Which place is cheaper, Vancouver or Kyoto?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kyoto or Vancouver?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kyoto and Vancouver 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: Kyoto or Vancouver?
Kyoto
Kyoto is a larger city of Japan, though it is very much set in the old ways. With quiet temples, sublime gardens, colorful shrines, and geisha walking amidst a city surrounded by stunning mountains, Kyoto feels like a world of another time and place. True to ancient Japanese tradition, most aspects of daily life are tied closely with the changing of the seasons.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKyoto $96Vancouver $142
The average daily cost (per person) in Kyoto is $96, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $142. 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 Kyoto and Vancouver in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKyoto $63Vancouver $87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKyoto $126Vancouver $174
Compare Hotels in Kyoto and Vancouver
Looking for a hotel in Kyoto or Vancouver? 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: Kyoto Hotel Prices and Vancouver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kyoto $7.56Vancouver $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kyoto
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kyoto:
- Chubu Centrair Airport to/from Kyoto Private Transfer: $572
- Customizable Private Tour with Hotel Transfers: $505
- From Private 1-Way Transfer to Kansai Airport: $327
- One-Way Private Transfer to/from Itami Airport: $327
- Kansai Int Airport to/from Kyoto City Private Transfer: $274
- Kansai Intl. Airport KIX Private Transfer to/from Kyoto: $230
- Osaka City to/from Kyoto City Private transfer: $229
- Osaka (Itami) Airport ITM Private Transfer to/from Kyoto: $220
- Kansai Airport (KIX): Private One-Way Transfer to/from Kyoto: $207
- Osaka (Itami) Airport to/from Kyoto City Private Transfer: $141
- Private departure transfer from Kyoto city to Kansai International airport: $110
- Private departure transfer from Kyoto city to Osaka Itami International airport: $80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
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SkyTrain from Airport$6.40
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Taxi from Airport to Downtown$21
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15 min Taxi Ride$8.78
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SkyTrain DayPass$6.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Vancouver YVR or Cruise Port to Vancouver by SUV: $120
- Arrival Private Transfer: Vancouver Airport YVR to Vancouver in Luxury Car: $163
- Canada Place Cruise Port to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $93
- Canada Place Cruise Port to Vancouver hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $93
- Canada Place Cruise Port to Vancouver hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $186
- Canada Place Cruise Port: Transfer to Vancouver hotels: $428
- Canada Place Port to Vancouver Airport(YVR) - Departure Transfer : $55
- Departure Private Transfer: Vancouver to Vancouver Airport YVR in Luxury Car: $163
- Departure Private Transfer: Vancouver to Vancouver Airport YVR in Luxury SUV: $133
- Maximize Your Cruise Adventure: Vancouver Tour & Transfer: $292
- Mount Washington to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Transfer: $93
- Private Departure Transfer to Vancouver Airport (YVR): $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Kyoto or Vancouver?
Prices for flights to both Vancouver and Kyoto 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 dayKyoto $24Vancouver $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kyoto
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kyoto.
- Private Cooking Class Udon in Kyoto Japan: $41
- Japanese Washoku Bento Cooking Class with Lunch: $46
- Nishiki Market Brunch Walking Food Tour: $47
- Japanese Home Cooking Lesson with Local Hosts in Peaceful Kyoto Suburb Otsu: $49
- Private Guided Traditional Buddhist Cooking in Japan: $58
- Kyoto Nishiki Market & Depachika: 2-hours Food Tour with a Local: $59
- Morning Japanese Bento Cooking Class: $61
- Afternoon Japanese Izakaya Cooking Class: $61
- Japanese Cooking Class: $62
- Sushi - Authentic Japanese Cooking Class - the best souvenir from Kyoto!: $64
- Japanese Udon and Sushi Cooking Class with Tastings: $64
- Wagashi(Japanese sweets) Cooking :Kyoto near Fushimiinari: $65
Typical Food Prices in Vancouver
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:
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All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch$8.87
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $84
- The Gastown Experience Walking Food Tour: $94
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $100
- Vancouver Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $100
- North Vancouver Shipyards Food Tour: $108
- Vancouver Authentic Chinese Food Tour: $134
- VIP Granville Island Market Vancouver - Walking Food Tour: $138
- Authentic Asian Eats Walking Food Tour: $142
- 3-Hour Bowen Island Boat Cruise with Dinner: $153
- Evening Cruise with Dinner Buffet: $153
- Vancouver Evening Dinner Cruise: $157
- Granville Island Uncorked Walking Food Tour: $161
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kyoto $13Vancouver $36
Tours and Activities in Kyoto
Here are a few actual costs in Kyoto for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Hour Walking Historic Gion Tour in Kyoto Geisha Spotting Area: $300
- Bar Hopping Private Tour in Kyoto: $48
- Kyoto Private Full-day Walking Tour from Kyoto Station: $154
- Osaka Kyoto Experience Japanese Homogi: $134
- "Unlock Kyoto's Charm: Government-Certified Group Tour: $90
- 1 Day Hiking Tour in the Mountains of Kyoto: $174
- 1-Hour Japanese Archery Experience in Kyoto: $39
- 1.5 Hours Kyoto Insider Sake Experience: $66
- 10 Hrs Full day Kyoto Tour w/Hotel Pick-up: $588
- 2 Hour Night Walking Tour Throughout Gion in a Small Group: $67
- 2 Hours Shared Kendo Experience In Kyoto Japan: $120
- 2-Hour Shopping Tour Plan / private: $131
Tours and Activities in Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- Vancouver self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.31
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.75
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.82
- Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Fort Langley: a Film & Television Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.19
- Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.19
