Which place is cheaper, Okinawa or Darjiling?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Darjiling or Okinawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Darjiling or Okinawa? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Darjiling or Okinawa?
Darjiling
What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.
Okinawa
Okinawa is the southernmost prefecture of Japan and includes hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands. The chain of islands is off the southern mainland portion of the country and is made up of 49 inhabited islands and over one hundred uninhabited islands. Naha is Okinawa's capital, which is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Religious Tours in India, The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDarjiling $35Okinawa $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $35, while the average daily cost in Okinawa is $112. 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 Darjiling and Okinawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarjiling $13Okinawa $78
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarjiling $26Okinawa $156
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Okinawa
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling or Okinawa? 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: Darjiling Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darjiling $7.45Okinawa $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Gangtok to Bagdogra: $55
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $73
- Private Transfers Darjeeling - Gangtok Drop: $122
- Rafting Journey at the Down on Teesta River's White Water with Private Transfer: $182
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Okinawa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Okinawa:
- Private One Way Transfer: Naha Airport (OKA) to/from Naha: $150
- Airport Transfer! Center of Naha to Naha Airport (OKA): $125
- Airport Transfer! Naha Airport (OKA) to Center of Naha: $124
- Private Transfer from Naha City Hotels to Nakagusuku Cruise Port : $68
- Private Transfer from Nakagusuku Cruise Port to Naha City Hotels : $68
- Private Transfer from Naha City Hotels to Nakagusuku Cruise Port : $61
Is it cheaper to fly into Darjiling or Okinawa?
Prices for flights to both Okinawa and Darjiling 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 dayDarjiling $14Okinawa $25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Darjiling $12Okinawa $15
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Gangtok (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Gangtok (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Gangtok Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour): $24
- Tiger Hill Darjeeling Nature Walk (3 Hours Guided Trekking Experience): $25
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $31
- Private Morning Excursion Tour To Tiger Hill (3 Points) With Pickup and Drop: $61
- Excursion to Tea Estate Tour With Tea Processing Tour with Transportation: $61
- Gangtok Monastery Tour (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $81
- Best of Gangtok (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $84
- The Land Mark Tour (Nautical Day Darjeeling To Mirik crusade): $92
Tours and Activities in Okinawa
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Okinawa are as follows:
- Okinawa Local Experience and Sunset Cycling Tour: $109
- 2-Hour Private Gorilla Go Kart Experience in Okinawa: $68
- 200m Parasailing Experience in Okinawa depart from Ginowan Marina: $80
- 4 Person Group Tour Kerama Blue Cycling in Aka Island : $131
- American Village &Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium Tour from Naha/Chatan: $78
- Beautiful sunset kayak tour in Okinawa: $40
- City of Romance and Great Figures Haebaru Cycling Tour: $116
- Cycling Experience in the Historic City of Urasoe: $116
- E-Bike Nature Tour in Shuri: $109
- Go by E bike Firefly observation night tour in Naha: $83
- Jungle River Trek: private tour in Yanbaru, north Okinawa: $54
- Karate History Tour in Okinawa: $117
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDarjiling $8.73Okinawa $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Okinawa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Okinawa:
- Naha Local Pub Crawl: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Okinawa, we can see that Okinawa is more expensive. And not only is Darjiling much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darjiling would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darjiling 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 Okinawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Okinawa than you might in Darjiling.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Darjiling Expensive? and Is Okinawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Darjiling or Okinawa?
Okinawa has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Darjiling and Okinawa, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.