Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Busan (Pusan)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Busan (Pusan) or Shangri-La?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Busan (Pusan) or Shangri-La, 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 Shangri-La?
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.
Shangri-La
The original Shangri-La existed in the fictional world of James Hilton's novel "The Lost Horizon." It was a hidden paradise, a place so beautiful that it couldn't possibly exist on earth. The Shangri-La that exists in Yunnan, China today was renamed from its former title Zhongdian in 2001 in order to associate the place with the mystical allure created in Hilton's novel. Visitors come to admire the traditional monasteries and temples set against a backdrop of mountain preserves and pristine lakes.
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 in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBusan (Pusan) $86Shangri-La $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Busan (Pusan) is $86, while the average daily cost in Shangri-La is $46. 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 Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBusan (Pusan) $39Shangri-La $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBusan (Pusan) $78Shangri-La $36
Compare Hotels in Busan (Pusan) and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Busan (Pusan) or Shangri-La? 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.Busan (Pusan) $20Shangri-La $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Busan (Pusan):
- Busan Airport (PUS) to Busan Hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $61
- Busan hotels to Busan Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $61
- Private Transfer from Busan Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Cruise Port: $72
- Private Transfer from Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan Port: $79
- Busan Gimhae Int Airport(PUS) to Busan - Arrival Private Transfer: $120
- Busan to Busan Gimhae Airport (PUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $120
- Busan Airport to Busan Hotels Round-Trip Private Transfer: $121
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shangri-La
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shangri-La:
- Private Transfer from Shangri-la(Diqing) hotel to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel : $149
- Private Transfer from Shangri-La to Lijiang and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Busan (Pusan) or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La 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
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Food Meals for one dayBusan (Pusan) $26Shangri-La $19
Typical Food Prices in Busan (Pusan)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
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McDonald's$4.47
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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: $48
- Busan Jagalchi market Seafood Tour & Dinner with Busan city view: $49
- Vegan Friendly Korean Food Cooking Class: $70
- From Busan: Geoje Mudflat Experience and Korean Gourmet Food Tour: $88
- Korean cooking class in Haeundae, Busan : $95
- Busan tailored Korean cooking class (Vegan OK, Gluten Free OK): $110
- Busan Local Food Cooking Class with Market Tour: $113
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Busan (Pusan) $20Shangri-La $16
Tours and Activities in Busan (Pusan)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
- Fun & Informative Busan in Korea Virtual Tour : $12
- Busan Running Man Themed Activity Experience Ticket (내국인불가): $12
- Museum 1 Exhibition Ticket in Busan (내국인 불가): $13
- Busan Vaunce Trampoline Yongho W Center Discount Ticket(내국인불가): $23
- The Way of Tea - Experience: $38
- Full-Day Tour Unmissable things to do in Busan: $41
- Jinhae Pink Cherry Blossom One Day Tour From Busan: $41
- Full-Day Busan City Tour: $58
- Jinhae Gunhangje Night Tour : $59
- Naejangsan National Park Autumn Foliage Tour from Busan: $63
- Echoes of Silla Gyeongju Historical Splendor Day Tour: $63
- Full-Day Adventure Guided Tour from Busan to Mt Naejang : $63
Tours and Activities in Shangri-La
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shangri-La are as follows:
- 1-Day Shangri-La Private Tour: Potatso National Park and Baiji Temple: $169
- 1-Day Shangri-La Tour to Ganden Monastery, Nixi Pottery Village and Tibetan Town: $185
- 1-Day Shangri-La tour with Ganden Monastery, Napahai Lake and Tibetan Town: $190
- Private tour Songzanlin Monastry & Tibetan lunch from Zhongdian: $199
- 1 Day Shangri-la City Tour with Pudacuo National Park: $209
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBusan (Pusan) $12Shangri-La $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Busan (Pusan) and Shangri-La, we can see that Busan (Pusan) is more expensive. And not only is Shangri-La much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Shangri-La would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Shangri-La 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 Shangri-La.
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 Shangri-La Expensive?.
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.