A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kathmandu vs. Sapporo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kathmandu or Sapporo?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kathmandu and Sapporo can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Kathmandu or Sapporo?

Kathmandu

Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.

Sapporo

Capital of the northern Japanese island Hokkaido, Sapporo is a city surrounded by mountains and known for its beer, skiing, and annual snow festival with stunning ice sculptures. As host to the 1972 Winter Olympics, the city limits are dotted with ski jumps, hills, and popular ski resorts still in use today.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Sapporo or Kathmandu?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Kathmandu is $57, while the average daily cost in Sapporo is $106. 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 Kathmandu and Sapporo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kathmandu $40
    Sapporo $63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kathmandu $80
    Sapporo $126
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and Sapporo

Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu or Sapporo? 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 Kathmandu


Hotels in Sapporo


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: Kathmandu Hotel Prices and Sapporo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kathmandu $6.95
    Sapporo $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:

  • Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour with Transfers: $1,999
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Chitwan Hotels: $210
  • Kathmandu to Chitwan (Sauraha) Private Transfer: $197
  • 3-Day Chitwan Safari Tour with Hotel Transfers: $192
  • Kathmandu to Pokhara Transfer by Luxury Private Car: $180
  • From Bungee Jump over Bhotekosi River & Transfer: $160
  • Kathmandu to Pokhara: One Way Private Transfer: $156
  • Everest Mountain flight by a plane with Transfer: $156
  • Everest Mountain Flight with Private Transfers: $156
  • From One-Way Private Transfer to Pokhara: $148
  • One-Way Flight Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara: $130
  • From Private car transfer to Pokhara: $117

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sapporo

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

  • Shin Chitose Airport to/from Sapporo City: Shared Transfer: $37
  • New Chitose Airport ↔ Sapporo, Best Transfer Pick up Service : $66
  • Private Transfer from Sapporo hotels to Otaru Cruise Port: $93
  • Sapporo City: Private Transfer to/from New Chitose Airport: $119
  • [Airport Transfer] Smoothly move between Sapporo and New Chitose Airport with a private car! one way: $135
  • Airport Transfer! Hotel in center of Sapporo to New Chitose Airport (CTS): $140
  • Private Transfer from Sapporo City Hotels to Muroran Cruise Port: $143
  • Horseback-Riding in a Country Side in Sapporo - Private Transfer is Included: $154
  • Private Transfer from Sapporo hotels to Muroran Cruise Port: $158
  • SkyExpress Private Transfer: Sapporo to Otaru (8 Passengers): $289
  • Private Transfer: between Sapporo and Upopoy: $467

Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or Sapporo?

Prices for flights to both Sapporo and Kathmandu 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
    Kathmandu $8.31
    Sapporo $30
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu

Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:


  • Dessert
    $1.35
  • Dinner for Two
    $3.01

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.

  • Best Half-Day Nepali Cooking Class & Hotel Pickup: $7.50
  • Momo Making & Cooking class in Thamel with Pickup: $8.59
  • Half Day cooking class in Kathmandu by Local Chefs & Pickup: $9.37
  • Best Half day cooking class in Thamel Kathmandu with Pickup: $10
  • Dinner with Cultural Show Kathmandu : $12
  • Cooking Class in Thamel Kathmandu by Local Chef with pickup: $13
  • Cultural Dinner Show with Traditional Dance: $17
  • Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel, Kathmandu with Pickup: $19
  • Half Day Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Visit: $23
  • Food Tour In Kathmandu With Walking Local Market: $23
  • Nepali cooking class and Homestay experience : $25
  • Kathmandu Culinary Adventure: A Cooking Class Experience: $29

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sapporo

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

  • Private Market Tour, Cooking Class and Lunch with a Local in Sapporo: $82
  • Sapporo Bar Hopping Food Tour: $82
  • Japanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with a Local Professional in her Lovely Home: $88

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kathmandu $8.04
    Sapporo $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:


  • Monkey Temple for Two
    $1.50
  • Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two
    $3.76
  • Swayambhunath Stupa
    $1.50

Tours and Activities in Kathmandu

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

  • Day tour Namo Buddha : $90
  • Hire Tour Guide Nepal : $81
  • Manakamana Darshan- Day Tour: $199
  • One Day Tour inside Chitwan National Park: $110
  • Private Full Day Tour In Kathmandu City: $115
  • Private Full- Day Nagarkot SunriseTour and Bhaktapur( UNESCO) Durbar Square : $90
  • Two Days Sightseeing in Kathmandu Tour UNESCO Heritage sites: $150
  • "Off-The-Beaten-Path" Tour around Kathmandu : $70
  • 1 Day Cycling Tour in Kathmandu: $312
  • 1 Day Everest base camp helicopter tour: $2,146
  • 1 Day Kathmandu Shopping Tour Experience: $100
  • 1 Day Rock Climbing Tour near Kathmandu Valley: $190

Tours and Activities in Sapporo

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

  • JR Tower Observatory Admission Ticket: $4.04
  • Hand-rolled sushi experience tour at Sapporo Nijo Market: $44
  • Sapporo Morning Walking Tour: $46
  • Nopporo Forest Mountain Bike Tour from Sapporo, presenting a retro Cycle cap: $50
  • Sapporo Afternoon Walking Tour 2h 30mins: $53
  • Experience traditional Japanese cuisine, making soba noodles in Sapporo, in a fun and casual way.: $53
  • Japanese buckwheat noodle making experience in Sapporo,japan: $57
  • Popular No.1! Soba Making Experience and Tempura Plan: $60
  • Mondo's most popular plan! Experience making soba noodles and the king of Japanese cuisine, tempura, in Sapporo!: $62
  • Mountain Bike Tour from Sapporo Including Hoheikyo Onsen and Lunch: $68
  • Personalized Experience with a Local: $69
  • in Sapporo! Hand-made soba experience and shabu-shabu experience plan of Yezo deer meat (Gibier meat) from Hokkaido: $69

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kathmandu $5.77
    Sapporo $7.98


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

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


Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or Sapporo?

Sapporo has a larger population, and is about 31% larger than the population of Kathmandu. When comparing the sizes of Kathmandu and Sapporo, 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.