A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Okinawa vs. Benxi for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Okinawa or Benxi?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Okinawa and Benxi. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Okinawa or Benxi?

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.

Benxi

Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Benxi or Okinawa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Okinawa is $104, while the average daily cost in Benxi is $94. 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 Okinawa and Benxi in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Okinawa $72
    Benxi $47
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Okinawa $144
    Benxi $94
Compare Hotels in Okinawa and Benxi

Looking for a hotel in Okinawa or Benxi? 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 Okinawa


Hotels in Benxi


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Okinawa $9.32
    Benxi $31

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Okinawa

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Okinawa:

  • Naha hotels to Okinawa Naha Airport (ОКА) - Departure Transfer: $59
  • Private Transfer from Naha City Hotels to Nakagusuku Cruise Port : $59
  • Okinawa Naha Airport (OKA) to Naha hotels - Arrival Transfer: $59
  • Private Transfer from Nakagusuku Cruise Port to Naha City Hotels : $66
  • Private Transfer from Naha City Hotels to Nakagusuku Cruise Port : $66
  • 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
  • Okinawa Naha Airport (OKA) to Naha Hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $118
  • 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 Okinawa or Benxi?

Prices for flights to both Benxi and Okinawa 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
    Okinawa $23
    Benxi $30

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Okinawa $14
    Benxi $7.29

Tours and Activities in Okinawa

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

  • Beautiful sunset kayak tour in Okinawa: $36
  • Mangrove Kayaking Tour: $38
  • Okinawa Hot spot walk and local food & beer tour(All include): $46
  • Jungle River Trek: private tour in Yanbaru, north Okinawa: $49
  • Kayak Mangroves or Coral Reef: private tour in north Okinawa : $53
  • North Okinawa Bus Day Tour Manzamo Kouri Island Ocean Expo Park American Village: $57
  • Mangrove Kayak & Sea Fishing Experience in Okinawa: $57
  • Sakaemachi Market Bar Hopping Tour: $58
  • Naha: Full-Day Snorkeling Experience in the Kerama Islands, Okinawa: $66
  • 2-Hour Private Gorilla Go Kart Experience in Okinawa: $68
  • Kerama Islands 1 day snorkeling tour from Okinawa Naha: $72
  • Sushi Making Experience Class in Naha Makishi Public Market: $74

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Okinawa $14
    Benxi $7.69

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 comparing the travel costs between Okinawa and Benxi, we can see that Okinawa 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Okinawa or Benxi?

Benxi has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Okinawa. When comparing the sizes of Okinawa and Benxi, 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 Okinawa or Benxi?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Okinawa or Benxi in the Summer?

Both Benxi and Okinawa are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Okinawa for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Okinawa is generally a little warmer than Benxi. Daily temperatures in Okinawa average around 29°C (84°F), and Benxi fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

It's quite sunny in Benxi. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Okinawa. Okinawa usually receives more sunshine than Benxi during summer. Okinawa gets 258 hours of sunny skies, while Benxi receives 214 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Benxi. It's quite rainy in Okinawa. In July, Okinawa usually receives less rain than Benxi. Okinawa gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Okinawa 29°C (84°F) 
    Benxi 25°C (78°F)

Should I visit Okinawa or Benxi in the Autumn?

Both Benxi and Okinawa during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Okinawa because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Okinawa is much warmer than Benxi in the autumn. The daily temperature in Okinawa averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In Benxi, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Okinawa often gets less sunshine than Benxi. Okinawa gets 174 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Benxi receives 216 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Okinawa. Okinawa usually gets more rain in October than Benxi. Okinawa gets 152 mm (6 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Okinawa 25°C (77°F) 
    Benxi 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Okinawa or Benxi in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Okinawa and Benxi. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Okinawa this time of year.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Benxi. In the winter, Okinawa is much warmer than Benxi. Typically, the winter temperatures in Okinawa in January average around 16°C (61°F), and Benxi averages at about -10°C (14°F).

Okinawa usually receives less sunshine than Benxi during winter. Okinawa gets 96 hours of sunny skies, while Benxi receives 167 hours of full sun in the winter.

Okinawa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Okinawa usually receives more rain than Benxi. Okinawa gets 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Okinawa 16°C (61°F) 
    Benxi -10°C (14°F)

Should I visit Okinawa or Benxi in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Okinawa as well as Benxi. Many travelers come to Okinawa for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Okinawa is generally much warmer than Benxi. Daily temperatures in Okinawa average around 22°C (71°F), and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Benxi. In the spring, Okinawa often gets less sunshine than Benxi. Okinawa gets 149 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Benxi receives 241 hours of full sun.

Okinawa receives a lot of rain in the spring. Okinawa usually gets more rain in April than Benxi. Okinawa gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Okinawa 22°C (71°F) 
    Benxi 11°C (51°F)

Typical Weather for Benxi and Okinawa

Okinawa Benxi
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 16°C (61°F) 125 mm (4.9 in) -10°C (14°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 17°C (62°F) 107 mm (4.2 in) -7°C (20°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)
Mar 18°C (65°F) 156 mm (6.1 in) 2°C (35°F) 17 mm (0.7 in)
Apr 22°C (71°F) 164 mm (6.5 in) 11°C (51°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
May 24°C (76°F) 254 mm (10 in) 18°C (64°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Jun 27°C (80°F) 255 mm (10 in) 22°C (72°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)
Jul 29°C (84°F) 171 mm (6.7 in) 25°C (78°F) 211 mm (8.3 in)
Aug 28°C (83°F) 266 mm (10.5 in) 25°C (76°F) 167 mm (6.6 in)
Sep 28°C (82°F) 161 mm (6.3 in) 18°C (65°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Oct 25°C (77°F) 152 mm (6 in) 11°C (52°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Nov 22°C (71°F) 117 mm (4.6 in) 2°C (35°F) 24 mm (0.9 in)
Dec 18°C (65°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) -7°C (20°F) 12 mm (0.5 in)