Which place is cheaper, Nara or Pyeongchang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Pyeongchang or Nara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Pyeongchang or Nara, 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 Nara?
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.
Nara
As Japan's first capital, Nara offers a world of tradition and culture second only to the city of Kyoto. It is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are largely concentrated in the area of Nara Park. Here, it is also common to see many deer wandering freely amongst the temples and shrines.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Japan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Japan.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPyeongchang $114Nara $85
The average daily cost (per person) in Pyeongchang is $114, while the average daily cost in Nara is $85. 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 Nara in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPyeongchang $62Nara $52
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPyeongchang $124Nara $104
Compare Hotels in Pyeongchang and Nara
Looking for a hotel in Pyeongchang or Nara? 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 Nara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pyeongchang $25Nara $5.83
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nara:
- Kansai Airport (KIX)：Private One-Way Transfer to/from Nara: $240
Is it cheaper to fly into Pyeongchang or Nara?
Prices for flights to both Nara 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
-
Food Meals for one dayPyeongchang $27Nara $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nara.
- Eel Fishing and Cooking Experience in Kyoto: $72
- Cooking class, learning how to make authentic sushi: $111
- Full Day Nara E bike Tour and Osaka History Food Tour: $189
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pyeongchang $51Nara $7.81
Tours and Activities in Nara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nara are as follows:
- 1 Day Walking Tour in Nara Palace Deer and Inkstick: $166
- 1-Day Walking Tour in Palace, Deer and Inkstick: $147
- All must-sees in 3 hours - Nara Park Classic Tour! From JR Nara!: $42
- EBike Eco Chic Tour Explore 1300 Year Old Primeval Forest: $88
- Eigo Tour - Walk in Nara City: $65
- Experience Authentic Sushi making in Nara: $115
- Guided Tour of Todai ji and Nara Park: $83
- Guided Uji Anime Walking Tour: $31
- Half-Day Private Guided Tour : Nara Imperial Palace: $95
- Half-Day Private Guided Tour to Nara City: $95
- Immersive Experience Tour in Totsukawa village: $3,202
- Katsuragi: Unique Sumo Experience: $195
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPyeongchang $8.79Nara $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pyeongchang and Nara, we can see that Pyeongchang is more expensive. And not only is Nara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nara 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 Nara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pyeongchang Expensive? and Is Nara Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pyeongchang or Nara?
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 Nara in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Pyeongchang as well as Nara. Additionally, most visitors come to Nara for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Pyeongchang is around the same temperature as Nara. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pyeongchang in July average around 24°C (76°F), and Nara averages at about 27°C (80°F).
In the summer, Pyeongchang often gets less sunshine than Nara. Pyeongchang gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nara receives 183 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Nara. Pyeongchang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pyeongchang usually gets more rain in July than Nara. Pyeongchang gets 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain, while Nara receives 186 mm (7.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyPyeongchang 24°C (76°F)Nara 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Pyeongchang or Nara in the Autumn?
Both Nara and Pyeongchang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Nara because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Pyeongchang is generally cooler than Nara. Daily temperatures in Pyeongchang average around 15°C (60°F), and Nara fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
Pyeongchang usually receives more sunshine than Nara during autumn. Pyeongchang gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Nara receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Nara. It's quite rainy in Pyeongchang. In October, Pyeongchang usually receives around the same amount of rain as Nara. Pyeongchang gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Nara receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPyeongchang 15°C (60°F)Nara 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Pyeongchang or Nara in the Winter?
Both Nara and Pyeongchang during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Nara this time of year.
It's quite cold in Nara in the winter. The weather in Pyeongchang can be very cold. Pyeongchang is much colder than Nara in the winter. The daily temperature in Pyeongchang averages around 0°C (33°F) in January, and Nara fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
In the winter, Pyeongchang often gets more sunshine than Nara. Pyeongchang gets 190 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nara receives 140 hours of full sun.
Pyeongchang usually gets more rain in January than Nara. Pyeongchang gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Nara receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPyeongchang 0°C (33°F)Nara 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Pyeongchang or Nara in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pyeongchang and Nara. Also, many travelers come to Nara for the natural beauty.
In the spring, Pyeongchang is cooler than Nara. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pyeongchang in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Nara averages at about 14°C (57°F).
In Pyeongchang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pyeongchang usually receives more sunshine than Nara during spring. Pyeongchang gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Nara receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.
Nara receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Pyeongchang usually receives less rain than Nara. Pyeongchang gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Nara receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilPyeongchang 12°C (54°F)Nara 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Nara and Pyeongchang
| Pyeongchang | Nara | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 0°C (33°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (35°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 60 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 128 mm (5.1 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 214 mm (8.4 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 217 mm (8.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (68°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (60°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 9°C (49°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 41 mm (1.6 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.