Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Airlie Beach?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Airlie Beach or Yakushima?
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 Airlie Beach and Yakushima. 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: Airlie Beach or Yakushima?
Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach, in Queensland, offers the closest port to the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef. It's a small town of only 25,000 and has grown out of the area's popularity as a tourist destination. It's main industry remains tourism and, as such, there are many venues set up to accommodate travelers hoping to make trips to the Whitsunday Islands and the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The town has the feel of a vacation destination. While in the past Airlie Beach appealed specifically to the backpacker crowd, it's popularity has spread and now there are facilities catering to all travel types. The area has become more commercialized and there are plenty of large resorts to choose from. Even so, you'll still find no shortage of affordable accommodation around town.
Yakushima
Yakushima, Japan is a UNESCO World Heritage island located north of Okinawa and off the south east of of Kyushu. The island is well-known to Japanese tourists but not so much to international ones, making it a bit of a hidden gem to international tourists. This also means that English isn't spoken as much as in larger cities, so make sure to brush up on your Japanese and bring a dictionary.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAirlie Beach $146Yakushima $125
The average daily cost (per person) in Airlie Beach is $146, while the average daily cost in Yakushima is $125. 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 Airlie Beach and Yakushima in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAirlie Beach $60Yakushima $63
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAirlie Beach $120Yakushima $126
Compare Hotels in Airlie Beach and Yakushima
Looking for a hotel in Airlie Beach or Yakushima? 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: Airlie Beach Hotel Prices and Yakushima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Airlie Beach $20Yakushima $53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Airlie Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Airlie Beach:
- Whitsunday: Prosperpine Airport to Airlie Beach Transfer: $17
- Transfer from Whitsunday Coast Airport: $17
- One Way Only - Airport Transfer share shuttle service: $18
- Airport Transfers - Return (round fare) share shuttle service: $30
- Return Transfer PPP Airport Shute Harbour / Renta Yacht / Freedom Shores: $34
- South Molle Island Camping Transfer: $62
- Roundtrip KIA Transfer from Whitsunday Coast Airport: $238
- Private Transfer to Whitsunday Coast Airport: $332
Is it cheaper to fly into Airlie Beach or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima and Airlie Beach 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
-
Food Meals for one dayAirlie Beach $33Yakushima $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Airlie Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Airlie Beach.
- 3-Hour Sunset Segway Tour with Dinner: $86
- Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner: $88
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Airlie Beach $165Yakushima $22
Tours and Activities in Airlie Beach
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Airlie Beach are as follows:
- Private Airlie Beach Tuk-Tuk Tours: $21
- Cedar Creek Express. (cruise ship friendly): $41
- 2-Hour Sunset Cruise with Sparkling Wine: $48
- Whisper Cruises - One-Hour Turtle Spotting Bay Cruise: $48
- Sundowner Sunset Cruise Airlie Beach: $48
- Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise : $48
- Airlie Beach Trike Tours: $53
- Whitsundays Sunset Sailing Cruise: $60
- Glass-Bottom Boat Tour: $62
- Airlie Beach Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $63
- Airlie Beach Glass Bottom Boat Guided Night Tour: $70
- Whitsundays Guided Jet Ski Tour: $91
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAirlie Beach $9.30Yakushima $6.87
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Airlie Beach and Yakushima, we can see that Airlie Beach is more expensive. And not only is Yakushima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Airlie Beach is in Pacific and Yakushima is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Yakushima would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Yakushima 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 Airlie Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Airlie Beach than you might in Yakushima.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Airlie Beach Expensive? and Is Yakushima Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Airlie Beach or Yakushima?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Airlie Beach is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Yakushima has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Airlie Beach or Yakushima in the Summer?
Both Yakushima and Airlie Beach are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Airlie Beach this time of year.
In the summer, Airlie Beach is around the same temperature as Yakushima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Airlie Beach in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Yakushima averages at about 27°C (81°F)in July.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Airlie Beach. In January, Airlie Beach usually receives more rain than Yakushimain July. Airlie Beach gets 331 mm (13 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyAirlie Beach 26°C (79°F)Yakushima 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Airlie Beach or Yakushima in the Autumn?
Both Yakushima and Airlie Beach during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Airlie Beach for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In April, Airlie Beach is generally around the same temperature as Yakushimain October. Daily temperatures in Airlie Beach average around 23°C (73°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. Airlie Beach usually gets less rain in April than Yakushimain October. Airlie Beach gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberAirlie Beach 23°C (73°F)Yakushima 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Airlie Beach or Yakushima in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Airlie Beach and Yakushima. Many visitors come to Airlie Beach in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Airlie Beach is much warmer than Yakushima in the winter. The daily temperature in Airlie Beach averages around 16°C (62°F) in July, and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in January.
Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the winter. In July, Airlie Beach usually receives less rain than Yakushimain January. Airlie Beach gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryAirlie Beach 16°C (62°F)Yakushima 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Airlie Beach or Yakushima in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Airlie Beach as well as Yakushima. Most visitors come to Airlie Beach for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Airlie Beach is a little warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Airlie Beach in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Yakushima averages at about 18°C (64°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Airlie Beach usually gets less rain in October than Yakushimain April. Airlie Beach gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilAirlie Beach 23°C (73°F)Yakushima 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Yakushima and Airlie Beach
| Airlie Beach | Yakushima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 288 mm (11.3 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 352 mm (13.9 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 253 mm (10 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 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.