Should you visit Pokhara or Osaka?
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 Pokhara and Osaka can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Pokhara or Osaka?
Pokhara
Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal and is strategically located near the popular Annapurna Circuit. The Annapurna Circuit, or the "Apple Pie Trail", is a popular trek through the Annapurna Valley that makes a circular route through stunning mountainous landscapes. Several other trekking options can be found in this region, too. Many people use Pohkara as a place to prepare or recover from their recently completed treks because it is less intimidating than the larger city of Kathmandu.
Osaka
The third largest city in Japan, Osaka has a lot to offer travelers. It's at the center of the Kansai region, and is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The city sits at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay and is a major commercial hub for the country.
Osaka has a humid subtropical climate with four seasons. The winters are mild with January temperatures having an average high of almost 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow is very rare. Springs start cool and become hot and humid. This is also the wettest season with the rainiest time being between May and early July. Summers are hot and humid with July temperatures climbing into the high 90s Fahrenheit. The fall season becomes cooler as winter approaches.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.
Which place is cheaper, Osaka or Pokhara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Pokhara is $22, while the average daily cost in Osaka is $104. 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 Pokhara and Osaka in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Pokhara or Osaka? 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:
Pokhara Hotel Prices and
Osaka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pokhara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Pokhara:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pokhara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pokhara:
-
Transfer to Lower Mustang (Jomsom):
$205
-
Private Transfer:- Pokhara to Chitwan (Sauraha) by car:
$68
-
Private Transfer: Kathmandu ↔ Pokhara by Car, Jeep & Hiace:
$73
-
Private Transfer from Pokhara to Kathmandu:
$120
-
White Water Rafting Half Day with Hotel Transfers:
$70
-
Transfer To Kathmandu (VIP Sofa Tourist Bus) & Back:
$12
-
Paragliding and Rafting Adventure with Transfers:
$129
-
Paragliding Experience with Hotel Transfers:
$139
-
One way transfer To or From Chitwan:
$73
-
Kusma Swing Jumping Experience with Transfer:
$150
-
Annapurna Foothills Day Hike with Transfers:
$38
-
Airport Transfer by Private Car:
$11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Osaka
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Osaka:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Osaka
Also for Osaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
City-to-City Transfer, from Central Osaka to Each City in Kansai:
$117
-
Departure Private Transfers: Osaka City to Kansai Airport KIX in Business Car:
$206
-
Itami Airport(ITM): Private Transfer from/to Osaka or Kyoto:
$42
-
Itami Airport(ITM): Private Transfer to/from Osaka or Kyoto city:
$126
-
Kansai Airport (KIX) Transfer to Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto/Nara/Wakayama:
$59
-
Kansai Airport (KIX): Private Transfer To/From Kyoto City Hotels:
$230
-
Kansai Airport Osaka City Private Taxi Transfers:
$266
-
Kansai Airport(KIX): Private Transfer to/from Osaka city:
$126
-
Kansai Airport(KIX)to/from Osaka or Kyoto Private Transfer:
$126
-
Kansai Area City to City Transfer:
$97
-
Kansai Intl. Airport (KIX) Private Transfer to/from Osaka:
$80
-
Luxury Airport Transfer Service in Kyoto and Osaka:
$162
Is it cheaper to fly into Pokhara or Osaka?
Prices for flights to both Osaka and Pokhara 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
Pokhara $12
Osaka $42
Typical Food Prices in Pokhara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pokhara:
-
Dinner for Two
$3.95
-
Dessert (for 2)
$2.63
-
Pastries
$1.32
-
Dinner
$5.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pokhara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Pokhara.
