A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pyeongchang vs. Matsue for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pyeongchang or Matsue?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Pyeongchang or Matsue, 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 Matsue?

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.

Matsue

Matsue, Japan is located on the scenic shores of Lake Shinji in the Shimane Prefecture. Matsue is the capital city of the prefecture and is known as the water city due to being located between Lake Shinji, Lake Nakaumi, and the Sea of Japan. This historically rich city is famous for being a laid back samurai village with stunning sunsets and traditional confectioneries.

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 Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pyeongchang and Matsue, we can see that Pyeongchang is more expensive. And not only is Matsue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Matsue would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Matsue 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 Pyeongchang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pyeongchang than you might in Matsue.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pyeongchang Expensive? and Is Matsue Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Pyeongchang or Matsue?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Matsue in the Summer?

Both Matsue and Pyeongchang during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Matsue for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Pyeongchang is around the same temperature as Matsue. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pyeongchang in July average around 24°C (76°F), and Matsue averages at about 25°C (78°F).

In Matsue, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Pyeongchang often gets less sunshine than Matsue. Pyeongchang gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 201 hours of full sun.

Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Pyeongchang. Pyeongchang usually gets less rain in July than Matsue. Pyeongchang gets 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Matsue in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pyeongchang and Matsue. Also, many visitors come to Matsue in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Pyeongchang is generally around the same temperature as Matsue. Daily temperatures in Pyeongchang average around 15°C (60°F), and Matsue fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

Pyeongchang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Matsue during autumn. Pyeongchang gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 173 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Matsue receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pyeongchang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Pyeongchang usually receives less rain than Matsue. Pyeongchang gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Matsue in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Pyeongchang as well as Matsue. Also, most visitors come to Matsue for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Matsue can be very cold during winter. Pyeongchang can get quite cold in the winter. Pyeongchang is much colder than Matsue in the winter. The daily temperature in Pyeongchang averages around 0°C (33°F) in January, and Matsue fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

In the winter, Pyeongchang often gets more sunshine than Matsue. Pyeongchang gets 190 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 84 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Matsue. Pyeongchang usually gets less rain in January than Matsue. Pyeongchang gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Matsue in the Spring?

Both Matsue and Pyeongchang are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Matsue because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, Pyeongchang is around the same temperature as Matsue. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pyeongchang in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Matsue averages at about 13°C (55°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pyeongchang. Pyeongchang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Matsue during spring. Pyeongchang gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. In April, Pyeongchang usually receives less rain than Matsue. Pyeongchang gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Matsue and Pyeongchang