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

Should you visit Kathmandu or Shiretoko National Park?

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 Shiretoko National Park 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 Shiretoko National Park?

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.

Shiretoko National Park

Shiretoko National Park, Japan is comprises the entire Shiretoko Penninusla in the northeast island of Hokkaido. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered to be one of the most remote areas in Japan with very few and very small settlements. This makes Shiretoko the perfect place for a fun hiking and camping adventure.

While the park is open year round, the weather in the area tends to greatly affect the enjoyment of your trip due to harsh winters and heavy rain at the end of summer. There is a short period from May to early July that is considered the best time to visit due to slightly less rain and comfortable temperatures around 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

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, Shiretoko National Park 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 Shiretoko National Park is $74. 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 Shiretoko National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kathmandu $40
    Shiretoko National Park $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kathmandu $80
    Shiretoko National Park $66
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and Shiretoko National Park

Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu or Shiretoko National Park? 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 Shiretoko National Park


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 Shiretoko National Park Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kathmandu $6.95
    Shiretoko National Park $26
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:

  • Kathmandu Airport transfer service: $8.35
  • Kathmandu - Arrival transfer from airport to hotel : $12
  • Kathmandu - Private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport : $15
  • Kathmandu Airport Transfer: $16
  • Kathmandu airport transfer service: $20
  • Kathmandu Airport Arrival transfer: $20
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu Domestic Airport to Hotel Vehicle : $20
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu Hotels to Domestic Airport Vehicle: $20
  • Deluxe Toyota Coaster Mini Bus Transfer From Kathmandu to Pokhara or V. V. : $22
  • Kathmandu to Pokhara: Luxury Sofa Bus Transfer: $23
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu International Airport to Hotel : $25
  • Kathmandu to Pokhara Transfer: $25

Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or Shiretoko National Park?

Prices for flights to both Shiretoko National Park 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
    Shiretoko National Park $25
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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kathmandu $8.04
    Shiretoko National Park $15
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:

  • Private Tour Chandragiri Hills and Kathmandu Durbar Square : $5.00
  • Old A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.40
  • City Highlights Bus Tour: $9.56
  • Sarngkot Sunrise Himalayas Tour in Pokhara: $10
  • Skywalk Adventure in Nepal: $11
  • Nepali Nightlife Experience in Kathmandu's Vibrant Thamel: $12
  • Discovering Full-Day City Highlights Bus Tour: $12
  • Tourist Bus Intercity Hassle free Shuttle all over Nepal: $12
  • Kathmandu to Pokhara Tourist Bus- MNS: $12
  • Bandipur Tourist Bus Ticket: $12
  • 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites Private Day Tour: $13
  • Chitwan To Kathmandu Tourist Bus: $13

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kathmandu $5.77
    Shiretoko National Park $10


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kathmandu and Shiretoko National Park, we can see that Shiretoko National Park 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 Shiretoko National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shiretoko National Park 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 Shiretoko National Park Expensive?.