Busan vs Ulsan: which is sunnier?
🇰🇷 South Korea vs 🇰🇷 South Korea · 59 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Busan is the sunnier overall: about 2,112 hours of sunshine a year to Ulsan's 1,954. Ulsan has the higher Sunshine Score in 2 of 12 months; the other 10 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Busan | Ulsan | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,112 | 1,954 |
| Sunniest month | October (77/100) | October (76/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 12/100 | 12/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 64/100 | 63/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,490 mm | 1,323 mm |
| Warmest sea | 29°C / 84°F | 28°C / 82°F |
| Peak midday UV | 6 (high) | 7 (high) |
Busan vs Ulsan month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Busan | Ulsan | Busan | Ulsan | Busan | Ulsan | Busan | Ulsan | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 6° | 6° | 30 | 42 | 10° | 13° |
| February | 0 | 0 | 8° | 8° | 52 | 53 | 11° | 13° |
| March | 26 | 25 | 12° | 12° | 79 | 74 | 11° | 13° |
| April | 49 | 52 | 17° | 17° | 137 | 112 | 16° | 15° |
| May | 65 | 68 | 21° | 21° | 144 | 118 | 19° | 17° |
| June | 64 | 63 | 24° | 24° | 175 | 150 | 23° | 20° |
| July | 64 | 63 | 27° | 27° | 299 | 240 | 24° | 20° |
| August | 64 | 63 | 28° | 28° | 244 | 194 | 29° | 28° |
| September | 64 | 63 | 25° | 25° | 176 | 168 | 29° | 28° |
| October | 77 | 76 | 21° | 20° | 75 | 76 | 22° | 23° |
| November | 48 | 47 | 15° | 15° | 46 | 54 | 17° | 19° |
| December | 0 | 0 | 8° | 8° | 33 | 42 | 11° | 14° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Ulsan · May Ulsan · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Busan averages 12/100, Ulsan 12/100. Daytime highs are similar (9°C vs 9°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Busan averages 47/100, Ulsan 48/100. Daytime highs are similar (17°C vs 17°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Busan averages 64/100, Ulsan 63/100. Daytime highs are similar (26°C vs 26°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Busan averages 71/100, Ulsan 70/100. Daytime highs are similar (23°C vs 23°C).
Sea temperature
Busan's sea gets warmer: 29°C / 84°F at its peak vs 28°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Busan about 5 months a year, Ulsan about 3 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Busan weather by month · Ulsan weather by month · Best time to visit South Korea.
More comparisons: Busan vs Daegu · Busan vs Yeosu · Ulsan vs Daegu · Ulsan vs Yeosu · all head-to-heads