Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Kaikoura?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kaikoura or Yakushima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kaikoura 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: Kaikoura or Yakushima?
Kaikoura
Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island, situated between Christchurch and Belnheim. It has a permanent resident population of 1,971. The Seaward Kaikoura Mountains that surround this town collide with the Pacific Ocean, and the continental shelf edge is just offshore. The ocean in Kaikoura is very rich in marine life, especially seals and whales.
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 Luxury Tours to New Zealand, The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKaikoura $135Yakushima $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Kaikoura is $135, 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 Kaikoura and Yakushima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKaikoura $48Yakushima $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKaikoura $96Yakushima $118
Compare Hotels in Kaikoura and Yakushima
Looking for a hotel in Kaikoura 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.
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: Kaikoura Hotel Prices and Yakushima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kaikoura $17Yakushima $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Kaikoura or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima and Kaikoura 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 dayKaikoura $38Yakushima $28
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kaikoura $152Yakushima $20
Tours and Activities in Kaikoura
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kaikoura are as follows:
- Seal-Watching Pedal Kayak Tour: $71
- Sunset Kayak tour in Kaikoura: $72
- Seal Kayaking Adventure in Kaikoura: $72
- Llama Trek (Taster) - Kowhai River Valley and Native Woodland Tour: $81
- Guided Family Kayaking Adventure: $89
- Half-Day Wildlife Kayaking Tour: $89
- Wildlife Kayaking Tour at Sunset: $89
- Wildlife Sea Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura: $90
- Sunset Evening Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura: $91
- KaikÅura: Zipline and Native Forest Adventure Trip: $94
- Half Day Zipline Adventure in Kaikoura: $97
- Whale Watching Cruise: $98
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKaikoura -Yakushima $6.38
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kaikoura and Yakushima, we can see that Kaikoura is more expensive. And not only is Yakushima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kaikoura is in Pacific 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 Kaikoura would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kaikoura 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 Kaikoura Expensive? and Is Yakushima Expensive?.
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.