Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Okinawa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Okinawa or Whitsundays?
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 Whitsundays. 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 Whitsundays?
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.
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 G Adventures Tours to Japan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, 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 dayOkinawa $104Whitsundays $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Okinawa is $104, 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 Okinawa and Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOkinawa $72Whitsundays $69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOkinawa $144Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Okinawa and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Okinawa 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Okinawa $9.32Whitsundays $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Okinawa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Okinawa:
- Airport Transfer! Center of Naha to Naha Airport (OKA): $125
- Airport Transfer! Naha Airport (OKA) to Center of Naha: $124
- Okinawa Naha Airport (OKA) to Naha Hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $118
- Private Transfer from Nakagusuku Port to Okinawa Airport (OKA): $94
- Private Transfer from Okinawa Airport (OKA) to Nakagusuku Port: $85
- Private Transfer from Nakagusuku Port to Okinawa Airport (OKA): $85
- Private Transfer from Nakagusuku Cruise Port to Naha City Hotels : $66
- Private Transfer from Naha City Hotels to Nakagusuku Cruise Port : $66
- 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
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 Okinawa or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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
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Food Meals for one dayOkinawa $23Whitsundays $30
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.Okinawa $14Whitsundays $25
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
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 dayOkinawa $14Whitsundays $12
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 Okinawa and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays is more expensive. And not only is Okinawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Okinawa 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 Okinawa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Okinawa 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 Okinawa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Okinawa Expensive? and Is Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Okinawa 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 Okinawa has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Okinawa or Whitsundays in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Okinawa as well as Whitsundays. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Okinawa this time of year.
In the summer, Okinawa is a little warmer than Whitsundays. Typically, the summer temperatures in Okinawa in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Okinawa this time of the year. In the summer, Okinawa often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin January. Okinawa gets 258 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Whitsundays. Okinawa receives a lot of rain in the summer. Okinawa usually gets less rain in July than Whitsundaysin January. Okinawa gets 171 mm (6.7 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 JanuaryOkinawa 29°C (84°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Okinawa or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
Both Whitsundays and Okinawa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Okinawa for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Okinawa is generally around the same temperature as Whitsundaysin April. Daily temperatures in Okinawa average around 25°C (77°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. Okinawa usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during autumn. Okinawa gets 174 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 Okinawa. In October, Okinawa usually receives around the same amount of rain as Whitsundaysin April. Okinawa gets 152 mm (6 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 AprilOkinawa 25°C (77°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Okinawa or Whitsundays in the Winter?
Both Whitsundays and Okinawa during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Okinawa in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Okinawa is around the same temperature as Whitsundays in the winter. The daily temperature in Okinawa averages around 16°C (61°F) in January, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 16°C (62°F)in July.
In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Okinawa often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin July. Okinawa gets 96 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Okinawa. Okinawa usually gets more rain in January than Whitsundaysin July. Okinawa gets 125 mm (4.9 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 JulyOkinawa 16°C (61°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Okinawa or Whitsundays in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Okinawa and Whitsundays. Most visitors come to Okinawa for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Okinawa is around the same temperature as Whitsundays. Typically, the spring temperatures in Okinawa in April average around 22°C (71°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays this time of the year. Okinawa usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during spring. Okinawa gets 149 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun in the spring.
Okinawa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Okinawa usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin October. Okinawa gets 164 mm (6.5 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 OctoberOkinawa 22°C (71°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Okinawa
| Okinawa | Whitsundays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (61°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (65°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (71°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 24°C (76°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 22°C (71°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (65°F) | 116 mm (4.6 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.