-
Nepali cultural dinner night in Pokhara:
$21
-
Nepalese Momos or Dal Bhat Cooking Class (Cook with Delight):
$25
-
Nepali Nights: Dinner & Cultural Dance Delight in Pokhara:
$26
-
MoMo or Dal Bhat Cooking Class at Aama Kitchen in Pokhara:
$29
-
Nepalese Kitchen in Momos or Dal Bhat Cooking Class:
$29
-
3 Hour MoMo cooking class:
$31
-
Nepali Cooking Class and Momo Making Workshop:
$42
-
3 Hour Authentic Nepali Thakali Dish Cooking Class:
$45
-
Thakali food Cooking Class in Pokhara:
$50
-
2 hours Momo cooking class in Pokhara:
$60
-
3 Hours Momo Cooking class in Pokhara:
$70
-
1 Day Momo making cooking class:
$75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Osaka
For Osaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Osaka Cooking Class 17 Tastes Takoyaki Making:
$21
-
Osaka Umeda: PICCADILLY DINNER SHOW&NIGHTCLUB with Tasting:
$32
-
Japanese Home cooking in Osaka:
$32
-
Welcome to Osaka Matrix and Local food tour with Ninja Guide:
$36
-
Osaka Food Tour: Customize Your Taste like an Osakan in Namba:
$37
-
Japanese Breakfast Cooking in Osaka:
$39
-
1.5 Hour Food Tour at the Kuromon Market in Osaka:
$42
-
1 Group Only Osaka Dotonbori Food Tour Wagyu and Ramen Takoyaki:
$45
-
Kyoto Style Miso Soup and Chirashi Sushi Cooking Experience:
$46
-
Osaka Cooking for Japanese Pescatarian dishes:
$49
-
Private Food Tour & Bar Hopping in Namba:
$49
-
Deep Osaka Night Walking Tour with Optional Dinner:
$51
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Pokhara
Here are a few actual costs in Pokhara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
"Pokhara Day Bus Sightseeing 8 points":
$20
-
"Pokhara Pumdikot Tour: Eagle Eye Views of Stunning Pokhara":
$29
-
"Sunrise and Scenic Day Hike in A Perfect Adventure:
$84
-
1 Night 2 Days Pokhara to Ghandruk Jeep Adventure:
$150
-
1-Day Private Dhampus Trekking Tour:
$67
-
2 Days Palpa-Tansen Hill station tour from Pokhara:
$260
-
2 Iconic Suspension Bridge Tour in Pokhara:
$29
-
2 Night 3 Day Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Pokhara:
$240
-
2-Day Private Trekking Tour to Australian Camp & Dhampus:
$99
-
2-Day Scenic Mustang Tour: Pokhara to Jomsom, Kagbeni & Muktinath:
$239
-
3 Day Chitwan Jungle exploration Tour from Pokhara:
$284
-
3 Days Pokhara Private Comfortable Tour:
$154
Typical Entertainment Prices in Osaka
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Osaka's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Osaka Aquarium (for 2)
$29
Tours and Activities in Osaka
For Osaka, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Osaka Dotonbori: CHEVAL Nightclub Ticket & Drinks (Foreign Only):
$5.20
-
Osaka Umeda: OWL Nightclub Admission Ticket (For Foreign):
$6.32
-
Osaka Farplane Parco Bar Admission Ticket with Drink for Foreign:
$6.50
-
Osaka Shinsaibashi: AMMONA Nightclub Entry Ticket (For Foreign):
$6.50
-
Harukas 300 Observatory Tickets | Osaka:
$7.00
-
Osaka Food Quest: Self-Guided Culinary & History Adventure:
$7.05
-
Osaka Katsuo-ji Temple Natural Attraction Ticket:
$8.50
-
Osaka Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone:
$12
-
Osaka Dotonbori River Cruise with Glico Sign:
$13
-
General Admission ticket to ABENO HARUKAS in Osaka:
$13
-
Osaka Dotonbori River Cruise with Glico Sign & Neon Lights View:
$13
-
Osaka Dotonbori Wonder Cruise:
$13
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Osaka
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Osaka:
-
Off The Beaten Path Osaka Local Bar Crawl/ 22 Tapas 7 Drinks:
$5.85
-
Osaka Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour:
$22
-
Osaka Nights: Ultimate Pub Bar Crawl with an Expert Local Guide:
$34
-
Osaka Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting:
$42
-
3Hour Osaka Pub Crawl Bar Hopping Nightlife Guided Tour in Namba:
$46
-
Osaka Winery Tour with Wine Tasting & Vineyard Walk:
$84
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pokhara and Osaka, we can see that Osaka is more expensive. And not only is Pokhara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pokhara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pokhara 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 Osaka would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Osaka than you might in Pokhara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pokhara Expensive? and Is Osaka Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pokhara or Osaka?
Osaka has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Pokhara. When comparing the sizes of Pokhara and Osaka, 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.
Related Articles for Pokhara
Related Articles for Osaka