Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Nelson?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nelson or Yakushima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nelson and Yakushima 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: Nelson or Yakushima?
Nelson
Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to New Zealand, The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNelson $94Yakushima $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Nelson is $94, 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 Nelson and Yakushima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNelson $41Yakushima $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNelson $82Yakushima $118
Compare Hotels in Nelson and Yakushima
Looking for a hotel in Nelson 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: Nelson Hotel Prices and Yakushima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nelson $28Yakushima $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Nelson or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima and Nelson 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 dayNelson $27Yakushima $28
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nelson $24Yakushima $20
Tours and Activities in Nelson
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:
- Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $29
- Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $56
- Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire Experience: $65
- SKYWIRE Experience: $67
- Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure: $71
- Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure: $72
- Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $76
- Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $76
- Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $79
- Guided Quad Biking Tour Through Forest and Farmland: $80
- Spooners Tunnel to Nelson One Day Cycle Self Guided Tour: $82
- Cruise, Walk, and Sail in Abel Tasman National Park: $122
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNelson $13Yakushima $6.38
Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:
- Self-guided E-bike cycle tour with private wine tasting : $97
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nelson and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. And not only is Nelson much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nelson is in Pacific and Yakushima is in Asia, 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 Nelson would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nelson 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 Nelson.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nelson Expensive? and Is Yakushima Expensive?.
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.