Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Koh Tao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Koh Tao or Yakushima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Tao or Yakushima, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Koh Tao or Yakushima?
Koh Tao
With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.
This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.
Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.
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 Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Tao $37Yakushima $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Tao 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 Koh Tao and Yakushima in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Tao $14Yakushima $59
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Tao $28Yakushima $118
Compare Hotels in Koh Tao and Yakushima
Looking for a hotel in Koh Tao 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: Koh Tao Hotel Prices and Yakushima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Tao $8.67Yakushima $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
-
Motorbike Rental$5.18
-
Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$18
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Tao or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima and Koh Tao 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 dayKoh Tao $9.21Yakushima $28
Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
-
Sit Down Lunch (for One)$5.46
-
Breakfast$4.09
-
Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.27
-
Fancy Dinner (for Two)$13
-
Pancake$1.91
-
American Breakfast (for Two)$7.64
-
Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$7.36
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Tao $26Yakushima $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Kayak Rental (One Hour)$6.82
-
Snorkel Rental$2.73
-
Kayak and Snorkel (2)$2.73
Tours and Activities in Koh Tao
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
- Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $22
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $22
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $23
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $24
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $28
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $33
- Koh Tao Viewpoint and Snorkeling Tour: $55
- Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $124
- Koh Tao Cliff Jumping Snorkeling Experience: $135
- Koh Tao Snorkeling and Island Hopping Tour (Private) : $175
- Advanced Adventurer - 2 days ( Advanced Open Water): $277
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Tao $7.14Yakushima $6.38
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
-
Beer$1.77
-
Bottle of Wine$10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Tao and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Tao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Tao 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 Koh Tao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Tao Expensive? and Is Yakushima Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Tao or Yakushima?
Yakushima has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Tao experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Koh Tao or Yakushima in the Summer?
Both Yakushima and Koh Tao during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Koh Tao is cooler than Yakushima in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Tao averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Tao. Koh Tao usually gets less rain in July than Yakushima. Koh Tao gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Tao 24°C (76°F)Yakushima 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Tao or Yakushima in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Tao and Yakushima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tao year-round.
In the autumn, Koh Tao is a little warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Tao in October average around 24°C (76°F), and Yakushima averages at about 22°C (71°F).
Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Tao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Koh Tao usually receives more rain than Yakushima. Koh Tao gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn. Also, October and November is the rainy season in Koh Tao.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Tao 24°C (76°F)Yakushima 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Koh Tao or Yakushima in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Koh Tao as well as Yakushima. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Koh Tao is generally much warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Koh Tao average around 22°C (72°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Koh Tao usually gets less rain in January than Yakushima. Koh Tao gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, February to June in Koh Tao is the dry season.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Tao 22°C (72°F)Yakushima 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Koh Tao or Yakushima in the Spring?
Both Yakushima and Koh Tao are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
Koh Tao is a little warmer than Yakushima in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Tao averages around 25°C (77°F) in April, and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. In April, Koh Tao usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Koh Tao gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Koh Tao is February to June.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Tao 25°C (77°F)Yakushima 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Yakushima and Koh Tao
| Koh Tao | Yakushima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) |
| May | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 288 mm (11.3 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 352 mm (13.9 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 253 mm (10 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
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.