A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Haifa vs. Matsue for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Haifa or Matsue?

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 Haifa and Matsue. 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: Haifa or Matsue?

Haifa

Located on the northern Mediterranean coast of Israel, Haifa is Israel's third largest city. It is also a beautiful and strategically located city near the border with Lebanon. The population of Haifa, which is approximately 300,000, is surprisingly diverse. There are Jews, Muslim, and Christian Arabs throughout the city. While Haifa is an industrial city with a strong work ethic and a good job base, it is also a beautiful city with many gardens and a stunning coastline. Today the job base has increasingly become technology based with some large companies such as Google and Microsoft offering employment in the area. Haifa University is also the country's top technology university.

Matsue

Matsue, Japan is located on the scenic shores of Lake Shinji in the Shimane Prefecture. Matsue is the capital city of the prefecture and is known as the water city due to being located between Lake Shinji, Lake Nakaumi, and the Sea of Japan. This historically rich city is famous for being a laid back samurai village with stunning sunsets and traditional confectioneries.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Israel, The Best Cultural Tours in Israel, The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Haifa and Matsue, we can see that Haifa is more expensive. And not only is Matsue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Haifa is in Middle East and Matsue 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 Matsue would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Matsue 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 Haifa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Haifa than you might in Matsue.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Haifa Expensive? and Is Matsue Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Haifa or Matsue?

Haifa has a larger population, and is about 70% larger than the population of Matsue. When comparing the sizes of Haifa and Matsue, 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.

When is the best time to visit Haifa or Matsue?

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

Should I visit Haifa or Matsue in the Summer?

Both Matsue and Haifa during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Haifa because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Matsue because of the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Haifa is around the same temperature as Matsue. Typically, the summer temperatures in Haifa in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Matsue averages at about 25°C (78°F).

In Matsue, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Haifa. In the summer, Haifa often gets more sunshine than Matsue. Haifa gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 201 hours of full sun.

Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Haifa usually gets less rain in July than Matsue. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Haifa or Matsue in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Haifa and Matsue. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Haifa year-round. Furthermore, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Matsue this time of year.

In October, Haifa is generally a little warmer than Matsue. Daily temperatures in Haifa average around 24°C (75°F), and Matsue fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

In Haifa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Haifa usually receives more sunshine than Matsue during autumn. Haifa gets 274 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 173 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Matsue receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Haifa usually receives less rain than Matsue. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Haifa or Matsue in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Haifa as well as Matsue. Haifa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Matsue for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Matsue. Haifa is much warmer than Matsue in the winter. The daily temperature in Haifa averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Matsue fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

In the winter, Haifa often gets more sunshine than Matsue. Haifa gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 84 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Matsue. Haifa receives a lot of rain in the winter. Haifa usually gets less rain in January than Matsue. Haifa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Haifa or Matsue in the Spring?

Both Matsue and Haifa are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Haifa throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Matsue in the spring for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Haifa is a little warmer than Matsue. Typically, the spring temperatures in Haifa in April average around 19°C (66°F), and Matsue averages at about 13°C (55°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Haifa. Haifa usually receives more sunshine than Matsue during spring. Haifa gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. In April, Haifa usually receives less rain than Matsue. Haifa gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Matsue and Haifa