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

Should you visit Jaisalmer or Yakushima?

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

Should I visit Jaisalmer or Yakushima? 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: Jaisalmer or Yakushima?

Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer is located in western part of the Rajasthan state of India. The city is known as the "Golden City" for its Sonar Qila, or 'Golden Fort'. This fort is different than other forts in India in that it is a living fort, meaning that it contains many hotels, homes, and shops for locals and visitors. The city is very close to the Thar Desert, to which excursions can be made.

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 India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Jaisalmer?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Jaisalmer is $37, while the average daily cost in Yakushima is $116. 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 Jaisalmer and Yakushima in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Jaisalmer $13
    Yakushima $59
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Jaisalmer $26
    Yakushima $118
Compare Hotels in Jaisalmer and Yakushima

Looking for a hotel in Jaisalmer 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 Jaisalmer


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: Jaisalmer Hotel Prices and Yakushima Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Jaisalmer $12
    Yakushima $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaisalmer

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

  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer Airport To Jaisalmer Hotel: $10
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer Hotel To Jaisalmer Airport: $10
  • One Way Transfer Service From Jaisalmer Airport To Hotel: $12
  • One Way Transfer Service From Jaisalmer Hotel To Airport: $12
  • Private One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer Airport To Jaisalmer Hotel: $12
  • From Jaisalmer : Private Transfer To Sam / Khuri Sand Dunes: $18
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Khuri Sand Dunes: $19
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Sam Sand Dunes: $19
  • Pokhran Airport transfer: $28
  • Private Transfer from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur: $37
  • One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur: $42
  • From Jaisalmer : Transfer To Jodhpur Via Osian Temple: $43

Is it cheaper to fly into Jaisalmer or Yakushima?

Prices for flights to both Yakushima and Jaisalmer 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
    Jaisalmer $13
    Yakushima $28
Typical Food Prices in Jaisalmer

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


  • Dinner
    $4.78

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaisalmer

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

  • Half Day SunSet Tour with Dinner: $26
  • Jaisalmer Heritage Cultural Walking & Street Food Tour: $28
  • Half Day Camel Safari Sunset with Dinner Tour (Non Touristic): $30
  • Pleasant Sunset Safari With Dinner On Dunes (From 2:00 PM to Approx. 10:00 PM): $33
  • Peaceful Non -Touristic Sunset Camel Safari With Dinner : $35
  • Sunset Safari With Dinner: $37
  • Half Day Desert Safari with Camel ride & dinner: $42
  • Sun Set Safari with Dinner: $45
  • 4×4 Jeep Safari And Camel Safari With Dinner On Sand dunes: $48
  • Away from the Crowd Dinner on dunes/ In Non Touristic Desert: $55
  • DiNnER iN HeVeN /aT Golden Desert of Jaisalmer: $55
  • DiNnER !N G0LdEN DE$ERT 0F jASeLMeR: $55

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Jaisalmer $12
    Yakushima $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaisalmer

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


  • Sam Sand Dunes for Two
    $3.59

Tours and Activities in Jaisalmer

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

  • Temple Tour Of Jaisalmer Rajasthan: $6.14
  • Explore Jaisalmer with Professional Tour Guide: $12
  • Explore Jaisalmer at Night (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $12
  • Jaisalmer Walking Tour: A Stroll Through Time and Culture: $12
  • Colorful Markets of Jaisalmer (3 Hour Guided Tour): $12
  • Heritage & Cultural Trails of Jaisalmer- Guided Walking Tour: $13
  • Experience Jaisalmer at Night (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
  • Vibrant Markets of Jaisalmer (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
  • Golden City Photography Guided Tour to Capture City Hues: $13
  • Heritage & Cultural Trails of Jaisalmer Guided Walking Tour: $13
  • Jaisalmer Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $14
  • Explore Jaisalmer in Nightlights -2 Hour Guided Walking Tour: $14

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Jaisalmer $9.23
    Yakushima $6.38


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

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


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