is $363. 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 Busan (Pusan) and New York City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Busan (Pusan) $39
    New York City $175
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Busan (Pusan) $78
    New York City $350
Compare Hotels in Busan (Pusan) and New York City

Looking for a hotel in Busan (Pusan) or New York City? 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 Busan (Pusan)


Hotels in New York City


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 and New York City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Busan (Pusan) $20
    New York City $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Busan (Pusan)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Busan (Pusan):

  • Private Transfer from Busan Port to Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS): $66
  • Private Transfer from Busan Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Cruise Port: $66
  • Private Transfer from Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Port: $66
  • Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Int Airport(PUS): $66
  • Private Transfer from Busan Cruise Port to Busan Hotels: $66
  • Private Transfer Gaimhae Airport to Busan City: $85
  • Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) to Busan - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $137
  • Busan Airport to Busan Hotels Round-Trip Private Transfer: $125

Typical Local Transportation Prices in New York City

Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:


  • Subway
    $4.50
  • Taxi Ride
    $8.00
  • Subway
    $2.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City

Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Manhattan to LGA: One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $35
  • JFK to Manhattan: One Way Shared Arrival Transfer : $35
  • Manhattan to JFK: One Way Shared Departure Transfer : $35
  • Private Transfer from Manhattan to NYC Airports (JFK/EWR/LGA): $38
  • Shared transfer EWR: $39
  • Manhattan to EWR: One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $39
  • Private Arrival Transfer: NYC Airports (JFK) (LGA) (EWR) to Brooklyn: $43
  • Private Departure Transfer Brooklyn to NYC Airports (JFK) (LGA) (EWR): $43
  • Private New York City Airport-to-Airport Transfer (JFK/LGA/EWR): $43
  • Private Transfer from Manhattan Port to New York Airport (LGA): $44
  • Private Transfer from Newark Airport (EWR) to Cape Liberty Port: $44
  • Private Transfer from New York to Cape Liberty Cruise Port: $44

Is it cheaper to fly into Busan (Pusan) or New York City?

Prices for flights to both New York City and Busan (Pusan) 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
    Busan (Pusan) $44
    New York City $87
Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)

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


  • McDonald's
    $4.43
  • 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: $53
  • Busan Tailored Korean cooking class (Vegan OK)with market tour: $95
  • Busan seafood tour : Cod Auction and Clam Auction in Winter: $99
  • Korean cooking class in Haeundae, Busan : $100
  • Busan Local Food Cooking Class with Market Tour: $114

Typical Food Prices in New York City

For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Gelato
    $7.50
  • Snacks for Two at Yankees Game
    $34
  • Coffee
    $6.53
  • Smoothie
    $6.95

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City

For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • East Village Noho Food Tour: $32
  • The Chinatown, Little Italy, Food Tour: $35
  • The Lower East Side Food Tour: $35
  • Sweets and Slices Greenwich Village Walking Food Tour: $49
  • New York City's Best Pizza tour: $59
  • Made in Brooklyn Food Tour: $65
  • Greenwich Village Pizza Walk: $75
  • Brooklyn Pizza Walk: $75
  • New York's Classic Eats West Village Food Tour: $75
  • New York's Classic Eats Lower East Side Food Tour: $75
  • Union Square Donut Adventure and Walking Food Tour: $75
  • East Village Pizza Walk: $75

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Busan (Pusan) $20
    New York City $180

Tours and Activities in Busan (Pusan)

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Busan (Pusan) are as follows:

  • "Walking Tour: Busan Foodie Experience + Live Like a Local": $73
  • 1-DAY Busan and INCLUDED night tour: $220
  • A well-rounded small group Busan tour with a certified guide: $58
  • Authentic Busan Full-Day City Highlights Tour: $48
  • Busan 4hr Private Walking Tour with Certified Guide: $228
  • Busan 9 Highlights Tour: $40
  • Busan CLUBD OASIS Spa and Water Park Ticket: $15
  • Busan City Tour - Haedong Yonggung Temple And Shopping in Lotte Premium Outlet: $289
  • Busan City Tour Including Gamcheon Culture village and Haedong Yonggungsa Temple: $282
  • Busan City Tour Including Haedong Yonggungsa Temple And APEC House: $290
  • Busan Comfortable Private Tour For 4hours: $196
  • Busan Comfortable Private Tour For 8hours: $251

Typical Entertainment Prices in New York City

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Comedy Show Tickets
    $56
  • City Map
    $8.00
  • Broadway Musical
    $111
  • Broadway Show Program
    $10
  • Magazine
    $6.99

Tours and Activities in New York City

For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • New York's Hidden Gems: Self-Guided City Tour: $3.56
  • Central Park Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.75
  • Self Guided Central Park Bike or Walking Tour Application: $5.00
  • Broadway: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the World's Iconic Theatre District: $5.39
  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in New York: $5.94
  • Brooklyn, NY Street Art Puzzle Quest: Self-Guided Tour: $5.94
  • New York City Audio Tour: $6.41
  • Self Guided "Central Park Movie Tour" Solo Walking Tour in New York City: $6.75
  • Private Haunted and Historic Audio Tour in Greenwich Village: $6.95
  • Luxury Horse and Carriage Tours in Central Park: $6.99
  • Central Park Outdoor Escape Adventure: $7.00
  • Movie Magic in Central Park: Self-Guided Puzzle Adventure: $7.09

For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.


Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Busan (Pusan) $12
    New York City $29

Sample the Local Flavors in New York City

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:

  • Brooklyn Distillery Tour : $22
  • NYC Pub Crawl Experience: $24
  • Distillery Tour and Tasting: $25
  • NYC Pub Crawl Tour: $30
  • NYC Pub Crawl with Rooftop Clubbing Experience: $33
  • Top Shelf Distillery Tour: $33
  • New York Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $36
  • Cheers to Chinatown Tour and Bar Crawl: $40
  • Brooklyn Literary Pub Crawl: $49
  • Greenwich Village Piano Bar Crawl: $50
  • Broadway Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
  • Little Italy Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Busan (Pusan) and New York City, we can see that New York City is more expensive. And not only is Busan (Pusan) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Busan (Pusan) is in Asia and New York City is in North America, 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 New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City 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 Busan (Pusan) Expensive? and Is New York City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Busan (Pusan) or New York City?

New York City has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Busan (Pusan). When comparing the sizes of Busan (Pusan) and New York City, 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 Busan (Pusan) or New York City?

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 Busan (Pusan) or New York City in the Summer?

Both New York City and Busan (Pusan) during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to New York City in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Busan (Pusan) is generally around the same temperature as New York City. Daily temperatures in Busan (Pusan) average around 25°C (77°F), and New York City fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).

New York City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Busan (Pusan). Busan (Pusan) usually gets more rain in July than New York City. Busan (Pusan) gets 257 mm (10.1 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Busan (Pusan) 25°C (77°F) 
    New York City 77°F (25°C)

Should I visit Busan (Pusan) or New York City in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Busan (Pusan) and New York City. Also, most visitors come to New York City for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Busan (Pusan) is a little warmer than New York City in the autumn. The daily temperature in Busan (Pusan) averages around 18°C (65°F) in October, and New York City fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

In October, Busan (Pusan) usually receives less rain than New York City. Busan (Pusan) gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Busan (Pusan) 18°C (65°F) 
    New York City 57°F (14°C)

Should I visit Busan (Pusan) or New York City in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Busan (Pusan) as well as New York City. Also, the winter months attract visitors to New York City because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

The weather in New York City can be very cold. Busan (Pusan) can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Busan (Pusan) is much warmer than New York City. Typically, the winter temperatures in Busan (Pusan) in January average around 3°C (38°F), and New York City averages at about 31°F (-1°C).

Busan (Pusan) usually gets less rain in January than New York City. Busan (Pusan) gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Busan (Pusan) 3°C (38°F) 
    New York City 31°F (-1°C)

Should I visit Busan (Pusan) or New York City in the Spring?

Both New York City and Busan (Pusan) are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to New York City this time of year.

In April, Busan (Pusan) is generally a little warmer than New York City. Daily temperatures in Busan (Pusan) average around 14°C (57°F), and New York City fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

It's quite rainy in Busan (Pusan). In April, Busan (Pusan) usually receives more rain than New York City. Busan (Pusan) gets 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Busan (Pusan) 14°C (57°F) 
    New York City 52°F (11°C)

Typical Weather for New York City and Busan (Pusan)

Busan (Pusan) New York City
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 3°C (38°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) 31°F (-1°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm)
Feb 5°C (40°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 33°F (1°C) 3 inches (77 mm)
Mar 9°C (48°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 42°F (6°C) 3.9 inches (98 mm)
Apr 14°C (57°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 52°F (11°C) 3.8 inches (98 mm)
May 18°C (65°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 63°F (17°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm)
Jun 21°C (70°F) 224 mm (8.8 in) 72°F (22°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 257 mm (10.1 in) 77°F (25°C) 4.5 inches (114 mm)
Aug 27°C (80°F) 204 mm (8 in) 76°F (24°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm)
Sep 23°C (73°F) 187 mm (7.4 in) 68°F (20°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm)
Oct 18°C (65°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 57°F (14°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)
Nov 12°C (54°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 47°F (8°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm)
Dec 6°C (43°F) 24 mm (0.9 in) 36°F (2°C) 3.4 inches (88 mm)