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

Should you visit Pyeongchang or Sado?

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

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

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.

Sado

Sado Island, Japan is located just off the coast of Niigata and is an old gold mining town that has since developed into a quiet summer holiday destination. The island is home to two mountain ranges, O-Sado in the north and Ko-sado in the south, with the popular Kuninaka plain in between the mountain ranges. With the remoteness of the island, it has become a popular destination for tourists to experience old Japan and get away from the busy mainland.

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 Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pyeongchang and Sado, we can see that Pyeongchang is more expensive. And not only is Sado much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sado would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sado 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 Sado.

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

When is the best time to visit Pyeongchang or Sado?

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 Sado in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Pyeongchang as well as Sado. Additionally, most visitors come to Sado for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Pyeongchang is around the same temperature as Sado in the summer. The daily temperature in Pyeongchang averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Sado fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

In the summer, Pyeongchang often gets less sunshine than Sado. Pyeongchang gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 198 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sado. Pyeongchang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pyeongchang usually gets more rain in July than Sado. Pyeongchang gets 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Sado in the Autumn?

Both Sado and Pyeongchang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Sado because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Pyeongchang is around the same temperature as Sado. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pyeongchang in October average around 15°C (60°F), and Sado averages at about 16°C (60°F).

Pyeongchang usually receives more sunshine than Sado during autumn. Pyeongchang gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 155 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. It's quite rainy in Pyeongchang. In October, Pyeongchang usually receives less rain than Sado. Pyeongchang gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Sado in the Winter?

Both Sado and Pyeongchang during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Sado this time of year.

It's quite cold in Sado in the winter. The weather in Pyeongchang can be very cold. In January, Pyeongchang is generally much colder than Sado. Daily temperatures in Pyeongchang average around 0°C (33°F), and Sado fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In the winter, Pyeongchang often gets more sunshine than Sado. Pyeongchang gets 190 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 65 hours of full sun.

Sado gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pyeongchang usually gets less rain in January than Sado. Pyeongchang gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Sado in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pyeongchang and Sado.

Pyeongchang is a little warmer than Sado in the spring. The daily temperature in Pyeongchang averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Sado fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

In Pyeongchang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pyeongchang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sado during spring. Pyeongchang gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.

Sado receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Pyeongchang usually receives less rain than Sado. Pyeongchang gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sado and Pyeongchang