Which place is cheaper, Koyasan or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Koyasan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Petra and Koyasan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Koyasan?
Petra
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
Koyasan
Mount Koya, Japan is a mountain city located just south of Osaka in the Wakayama prefecture. The area is known as the headquarters of the Shingnon sect of Japanese Buddhism and was first settled in 816. Over time, it has developed into the small town of Koya that is now home to a religious studies university and over 100 temples, many of which offer accommodation.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, and The Best Historical Tours in Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Koyasan $78
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Koyasan is $78. 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 Petra and Koyasan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Koyasan $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Koyasan $78
Compare Hotels in Petra and Koyasan
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Koyasan? 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: Petra Hotel Prices and Koyasan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Koyasan $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Petra to Sheikh Hussein Crossing Border Private Transfer: $180
- Petra to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Koyasan?
Prices for flights to both Koyasan and Petra 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 dayPetra $38Koyasan $19
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
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Dinner for Two$12
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Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains. : $45
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Koyasan $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
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Entry to Petra for One$71
Tours and Activities in Petra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
- 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $90
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $120
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
- Private Petra Back Entrance Tour with Guide .: $140
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- Wadi Rum Private Tour from Petra with Martian and Star Wars Film Site: $173
- Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour: $215
- Private Full-Day Tour to Petra and Wadi Rum from Dead Sea: $269
- Private Back Trail Tour of Petra starting from the Monastery : $276
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Koyasan $4.89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Koyasan, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Koyasan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Koyasan 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 Koyasan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koyasan 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 Petra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Petra than you might in Koyasan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Koyasan Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Petra or Koyasan?
Koyasan has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Petra experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Petra or Koyasan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Koyasan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Koyasan for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Petra can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Petra is generally a little warmer than Koyasan. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 33°C (91°F), and Koyasan fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Koyasan during summer. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies, while Koyasan receives 183 hours of full sun in the summer.
Koyasan receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Petra usually receives less rain than Koyasan. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koyasan receives 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Koyasan 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Petra or Koyasan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Petra as well as Koyasan. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Koyasan because of the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
Petra is a little warmer than Koyasan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Koyasan fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the autumn, Petra often gets more sunshine than Koyasan. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koyasan receives 159 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Koyasan. Petra usually gets less rain in October than Koyasan. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Koyasan receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Koyasan 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Petra or Koyasan in the Winter?
Both Koyasan and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Also, the museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Koyasan this time of year.
In the winter, Petra is much warmer than Koyasan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Petra in January average around 15°C (59°F), and Koyasan averages at about 6°C (42°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Koyasan during winter. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Koyasan receives 140 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Petra usually receives around the same amount of rain as Koyasan. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Koyasan receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Koyasan 6°C (42°F)
Should I visit Petra or Koyasan in the Spring?
Both Koyasan and Petra during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Koyasan for the small town charm and the natural beauty.
In April, Petra is generally much warmer than Koyasan. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 25°C (76°F), and Koyasan fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
It's quite sunny in Petra. In the spring, Petra often gets more sunshine than Koyasan. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koyasan receives 176 hours of full sun.
Koyasan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Petra usually gets less rain in April than Koyasan. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Koyasan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Koyasan 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Koyasan and Petra
| Petra | Koyasan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 208 mm (8.2 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 35 mm (1.4 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.