A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Noosa Heads vs. Yakushima for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads 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: Noosa Heads or Yakushima?

Noosa Heads

A town and suburb located on Queensland, Australia's Sunshine Coast, Noosa is best known as a destination of pleasant weather, beautiful beachside scenery, shopping, dining, and outdoor adventure. Some of the top attractions of the area include Noosa National Park and Sunshine Beach.

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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in Australia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Noosa Heads?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Noosa Heads is $135, while the average daily cost in Yakushima is $141. 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 Noosa Heads and Yakushima in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Noosa Heads $58
    Yakushima $61
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Noosa Heads $116
    Yakushima $122
Compare Hotels in Noosa Heads and Yakushima

Looking for a hotel in Noosa Heads 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.

Hotels in Noosa Heads


Hotels in Yakushima


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: Noosa Heads Hotel Prices and Yakushima Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Noosa Heads $17
    Yakushima $51

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Noosa Heads

Also for Noosa Heads, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Eumundi Markets Bus Transfer: Mooloolaba Sunshine Coast & Noosa : $32
  • Australia Zoo Transfer from Noosa and Sunshine Coast: $91
  • Private Morning Transfer From Noosa to Rainbow Beach: $91
  • Private Transfers from Sunshine Coast Airport to Noosa (2pax): $97
  • Private Transfer from Sunshine Coast Airport to Hotels 11 pax: $238
  • Private Transfer from Sunshine Coast Airport to Hotels 13 pax: $262

Is it cheaper to fly into Noosa Heads or Yakushima?

Prices for flights to both Yakushima and Noosa Heads 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 day
    Noosa Heads $58
    Yakushima $50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Noosa Heads

For Noosa Heads, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Cooking Classes on Witta Maleny Sunshine Coast: $121

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Noosa Heads $40
    Yakushima $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Noosa Heads

For Noosa Heads, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Surf Lesson
    $43
  • Sea Kayak Tour (for 2)
    $85
  • Sunset Cruise (for 2)
    $13

Tours and Activities in Noosa Heads

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Noosa Heads.

  • Noosa Queen Sunset Cruise River: $22
  • 1 Hour Tour Mooloolaba Sunset Cruise: $24
  • The Original 1-Hour Mooloolaba Canal Cruise: $24
  • SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium Entrance Ticket: $26
  • Maleny Botanic Gardens Bird Aviary Experience Ticket: $32
  • Sunset Cruise Mooloolaba: $33
  • Aquaduck Sunshine Coast - 1hr Mooloolaba Amphibious Tour: $34
  • The Ginger Factory Play, Taste & Discover Bundle Experience: $36
  • Stillwater Luxury Noosa Sunset Cruise : $37
  • Noosa Stand Up Paddle & Mangrove Tunnel Tour (Self Guided): $39
  • Seafood Lunch Cruise: $46
  • Sunshine Coast Adventure Park TreeTop Challenge: $47

Tours and Activities in Yakushima

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yakushima are as follows:

  • Private Guided Tour: $336

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Noosa Heads $10
    Yakushima $6.61

Sample the Local Flavors in Noosa Heads

Also in Noosa Heads, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Sunshine Coast Bar Crawl Sippin on Sunshine: $15
  • Sunshine Coast Brewery Tour with Lunch: $164
  • Hinterland Cheese & Wine Tasting Tour - with 2 course lunch included: $188


When comparing the travel costs between Noosa Heads and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Noosa Heads is in Pacific and Yakushima is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Noosa Heads Expensive? and Is Yakushima Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Noosa Heads or Yakushima?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Noosa Heads is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Yakushima has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Noosa Heads or Yakushima in the Summer?

Both Yakushima and Noosa Heads during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Noosa Heads for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

Noosa Heads is cooler than Yakushima in the summer. The daily temperature in Noosa Heads averages around 20°C (67°F) in January, and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in July.

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Noosa Heads. Noosa Heads usually gets less rain in January than Yakushimain July. Noosa Heads gets 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    Noosa Heads 20°C (67°F) 
    Yakushima 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Noosa Heads or Yakushima in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Noosa Heads and Yakushima. Many visitors come to Noosa Heads in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Noosa Heads is much colder than Yakushima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Noosa Heads in April average around 14°C (58°F), and Yakushima averages at about 22°C (71°F)in October.

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Noosa Heads usually receives less rain than Yakushimain October. Noosa Heads gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    Noosa Heads 14°C (58°F) 
    Yakushima 22°C (71°F)

Should I visit Noosa Heads or Yakushima in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Noosa Heads as well as Yakushima. Most visitors come to Noosa Heads for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

In July, Noosa Heads is generally much colder than Yakushimain January. Daily temperatures in Noosa Heads average around 7°C (44°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Noosa Heads usually gets less rain in July than Yakushimain January. Noosa Heads gets 57 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    Noosa Heads 7°C (44°F) 
    Yakushima 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Noosa Heads or Yakushima in the Spring?

Both Yakushima and Noosa Heads are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Noosa Heads because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

Noosa Heads is cooler than Yakushima in the spring. The daily temperature in Noosa Heads averages around 14°C (57°F) in October, and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in April.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. In October, Noosa Heads usually receives less rain than Yakushimain April. Noosa Heads gets 76 mm (3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    Noosa Heads 14°C (57°F) 
    Yakushima 18°C (64°F)

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Noosa Heads

Noosa Heads Yakushima
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 20°C (67°F) 109 mm (4.3 in) 11°C (52°F) 106 mm (4.2 in)
Feb 19°C (67°F) 88 mm (3.5 in) 12°C (53°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Mar 18°C (64°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 14°C (57°F) 160 mm (6.3 in)
Apr 14°C (58°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 18°C (64°F) 207 mm (8.1 in)
May 11°C (52°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 21°C (69°F) 288 mm (11.3 in)
Jun 8°C (46°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 24°C (74°F) 352 mm (13.9 in)
Jul 7°C (44°F) 57 mm (2.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 189 mm (7.4 in)
Aug 8°C (46°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 205 mm (8.1 in)
Sep 11°C (51°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 26°C (78°F) 253 mm (10 in)
Oct 14°C (57°F) 76 mm (3 in) 22°C (71°F) 161 mm (6.3 in)
Nov 16°C (61°F) 92 mm (3.6 in) 18°C (64°F) 118 mm (4.6 in)
Dec 19°C (66°F) 117 mm (4.6 in) 13°C (55°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)