- Cycling the Seawall: A Self-Guided Audio Tour Along the Stanley Park Seawall: $5.46
- Historic Walking Tours of Vancouver with Then & Now Images!: $6.68
- Walking Tour Along Stanley Park's Seawall: $6.68
- Vancouver Downtown: Espionage Adventure Outdoor Escape Game: $6.99
- Self-Guided Smartphone Tour of Stanley Park: $7.31
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tours of Stanley Park: $7.42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKyoto $12Vancouver $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Kyoto
Also in Kyoto, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Japanese Sake Brewery and Fushimi Inari Sightseeing Tour: $18
- Kyoto Local Bar Crawl in Kawaramachi Area: $40
- Sake Brewery &Great Yakitori Experience: $78
- Sake Brewery and Tasting Tour in Fushimi: $82
- Kyoto Sake Brewery & Tasting Walking Tour: $84
- Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Sake and Food Pairing: $85
- Rural Brewery Town Walk: Half-Day Private Tour Near Kyoto: $100
- Kyoto Sake Brewery Tour: $159
- Rural Villages & Brewery Town: Private 1-Day Cycling Near Kyoto: $187
- Kyoto Sake Bar and Pub Crawl (Food & Sake Tour): $195
- Kyoto Sake Bar and Pub Crawl (Food & Sake Tour): $196
- Private Guided Local Bar Crawl Experience in Kyoto: $223
Sample the Local Flavors in Vancouver
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl ROUTE B: $18
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $22
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl: $26
- 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $88
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour with a light Lunch from Vancouver: $134
- Vancouver Wine Tour (Fraser Valley): $134
- From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $138
- From Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Local Tastings: $139
- Taste of the Valley Wine Tour: $148
- Stawamus Chief Hike and Local Brewery Tasting: $165
- Fraser Valley & White Rock Premium Public Wine Tour: $166
- Stawamus Chief Hike & Local Brewery Tasting : $167
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kyoto and Vancouver, we can see that Vancouver is more expensive. And not only is Kyoto much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kyoto is in Asia and Vancouver is in North America, 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 Kyoto would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kyoto 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 Vancouver would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Vancouver than you might in Kyoto.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kyoto Expensive? and Is Vancouver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kyoto or Vancouver?
Vancouver has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Kyoto. When comparing the sizes of Kyoto and Vancouver, 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.
When is the best time to visit Kyoto or Vancouver?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Kyoto or Vancouver in the Summer?
Both Vancouver and Kyoto during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Kyoto this time of year.
In July, Kyoto is generally much warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Kyoto average around 27°C (81°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
In Vancouver, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Kyoto often gets less sunshine than Vancouver. Kyoto gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 296 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kyoto. Kyoto usually gets more rain in July than Vancouver. Kyoto gets 236 mm (9.3 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKyoto 27°C (81°F)Vancouver 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Kyoto or Vancouver in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kyoto and Vancouver. Many travelers come to Kyoto for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Kyoto is much warmer than Vancouver in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kyoto averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Vancouver fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Kyoto usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during autumn. Kyoto gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 124 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Vancouver receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kyoto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kyoto usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Kyoto gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKyoto 18°C (64°F)Vancouver 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Kyoto or Vancouver in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kyoto as well as Vancouver. Many visitors come to Kyoto in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Vancouver can be very cold during winter. Kyoto can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Kyoto is around the same temperature as Vancouver. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kyoto in January average around 5°C (40°F), and Vancouver averages at about 4°C (40°F).
In the winter, Kyoto often gets more sunshine than Vancouver. Kyoto gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 55 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Vancouver. Kyoto usually gets less rain in January than Vancouver. Kyoto gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKyoto 5°C (40°F)Vancouver 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Kyoto or Vancouver in the Spring?
Both Vancouver and Kyoto are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Kyoto for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Kyoto is generally much warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Kyoto average around 14°C (58°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
Kyoto usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Vancouver during spring. Kyoto gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. It's quite rainy in Kyoto. In April, Kyoto usually receives more rain than Vancouver. Kyoto gets 153 mm (6 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKyoto 14°C (58°F)Vancouver 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Vancouver and Kyoto
| Kyoto | Vancouver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (40°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 153 mm (6 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 154 mm (6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 251 mm (9.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 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.