Which place is cheaper, Okinawa or Lijiang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lijiang or Okinawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Lijiang and Okinawa can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Lijiang or Okinawa?
Lijiang
Lijiang is a city in Southwestern China with a history of rule under the Mu family during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It played a key role along the Ancient Southern Silk Road, which started from Burma, crossed Lijiang, Shangri-La County, Tibet, journeyed through Iran, the Fertile Crescent, and ultimately to the Mediterranean Sea. The area was once a center for trade, politics, culture, and education, which is still evident in the rich culture seen today. Lijiang has also been the home of centuries to the Naxi people who still inhabit the area.
Okinawa
Okinawa is the southernmost prefecture of Japan and includes hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands. The chain of islands is off the southern mainland portion of the country and is made up of 49 inhabited islands and over one hundred uninhabited islands. Naha is Okinawa's capital, which is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLijiang $41Okinawa $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Lijiang is $41, while the average daily cost in Okinawa is $104. 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 Lijiang and Okinawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLijiang $15Okinawa $72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLijiang $30Okinawa $144
Compare Hotels in Lijiang and Okinawa
Looking for a hotel in Lijiang or Okinawa? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lijiang $5.58Okinawa $9.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lijiang
Also for Lijiang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lijiang Sanyi International Airport Chauffeur Service,Lijiang Airport Transfer: $57
- Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Shangri-la(Diqing) hotel: $149
- Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Dali : $149
- Private Transfer from Lijiang to Shangri-La and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $159
- Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Dali and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Okinawa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Okinawa:
- Private Transfer from Okinawa Airport (OKA) to Nakagusuku Port: $85
- Private Transfer from Nakagusuku Port to Okinawa Airport (OKA): $85
- Private Transfer from Nakagusuku Port to Okinawa Airport (OKA): $94
- Private Transfer from Nakagusuku Cruise Port to Naha City Hotels : $66
- Private Transfer from Naha City Hotels to Nakagusuku Cruise Port : $59
- Private Transfer from Naha City Hotels to Nakagusuku Cruise Port : $66
- Okinawa Naha Airport (OKA) to Naha hotels - Arrival Transfer: $59
- Okinawa Naha Airport (OKA) to Naha Hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $118
- Naha hotels to Okinawa Naha Airport (ОКА) - Departure Transfer: $59
- Airport Transfer! Naha Airport (OKA) to Center of Naha: $124
- Airport Transfer! Center of Naha to Naha Airport (OKA): $125
Is it cheaper to fly into Lijiang or Okinawa?
Prices for flights to both Okinawa and Lijiang 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 dayLijiang $17Okinawa $23
Typical Food Prices in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$4.14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit: $59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lijiang $20Okinawa $14
Tours and Activities in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Via Ferrata with Zipline Experience in Lijiang: $42
- Private Tour: Jade Dragon Village and Baisha Village via Bicycle: $158
- One day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Tour in From Lijiang: $160
- 1 Day Private Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang or Dali: $165
- 1-Day Old Town Tour in Lijiang: $166
- 1 Day Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour from Lijiang or Shangri-La: $170
- Private Jade Dragon Snow Mountains and Naxi Village Tour: $187
- 2 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour by public coach: $189
- 1 day Lijiang Highlights Mini Group Tour: $203
- 1-Day Lijiang tour with Lijiang Old Town,Black Dragon Pool,Baisha Village,Shuhe: $207
- Private Day Tour Tiger Leaping Gorge and Black Dragon Pond from Lijiang: $207
- Flexible Lijiang City Highlights Private Day Tour with Lunch: $208
Tours and Activities in Okinawa
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Okinawa are as follows:
- Okinawa Local Experience and Sunset Cycling Tour: $85
- 2-Hour Private Gorilla Go Kart Experience in Okinawa: $68
- 4 Person Group Tour Kerama Blue Cycling in Aka Island : $118
- American Village &Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium Tour from Naha/Chatan: $78
- Beautiful sunset kayak tour in Okinawa: $36
- City of Romance and Great Figures Haebaru Cycling Tour: $99
- Cycling Experience in the Historic City of Urasoe: $99
- E-Bike Nature Tour in Shuri: $89
- Jungle River Trek: private tour in Yanbaru, north Okinawa: $49
- Karate History Tour in Okinawa: $106
- Kayak & Snorkel: private tour in Yanbaru, north Okinawa: $111
- Kayak Mangroves or Coral Reef: private tour in north Okinawa : $53
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLijiang $7.86Okinawa $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Okinawa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Okinawa:
- Naha Local Pub Crawl: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lijiang and Okinawa, we can see that Okinawa is more expensive. And not only is Lijiang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lijiang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lijiang 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 Okinawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Okinawa than you might in Lijiang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lijiang Expensive? and Is Okinawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lijiang or Okinawa?
Lijiang has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Okinawa. When comparing the sizes of Lijiang and Okinawa, 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.
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.