Which place is cheaper, Kanazawa or Pyeongchang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pyeongchang or Kanazawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Pyeongchang or Kanazawa, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Pyeongchang or Kanazawa?
Pyeongchang
Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.
Kanazawa
An important city of the Edo-period, Kanazawa is a well preserved city from a time when samurai, merchants, geisha, and lords made up the core of its culture. Though it is often overlooked by foreigners, the city is a gem of Japanese tourism with a number of preserved historic districts, temples, regional handicrafts, art museums, and some of the best food to be had in Japan.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPyeongchang $114Kanazawa $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Pyeongchang is $114, while the average daily cost in Kanazawa is $103. 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 Pyeongchang and Kanazawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPyeongchang $62Kanazawa $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPyeongchang $124Kanazawa $128
Compare Hotels in Pyeongchang and Kanazawa
Looking for a hotel in Pyeongchang or Kanazawa? 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: Pyeongchang Hotel Prices and Kanazawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pyeongchang $25Kanazawa $9.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanazawa
Also for Kanazawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Noto Airport to/from Kanazawa City Private Transfer: $308
- Kanazawa City to/from Wakura City Private transfer: $247
Is it cheaper to fly into Pyeongchang or Kanazawa?
Prices for flights to both Kanazawa and Pyeongchang 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 dayPyeongchang $27Kanazawa $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kanazawa
For Kanazawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sneaking into a Cooking Class for Japanese: $57
- Private Japanese Cooking Classes in Kanazawa: $76
- Private Japanese Cooking Classes in Kanazawa: $78
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pyeongchang $51Kanazawa $9.74
Tours and Activities in Kanazawa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kanazawa.
- “Be a Local” Kanazawa Izakaya Hop Tour: $78
- 1 Day Tour from Kurobe Gorge and Unazuki Onsen: $223
- 1-Day Shirakawago & Takayama Tour (Round Trip from Kanazawa): $165
- 4 Hour Unique Kanazawa Cherry Blossom Sakura Private Experience: $218
- Afternoon Round Trip Tour from Kanazawa: $87
- E-Bike Cycling with Guided Tour of KANAZAWA Main & KENROKUEN: $82
- E-Bike Cycling with Guided Tour of Kanazawa Main and Ninja Temple: $78
- Full-Day Tour from Samurai, Matcha, Gardens and Geisha: $148
- Guided Night Tour to Feel the Samurai Culture in Kanazawa: $56
- Hidden Gems Of Private & Personalized Walking Experience: $102
- Kanazawa ⇒ Takayama (one way) Including Shirakawago (Private Tour): $266
- Kanazawa Custom Full Day Tour: $207
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPyeongchang $8.79Kanazawa $12
When comparing the travel costs between Pyeongchang and Kanazawa, we can see that Pyeongchang is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pyeongchang Expensive? and Is Kanazawa Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pyeongchang or Kanazawa?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Pyeongchang or Kanazawa in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Pyeongchang and Kanazawa. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Kanazawa because of the family-friendly experiences.
Pyeongchang is around the same temperature as Kanazawa in the summer. The daily temperature in Pyeongchang averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Kanazawa fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
Pyeongchang usually receives less sunshine than Kanazawa during summer. Pyeongchang gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Kanazawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the summer.
Kanazawa receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pyeongchang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Pyeongchang usually receives less rain than Kanazawa. Pyeongchang gets 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain, while Kanazawa receives 251 mm (9.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPyeongchang 24°C (76°F)Kanazawa 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Pyeongchang or Kanazawa in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Pyeongchang as well as Kanazawa. Additionally, the shopping scene are the main draw to Kanazawa this time of year.
In the autumn, Pyeongchang is around the same temperature as Kanazawa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pyeongchang in October average around 15°C (60°F), and Kanazawa averages at about 17°C (62°F).
In the autumn, Pyeongchang often gets more sunshine than Kanazawa. Pyeongchang gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kanazawa receives 155 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Kanazawa. Pyeongchang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pyeongchang usually gets less rain in October than Kanazawa. Pyeongchang gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Kanazawa receives 203 mm (8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPyeongchang 15°C (60°F)Kanazawa 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Pyeongchang or Kanazawa in the Winter?
Both Kanazawa and Pyeongchang are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Kanazawa for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Kanazawa. It's quite cold in Pyeongchang in the winter. In January, Pyeongchang is generally much colder than Kanazawa. Daily temperatures in Pyeongchang average around 0°C (33°F), and Kanazawa fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
Pyeongchang usually receives more sunshine than Kanazawa during winter. Pyeongchang gets 190 hours of sunny skies, while Kanazawa receives 67 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kanazawa. In January, Pyeongchang usually receives less rain than Kanazawa. Pyeongchang gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Kanazawa receives 294 mm (11.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPyeongchang 0°C (33°F)Kanazawa 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Pyeongchang or Kanazawa in the Spring?
Both Kanazawa and Pyeongchang during the spring are popular places to visit.
Pyeongchang is around the same temperature as Kanazawa in the spring. The daily temperature in Pyeongchang averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Kanazawa fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
It's quite sunny in Pyeongchang. In the spring, Pyeongchang often gets more sunshine than Kanazawa. Pyeongchang gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kanazawa receives 183 hours of full sun.
Kanazawa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pyeongchang usually gets less rain in April than Kanazawa. Pyeongchang gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Kanazawa receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPyeongchang 12°C (54°F)Kanazawa 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Kanazawa and Pyeongchang
| Pyeongchang | Kanazawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 0°C (33°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (35°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 202 mm (8 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 217 mm (8.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 251 mm (9.9 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (68°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 248 mm (9.8 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (60°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 203 mm (8 in) |
| Nov | 9°C (49°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 306 mm (12 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.