Budget · Busan · South Korea
Busan on a budget
What a trip to Busan really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Michiel1972, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Busan is moderately priced for most international visitors. Budget roughly $45–$80 per person per day on a tight budget, $110–$200 mid-range and $300–$700 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in December–February.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $45–$80 a day
- Mid-range
- $110–$200 a day
- Luxury
- $300–$700 a day
- Local currency
- KRW
- Free sights
- 11
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $45–$80 | $135–$240 | $225–$400 | $315–$560 |
| Mid-range | $110–$200 | $330–$600 | $550–$1,000 | $770–$1,400 |
| Luxury | $300–$700 | $900–$2,100 | $1,500–$3,500 | $2,100–$4,900 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Busan, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Subway ride | about ₩1,500–₩2,000 |
| Bowl of dwaeji gukbap | about ₩9,000–₩12,000 |
| Ssiat hotteok | about ₩2,000–₩3,000 |
| Raw-fish platter at Jagalchi for two | about ₩50,000–₩90,000 |
| Coffee at a café | about ₩4,000–₩6,500 |
| Bottle of soju in a restaurant | about ₩5,000–₩6,000 |
| Short taxi ride | about ₩6,000–₩15,000 |
Money-saving tips
- Gamcheon, Haedong Yonggungsa, Taejongdae, Beomeosa, the beaches and the coastal walks are all free.
- Lunch sets and gukbap shops are filling and inexpensive; raw fish at Jagalchi is best shared in a group.
- Hotel prices around Haeundae and Gwangalli roughly double in July and August.
- Stay in Nampo-dong or Seomyeon for lower rates and use the subway to reach the beaches.
- A T-money card gives transfer discounts between buses and the subway.
Free things to do
- Haeundae Beach — Korea's best-known city beach is a 1.5-km crescent of sand backed by hotels and skyscrapers.
- Gamcheon Culture Village — Built by refugees during the Korean War, this hillside village of pastel houses was revived through an art project with murals, installations and small galleries.
- Haedong Yonggungsa — Unusually for a Korean temple, Haedong Yonggungsa sits on rocks above the sea rather than in the mountains.
- Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge — A 1.4-km beach facing the 7.4-km Gwangan Bridge, which is lit up in changing colours every night.
- Taejongdae — A wooded headland at the southern tip of Yeongdo island, ringed by sea cliffs, a lighthouse and an observatory looking towards Japan's Tsushima on clear days.
- Beomeosa Temple — Founded in 678, Beomeosa is one of Korea's major Seon Buddhist temples, set on the slopes of Geumjeongsan above the city.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for first-timers, food lovers, budget and shopping
Nampo-dong and Jagalchi
Old port markets, shopping streets and street-food stalls
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget, shopping and solo travellers
Seomyeon
Central shopping and nightlife hub where subway lines 1 and 2 meet
$$ · Best for budget and first-timers
Busan Station and Choryang
KTX terminal, Chinatown and hillside stairs with harbour views
Eating well for less
- Fish cake — Long-established fish cake shops in Yeongdo and at Busan Station, and street stalls in Nampo-dong.
- Seed-filled pancake — Stalls at BIFF Square in Nampo-dong; follow the queue.
- Spicy glass noodles — Food alleys in Gukje Market and Bupyeong Kkangtong Market.
Getting around for less
T-money / Cashbee card
Rechargeable transport cards bought at convenience stores and stations, valid on buses, subways and many taxis across Korea, with transfer discounts.
Busan subway one-day pass
Unlimited subway rides for a day, worthwhile if you plan more than four or five trips.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Busan cost?
About $550–$1,000 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $225–$400 on a tight budget.
+Is Busan expensive?
It is moderately priced for international visitors. Gamcheon, Haedong Yonggungsa, Taejongdae, Beomeosa, the beaches and the coastal walks are all free.
+How much money do I need per day in Busan?
Roughly $45–$80 on a budget and $110–$200 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Busan?
Usually in December–February.