Which place is cheaper, Nikko or Guilin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Guilin and Nikko can help you decide which place is right for you.
Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.
Nikko is a small Japanese city located in the mountains north of Tokyo. It is well-known for the site of Toshogu, a famed Shinto shrine established in 1617, in memory of Tokugawa Ieyasu who was the founding ruler of the Edo Period. The town is situated just outside of Nikko National Park which offers scenic mountain landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, wild monkeys, and hiking trails.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in Japan, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Japan.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Guilin is $67, while the average daily cost in Nikko is $82. 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 Guilin and Nikko in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Guilin or Nikko? 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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:
Also for Nikko, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Nikko and Guilin 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.
Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Nikko.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guilin and Nikko, we can see that Nikko is more expensive. And not only is Guilin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Guilin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guilin 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 Nikko would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nikko than you might in Guilin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guilin Expensive? and Is Nikko Expensive?.
Guilin has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Nikko. When comparing the sizes of Guilin and Nikko, 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.
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Both Nikko and Guilin during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Nikko in the summer for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
Guilin is a little warmer than Nikko in the summer. The daily temperature in Guilin averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Nikko fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Nikko gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Guilin. Guilin usually gets more rain in July than Nikko. Guilin gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Guilin and Nikko. Also, most visitors come to Nikko for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Guilin is a little warmer than Nikko. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Guilin in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Nikko averages at about 16°C (61°F).
Nikko receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Guilin usually receives less rain than Nikko. Guilin gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Guilin as well as Nikko. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Nikko because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Nikko can be very cold. In January, Guilin is generally much warmer than Nikko. Daily temperatures in Guilin average around 10°C (49°F), and Nikko fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
Guilin usually gets more rain in January than Nikko. Guilin gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Nikko and Guilin are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the small town charm and the natural beauty are the main draw to Nikko this time of year.
Guilin is much warmer than Nikko in the spring. The daily temperature in Guilin averages around 20°C (68°F) in April, and Nikko fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Nikko. It's quite rainy in Guilin. In April, Guilin usually receives more rain than Nikko. Guilin gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 108 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Guilin | Nikko | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 10°C (49°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
Apr | 20°C (68°F) | 263 mm (10.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 108 mm (4.2 in) |
May | 25°C (77°F) | 334 mm (13.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
Aug | 30°C (86°F) | 168 mm (6.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) |
Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) |
Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 32 mm (1.2 in) |