A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dubai vs. Yakushima for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dubai or Yakushima?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dubai and Yakushima can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Dubai or Yakushima?

Dubai

Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.

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 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Dubai?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Dubai Prices
    UAE Prices
    Yakushima Prices
    Japan Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Dubai $289
    Yakushima $132

The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $289, while the average daily cost in Yakushima is $132. 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 Dubai and Yakushima in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dubai $170
    Yakushima $57
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dubai $340
    Yakushima $114
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Yakushima

Looking for a hotel in Dubai 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.

Hotels in Dubai


Hotels in Yakushima


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: Dubai Hotel Prices and Yakushima Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dubai $13
    Yakushima $48
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:


  • Taxi Ride
    $12
  • Airport Taxi
    $12
  • Sea Taxi
    $0.54

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai

Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Miracle Garden and Global Village Entry Ticket with Transfer: $8.42
  • Global Village Dubai Ticket with Optional transfer: $9.50
  • Global Village Entry Ticket with Transfer Option: $10
  • Private Dubai Airport Arrival/Departure Transfer to Dubai City: $13
  • Miracle Garden & Global Village with Optional Private Transfers: $14
  • Dubai Airport (DXB) to Dubai hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $17
  • Dubai hotel or address to Dubai Airport (DXB) – Departure Private Transfer: $17
  • Dubai Frame Ticket with Optional Private Transfer: $18
  • Global Village Dubai Admission Ticket With Transfer (Optional): $18
  • Dubai Airport Private Departure / Arrival Airport Transfer: $19
  • Dubai & Sharjah Airport Private Arrival & Departure Transfer: $20
  • Dubai Airport Arrival and Departure Transfers | Private Service: $20

Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Yakushima?

Prices for flights to both Yakushima and Dubai 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 day
    Dubai $96
    Yakushima $47
Typical Food Prices in Dubai

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:


  • French bread
    $0.95
  • Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice
    $10
  • Lemon Mint Tea
    $4.36
  • Coffee & Cake
    $6.54
  • Smoothie
    $5.45
  • Shawarma
    $1.91

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai

For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Evening Desert Safari With BBQ dinner & live shows: $5.55
  • VIP Red Sand Safari,Pick/Drop,Camel Ride,Quad Bike& Dinner: $6.42
  • Premium Desert Safari with Camel Ride, Sandboard Dinner with BBQ: $6.78
  • Dubai Desert Safari - Free Pick&Drop Red Dunes Live Shows Dinner: $6.78
  • VIP Desert Safari, Quad Bike 30 Minutes ,Camel Ride, Dinner,Shows: $6.78
  • Dubai Desert Safari Tour Hotel Transfer, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $6.78
  • VIP Dubai Red Dune Desert Safari 4x4, Camel Ride and BBQ Dinner: $8.75
  • Dubai Desert Safari With4x4 Pick/Drop camel ride BBQ dinner shows: $8.89
  • Premium Desert Safari, Pick/Drop, Camel Ride, Quad bike & Dinner: $8.96
  • Budget-Friendly Evening Desert Safari + BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $8.99
  • Desert Safari,Premium sofa,Quad Bike,CamelRide,BBQ Dinner,Shows: $9.21
  • Vip Red Dune Desert Safari, Quad Bike, Camel Ride, Dinner & Shows: $9.60

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dubai $19
    Yakushima $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai

For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Visit to the Dubai Museum
    $0.82

Tours and Activities in Dubai

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.

  • Dubai's Hidden Gems: Self Guided City Tour: $1.12
  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Dubai: $5.72
  • Dubai Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $5.84
  • A Self-Guided Tour of Dubai’s Origins in Deira: $5.99
  • Dubai Walking Tour 1h00 and 9 audio reviews: $7.26
  • Miracle Garden and Global Village Entrance Ticket: $9.77
  • Maze Mirror Inside Creek Park Entry Ticket: $9.77
  • Private Evening Desert Safari Dubai Tour: $10
  • DUBAI MARINA Jet Ski Adventure: $10
  • Dubai Butterfly Garden Ticket Deals: $10
  • 60 Min Burj Khalifa Tour in Wooden Boat: $11
  • Al Shindagha Museum Ticket: $13

Tours and Activities in Yakushima

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yakushima are as follows:

  • Kagoshima Bar Hopping Tour in Yakushima: $124
  • Kagoshima Sushi Making Experience in Yakushima: $62
  • Private Guided Tour: $309

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dubai $23
    Yakushima $6.19
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:


  • A Couple Drinks
    $25


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Yakushima, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Yakushima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East 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 Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai 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 Dubai Expensive? and Is Yakushima Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Dubai or Yakushima?

Yakushima has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Dubai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Dubai or Yakushima in the Summer?

Both Yakushima and Dubai during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dubai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Dubai can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Dubai is generally a little warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Dubai average around 35°C (95°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Dubai usually gets less rain in July than Yakushima. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year. June to August is the dry season in Dubai.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Dubai 35°C (95°F) 
    Yakushima 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Dubai or Yakushima in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Dubai and Yakushima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dubai year-round.

Dubai is a little warmer than Yakushima in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dubai averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Yakushima fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Dubai usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Dubai 29°C (84°F) 
    Yakushima 22°C (71°F)

Should I visit Dubai or Yakushima in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Dubai as well as Yakushima. Dubai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the winter, Dubai is much warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dubai in January average around 19°C (66°F), and Yakushima averages at about 11°C (52°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Dubai usually gets less rain in January than Yakushima. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year. January to March in Dubai is the rainy season.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Dubai 19°C (66°F) 
    Yakushima 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Dubai or Yakushima in the Spring?

Both Yakushima and Dubai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dubai throughout the year.

In April, Dubai is generally a little warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Dubai average around 26°C (79°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. In April, Dubai usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Dubai is June to August.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Dubai 26°C (79°F) 
    Yakushima 18°C (64°F)

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Dubai

Dubai Yakushima
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 19°C (66°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 11°C (52°F) 106 mm (4.2 in)
Feb 20°C (68°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 12°C (53°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Mar 23°C (73°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 14°C (57°F) 160 mm (6.3 in)
Apr 26°C (79°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 18°C (64°F) 207 mm (8.1 in)
May 31°C (88°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 21°C (69°F) 288 mm (11.3 in)
Jun 33°C (91°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 24°C (74°F) 352 mm (13.9 in)
Jul 35°C (95°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 27°C (81°F) 189 mm (7.4 in)
Aug 36°C (97°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 27°C (81°F) 205 mm (8.1 in)
Sep 33°C (91°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 26°C (78°F) 253 mm (10 in)
Oct 29°C (84°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 22°C (71°F) 161 mm (6.3 in)
Nov 25°C (77°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 18°C (64°F) 118 mm (4.6 in)
Dec 21°C (70°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 13°C (55°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)