Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Nara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nara or Whitsundays?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nara or Whitsundays? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Nara or Whitsundays?
Nara
As Japan's first capital, Nara offers a world of tradition and culture second only to the city of Kyoto. It is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are largely concentrated in the area of Nara Park. Here, it is also common to see many deer wandering freely amongst the temples and shrines.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, The Best Cultural Tours in Japan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNara $86Whitsundays $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Nara is $86, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $132. 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 Nara and Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNara $52Whitsundays $69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNara $104Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Nara and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Nara or Whitsundays? 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: Nara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nara $5.83Whitsundays $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nara:
- Kansai Airport (KIX)：Private One-Way Transfer to/from Nara: $240
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whitsundays
Also for Whitsundays, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $124
Is it cheaper to fly into Nara or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays and Nara 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 dayNara $28Whitsundays $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nara.
- Eel Fishing and Cooking Experience in Kyoto: $72
- Cooking class, learning how to make authentic sushi: $111
- Full Day Nara E bike Tour and Osaka History Food Tour: $189
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $98
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nara $7.81Whitsundays $25
Tours and Activities in Nara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nara are as follows:
- 1 Day Walking Tour in Nara Palace Deer and Inkstick: $166
- 1-Day Walking Tour in Palace, Deer and Inkstick: $147
- All must-sees in 3 hours - Nara Park Classic Tour! From JR Nara!: $42
- EBike Eco Chic Tour Explore 1300 Year Old Primeval Forest: $88
- Eigo Tour - Walk in Nara City: $65
- Experience Authentic Sushi making in Nara: $115
- Guided Tour of Todai ji and Nara Park: $83
- Guided Uji Anime Walking Tour: $31
- Half-Day Private Guided Tour : Nara Imperial Palace: $95
- Half-Day Private Guided Tour to Nara City: $95
- Immersive Experience Tour in Totsukawa village: $3,202
- Katsuragi: Unique Sumo Experience: $195
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- From Daydream Is.: Whitsundays & Whitehaven Half-Day Cruise: $91
- Whitsundays Camira Sailing Adventure from Daydream Island: $150
- Daydream Island: Great Barrier Reef Adventure Cruise: $195
- Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,941
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNara $11Whitsundays $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nara and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays is more expensive. And not only is Nara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nara is in Asia and Whitsundays is in Pacific, 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 Nara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nara 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 Whitsundays would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whitsundays than you might in Nara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nara Expensive? and Is Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Nara or Whitsundays?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Whitsundays is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Nara has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Nara or Whitsundays in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Nara as well as Whitsundays. The summer months attract visitors to Nara because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Nara is generally around the same temperature as Whitsundaysin January. Daily temperatures in Nara average around 27°C (80°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. In the summer, Nara often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin January. Nara gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Whitsundays. Nara receives a lot of rain in the summer. Nara usually gets less rain in July than Whitsundaysin January. Nara gets 186 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryNara 27°C (80°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Nara or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
Both Whitsundays and Nara are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Nara this time of year.
Nara is cooler than Whitsundays in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nara averages around 17°C (63°F) in October, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. Nara usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during autumn. Nara gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 207 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. It's quite rainy in Nara. In October, Nara usually receives less rain than Whitsundaysin April. Nara gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilNara 17°C (63°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Nara or Whitsundays in the Winter?
Both Whitsundays and Nara during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Nara for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Nara. In the winter, Nara is much colder than Whitsundays. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nara in January average around 4°C (40°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 16°C (62°F)in July.
In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Nara often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin July. Nara gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun.
Nara usually gets more rain in January than Whitsundaysin July. Nara gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyNara 4°C (40°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Nara or Whitsundays in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Nara and Whitsundays. Many visitors come to Nara in the spring for the natural beauty.
In April, Nara is generally much colder than Whitsundaysin October. Daily temperatures in Nara average around 14°C (57°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays this time of the year. Nara usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during spring. Nara gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun in the spring.
Nara gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Nara usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin October. Nara gets 127 mm (5 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberNara 14°C (57°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Nara
| Nara | Whitsundays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (40°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 60 mm (2.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 19°C (65°F) | 128 mm (5.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 214 mm (8.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (74°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (53°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 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.