Which place is cheaper, Sendai or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Sendai?
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 Sendai can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Sendai?
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.
Sendai
Sendai, Japan is located in the Toohoku region on the main Honshu island. It is often referred to as "Forest City" due to the large amount of green space throughout the city and the tree filled parks and public spaces. Sendai is a very pleasant city to visit; they are in close proximity to both mountains and the sea and have many large universities throughout the city, making it a popular college town.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Sendai $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Sendai is $105. 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 Sendai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Sendai $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Sendai $118
Compare Hotels in Petra and Sendai
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Sendai? 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 Sendai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Sendai $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Petra to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
- Petra to Sheikh Hussein Crossing Border Private Transfer: $180
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sendai
Also for Sendai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sendai Airport to/from Sendai City private transfer: $76
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Sendai?
Prices for flights to both Sendai 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 $38Sendai $33
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 $47Sendai $18
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 Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
- Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour: $215
- Private Back Trail Tour of Petra starting from the Monastery : $276
- Private Full-Day Tour to Petra and Wadi Rum from Dead Sea: $269
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $120
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $90
- Private Petra Back Entrance Tour with Guide .: $140
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
- Wadi Rum Private Tour from Petra with Martian and Star Wars Film Site: $173
Tours and Activities in Sendai
For Sendai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Japanese Taiko Drum Experience at Sairi Yashiki : $71
- Sendai, Okama: Private tour from Sendai city to Okama: $251
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Sendai $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Sendai, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Sendai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Sendai 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 Sendai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sendai 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 Sendai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Sendai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Sendai?
Sendai has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Sendai, 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 Petra or Sendai?
Sendai 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 Sendai in the Summer?
Both Sendai and Petra during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Sendai for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Petra can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Petra is generally a little warmer than Sendai. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 33°C (91°F), and Sendai fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Petra. In the summer, Petra often gets more sunshine than Sendai. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sendai receives 124 hours of full sun.
Sendai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Petra usually gets less rain in July than Sendai. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Sendai 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Petra or Sendai in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Sendai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Sendai in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Petra is much warmer than Sendai in the autumn. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Sendai fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Sendai during autumn. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Sendai receives 149 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Sendai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Petra usually receives less rain than Sendai. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Sendai 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Petra or Sendai in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Petra as well as Sendai. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Sendai for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Sendai can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Petra is much warmer than Sendai. Typically, the winter temperatures in Petra in January average around 15°C (59°F), and Sendai averages at about 2°C (35°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the winter, Petra often gets more sunshine than Sendai. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sendai receives 149 hours of full sun.
Petra usually gets more rain in January than Sendai. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Sendai 2°C (35°F)
Should I visit Petra or Sendai in the Spring?
Both Sendai and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Sendai because of the beaches and the activities around the city.
In April, Petra is generally much warmer than Sendai. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 25°C (76°F), and Sendai fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Sendai during spring. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Sendai receives 188 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Petra usually receives less rain than Sendai. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Sendai 10°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Sendai and Petra
| Petra | Sendai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 36 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.