Which place is cheaper, Busan (Pusan) or Koh Tarutao?
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 Koh Tarutao 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 Koh Tarutao 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: Koh Tarutao or Busan (Pusan)?
Koh Tarutao
While much of Thailand has been built up into a tourist destination of hotels and resorts, there are spots that are still untouched and covered in the beauty of this part of the world. The unspoiled regions of the Ko Tarutao Marine National Park is 51 islands of rainforest ready for visitors. Established in 1974, the park is the second oldest in the country, and was the setting for the 2002 season of the reality television show Survivor. The park includes stunning coral reefs, pristine white beaches and wildlife of all shapes and sizes. Trek through and keep your eyes out for mouse deer, wild pigs, sea otters, tree pythons, sea eagles, hornbills, reef egrets and so much more.
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 Thailand, The Best Cultural 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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Koh Tarutao Prices
Thailand PricesBusan (Pusan) Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Tarutao $137Busan (Pusan) $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Tarutao is $137, 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 Koh Tarutao and Busan (Pusan) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Tarutao $57Busan (Pusan) $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Tarutao $114Busan (Pusan) $78
Compare Hotels in Koh Tarutao and Busan (Pusan)
Looking for a hotel in Koh Tarutao 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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Tarutao $39Busan (Pusan) $20
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 Koh Tarutao or Busan (Pusan)?
Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) and Koh Tarutao 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 dayKoh Tarutao $56Busan (Pusan) $44
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.Koh Tarutao $17Busan (Pusan) $20
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 dayKoh Tarutao $8.08Busan (Pusan) $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Tarutao and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Koh Tarutao 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 Koh Tarutao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Tarutao 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 Koh Tarutao Expensive? and Is Busan (Pusan) Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Tarutao or Busan (Pusan)?
Busan (Pusan) has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Tarutao experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Busan (Pusan) in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Koh Tarutao as well as Busan (Pusan). Koh Tarutao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Koh Tarutao is generally around the same temperature as Busan (Pusan). Daily temperatures in Koh Tarutao average around 27°C (81°F), and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite rainy in Busan (Pusan). Koh Tarutao receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Tarutao usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Busan (Pusan). Koh Tarutao gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 257 mm (10.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Tarutao 27°C (81°F)Busan (Pusan) 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Busan (Pusan) in the Autumn?
Both Busan (Pusan) and Koh Tarutao are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tarutao throughout the year.
Koh Tarutao is much warmer than Busan (Pusan) in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Tarutao averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
It's quite rainy in Koh Tarutao. In October, Koh Tarutao usually receives more rain than Busan (Pusan). Koh Tarutao gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Koh Tarutao is November to April. The rainy season in Koh Tarutao is May and October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Tarutao 27°C (81°F)Busan (Pusan) 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Busan (Pusan) in the Winter?
Both Busan (Pusan) and Koh Tarutao during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tarutao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Busan (Pusan) in the winter. In the winter, Koh Tarutao is much warmer than Busan (Pusan). Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Tarutao in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Busan (Pusan) averages at about 3°C (38°F).
Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in January than Busan (Pusan). Koh Tarutao gets 50 mm (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 JanuaryKoh Tarutao 27°C (80°F)Busan (Pusan) 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Busan (Pusan) in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Tarutao and Busan (Pusan). Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tarutao year-round.
In April, Koh Tarutao is generally much warmer than Busan (Pusan). Daily temperatures in Koh Tarutao average around 29°C (85°F), and Busan (Pusan) fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
Busan (Pusan) receives a lot of rain in the spring. Koh Tarutao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koh Tarutao usually receives less rain than Busan (Pusan). Koh Tarutao gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Busan (Pusan) receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain each month for the spring. November to April in Koh Tarutao is the dry season. Also, May and October is the rainy season in Koh Tarutao.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Tarutao 29°C (85°F)Busan (Pusan) 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Busan (Pusan) and Koh Tarutao
| Koh Tarutao | Busan (Pusan) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 355 mm (14 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 116 mm (4.6 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.