Which place is cheaper, Busan (Pusan) or Kanchanaburi?
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 Kanchanaburi 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 Kanchanaburi 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: Kanchanaburi or Busan (Pusan)?
Kanchanaburi
If the hustle and bustle of the big city of Bangkok is just getting to you, there's an easy escape. Kanchanaburi, Thailand is a city located at the meeting of Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai, and is ideal for backpackers looking to reflect and relax. With easily accessible waterfalls and national parks, you'll wonder why anyone ever leaves.
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 Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to South Korea, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul.
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Kanchanaburi Prices
Thailand PricesBusan (Pusan) Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanchanaburi $58Busan (Pusan) $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $58, 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 Kanchanaburi and Busan (Pusan) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanchanaburi $22Busan (Pusan) $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanchanaburi $44Busan (Pusan) $78
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Busan (Pusan)
Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi 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: Kanchanaburi Hotel Prices and Busan (Pusan) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kanchanaburi $14Busan (Pusan) $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanchanaburi
Also for Kanchanaburi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Ratchaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $99
- Private Airport Transfer : Bangkok to/from Kanchanaburi: $119
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $187
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Busan (Pusan)?
Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) and Kanchanaburi 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 dayKanchanaburi $24Busan (Pusan) $44
Typical Food Prices in Kanchanaburi
For Kanchanaburi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch$4.71
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kanchanaburi
For Kanchanaburi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Thai Cooking Class: $39
Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
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McDonald's$4.43
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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).
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanchanaburi $10Busan (Pusan) $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kanchanaburi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kanchanaburi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Entry Park TreeHouse$6.28
Tours and Activities in Kanchanaburi
For Kanchanaburi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discovery Bike Tour: $18
- Best Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi River: $27
- River Kwai Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi: $30
- E-Scooter Tour in Kanchanaburi: $35
- Kanchanaburi Tree Top Adventure Park Tours: $45
- Half Day Kanchanaburi Bike Tour with History and Local Life: $53
- WWII History Bike Tour in Kanchanaburi with Local Guide: $59
- Kanchanaburi Tour Hellfire Pass History tour: $108
- Erawan Waterfall & Train Tour from Kanchanaburi – Full Day: $110
- Kanchanaburi Tour: Erawan Waterfall and Death Railway: $112
- Kanchanaburi Tour Erawan Waterfall Temples and Giant Rain Tree: $112
- Romantic Getaway in A Walking Tour: $174
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanchanaburi $9.24Busan (Pusan) $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Busan (Pusan) is more expensive. And not only is Kanchanaburi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kanchanaburi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kanchanaburi 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 Kanchanaburi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kanchanaburi Expensive? and Is Busan (Pusan) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Busan (Pusan)?
Busan (Pusan) has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Kanchanaburi. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi 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 Kanchanaburi or Busan (Pusan)?
Busan (Pusan) has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kanchanaburi experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Busan (Pusan) in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kanchanaburi as well as Busan (Pusan). Kanchanaburi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kanchanaburi is a little warmer than Busan (Pusan) in the summer. The daily temperature in Kanchanaburi averages around 29°C (84°F) in July, and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
In the summer, Kanchanaburi often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Busan (Pusan). Kanchanaburi gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Busan (Pusan) receives 166 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Busan (Pusan). Kanchanaburi usually gets less rain in July than Busan (Pusan). Kanchanaburi gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 257 mm (10.1 in) of rain this time of the year. July to October in Kanchanaburi is the rainy season.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKanchanaburi 29°C (84°F)Busan (Pusan) 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Busan (Pusan) in the Autumn?
Both Busan (Pusan) and Kanchanaburi are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kanchanaburi throughout the year.
In the autumn, Kanchanaburi is much warmer than Busan (Pusan). Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kanchanaburi in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Busan (Pusan) averages at about 18°C (65°F).
It's quite sunny in Busan (Pusan). The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kanchanaburi. Kanchanaburi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Busan (Pusan) during autumn. Kanchanaburi gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Busan (Pusan) receives 202 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Kanchanaburi. In October, Kanchanaburi usually receives more rain than Busan (Pusan). Kanchanaburi gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Kanchanaburi is November to May. The rainy season in Kanchanaburi is July to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKanchanaburi 28°C (82°F)Busan (Pusan) 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Busan (Pusan) in the Winter?
Both Busan (Pusan) and Kanchanaburi during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kanchanaburi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Busan (Pusan) in the winter. In January, Kanchanaburi is generally much warmer than Busan (Pusan). Daily temperatures in Kanchanaburi average around 25°C (77°F), and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
In Busan (Pusan), it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kanchanaburi. In the winter, Kanchanaburi often gets more sunshine than Busan (Pusan). Kanchanaburi gets 276 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Busan (Pusan) receives 200 hours of full sun.
Kanchanaburi usually gets less rain in January than Busan (Pusan). Kanchanaburi gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKanchanaburi 25°C (77°F)Busan (Pusan) 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Busan (Pusan) in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kanchanaburi and Busan (Pusan). Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kanchanaburi year-round.
It's very hot in Kanchanaburi this time of the year. Kanchanaburi is much warmer than Busan (Pusan) in the spring. The daily temperature in Kanchanaburi averages around 32°C (89°F) in April, and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
In Kanchanaburi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kanchanaburi usually receives more sunshine than Busan (Pusan) during spring. Kanchanaburi gets 262 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. In April, Kanchanaburi usually receives less rain than Busan (Pusan). Kanchanaburi gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain each month for the spring. November to May in Kanchanaburi is the dry season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKanchanaburi 32°C (89°F)Busan (Pusan) 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Busan (Pusan) and Kanchanaburi
| Kanchanaburi | Busan (Pusan) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 30°C (87°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (85°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 218 mm (8.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 9 mm (0.4 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.