Which place is cheaper, Okinawa or Pingyao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Pingyao or Okinawa?
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 Pingyao and Okinawa. 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: Pingyao or Okinawa?
Pingyao
Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo.
-
Pingyao Prices
China PricesOkinawa Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPingyao $69Okinawa $125
The average daily cost (per person) in Pingyao is $69, while the average daily cost in Okinawa is $125. 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 Pingyao and Okinawa in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPingyao $23Okinawa $75
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPingyao $46Okinawa $150
Compare Hotels in Pingyao and Okinawa
Looking for a hotel in Pingyao or Okinawa? 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pingyao $13Okinawa $9.66
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:
-
Taxi to Train Station$1.40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Okinawa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Okinawa:
- Airport Transfer! Center of Naha to Naha Airport (OKA): $125
- Nakagusuku Cruise Port to Naha - Arrival Private Transfer: $138
- Private Transfer from Okinawa Airport (OKA) to Nakagusuku Port: $200
- Private Transfer from Nakagusuku Port to Okinawa Airport (OKA): $200
- Private Transfer from Okinawa Airport (OKA) to Nakagusuku Port: $220
Is it cheaper to fly into Pingyao or Okinawa?
Prices for flights to both Okinawa and Pingyao 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 dayPingyao $34Okinawa $41
Typical Food Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:
-
Casual Lunch (for 2)$5.05
-
Mango Juice$0.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Okinawa
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Okinawa.
- Naha: Airport Food Tour for a Delicious Start or Farewell: $166
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pingyao $19Okinawa $14
Typical Entertainment Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:
-
All Day Bike Rental (for 2)$2.80
-
Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)$7.01
-
Bike Parking Fee (for 2)$0.56
Tours and Activities in Pingyao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:
- Shuanglin Temple Tour or Entry Ticket Only Option: $18
- Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $145
- From Taiyuan: UNESCO Historic Temples & Grand Mansions Tour: $276
Tours and Activities in Okinawa
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Okinawa are as follows:
- Okinawa World Admission Ticket: $14
- Private Ring Craft Experience in Okinawa: $23
- Okinawa World Admission Ticket | Japan: $23
- Official Street Go-Kart Tour - Okinawa Shop: $38
- Beautiful sunset kayak tour in Okinawa: $38
- Naha: Full-Day Snorkeling Experience in the Kerama Islands, Okinawa: $48
- Okinawa Jungle Trails & Waterfalls – Private Yanbaru Tour: $49
- Okinawa Sightseeing Bus Tour: $51
- Tropical Dream , Ryukyu Mura, Banta Cafe Bus Tour: $53
- Kintsugi Accessory Experience in Naha, Okinawa: $53
- Okinawa Hip-hop Bus A Course Tour｜Churaumi Aqualium,Kori Island: $54
- 60Min Gorilla Go-Kart Tour in Naha City: (NIGHT SLOTS AVAILABLE): $55
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPingyao $14Okinawa $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pingyao and Okinawa, we can see that Okinawa is more expensive. And not only is Pingyao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pingyao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pingyao 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 Okinawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Okinawa than you might in Pingyao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pingyao Expensive? and Is Okinawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pingyao or Okinawa?
Okinawa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Pingyao and Okinawa, 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.
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.