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Many coastal communities around the world are threatened by a near-field (or local) tsunami that could inundate the low-lying areas in a matter of minutes after generation. The universal consensus amongst emergency agencies and academic researchers is that a safe evacuation requires an effective response, which is typically assessed by the evacuation time estimate (ETE). ETE is an integral component of community emergency evacuation planning, especially areas prone to tsunamis. This paper aims to investigate the ETE for pedestrian evacuation during a tsunami through two different approaches: (1) the deterministic Least-Cost Distance (LCD) model; and (2) the dynamic Agent-Based Model (ABM). Then, the comparison of the two models in their intrinsic characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, and its applicability was discussed based on methodology behind of the LCD model and ABM. The LCD model was conducted to generate a spatially distributed ETE map, visualizing vulnerable areas where the evacuation time would be insufficient for individuals to reach safety. The ABM investigated uncertainty during tsunami evacuations, such as population distribution, walking speed, and milling time. This paper provides insights into the differences between the LCD model and ABM in terms of methodology and application. It assists the academic researchers and emergency managers, evacuation planners, and decision makers to choose an appropriate method for modeling pedestrian evacuation during tsunami.