Which place is cheaper, Koyasan or Qingdao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Qingdao or Koyasan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Qingdao or Koyasan, 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: Qingdao or Koyasan?
Qingdao
Qingdao, China, located in the Shandong Province, is a very large city right on the Yellow Sea coast. The city, whose name means "The Green Island" due to it's gorgeous landscapes and interesting geography, was named China's most livable city in 2012. The city is rich in history, having almost become a German territory in 1897 and being occupied by the Japanese during WWI. Evidence of these occupiers is present in much of the architecture around the city, which includes a few Catholic and Protestant churches.
Koyasan
Mount Koya, Japan is a mountain city located just south of Osaka in the Wakayama prefecture. The area is known as the headquarters of the Shingnon sect of Japanese Buddhism and was first settled in 816. Over time, it has developed into the small town of Koya that is now home to a religious studies university and over 100 temples, many of which offer accommodation.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, and The Best Historical Tours in Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQingdao $58Koyasan $78
The average daily cost (per person) in Qingdao is $58, while the average daily cost in Koyasan is $78. 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 Qingdao and Koyasan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQingdao $26Koyasan $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQingdao $52Koyasan $78
Compare Hotels in Qingdao and Koyasan
Looking for a hotel in Qingdao or Koyasan? 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: Koyasan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Qingdao $12Koyasan $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Qingdao
Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Qingdao Railway Station : $36
- Qingdao Cruise Port Departure Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Liuting Airport Transfer Service by Minivan: $86
- Qingdao Northern Railway Station Arrival Private One-Way Transfer: $42
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao Airport (TAO) to central Qingdao: $83
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $83
- Qingdao Railway Station Arrival Transfer to City Hotel: $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Depature Transfer from City Hotels: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Qingdao or Koyasan?
Prices for flights to both Koyasan and Qingdao 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 dayQingdao $20Koyasan $19
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Qingdao $20Koyasan $13
Tours and Activities in Qingdao
For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Qingdao City tour with Lunch and Qingdao beer: $175
- Private Qingdao Historic architectural day tour with Tsingdao beer during Lunch: $190
- Private Qingdao Laoshan half day tour with one bottle of Tsingdao beer as gift: $199
- Qingdao private half day tour with Tsingdao Beer Lunch : $202
- Qingdao Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Laoshan Mountain Sightseeing Tour: $207
- Private Qingdao Essentials Tour: City Highlights and Beer Museum: $216
- Laoshan Mountain Full Day Private Activity Tour: $224
- Qingdao Private Day Tour to Laoshan Mountain with Lunch and Cable Car: $238
- Private Qingdao Laoshan day tour with lunch& round way cable car: $240
- Qingdao Discover Tour to the Mount Laoshan and Tasting Famous Local Beer: $248
- Qingdao Private Tour: City Highlights and Laoshan Mountain with Lunch+Cable Car: $268
- All-Inclusive Private Day Tour: Qingdao Highlights with Lunch: $285
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQingdao $14Koyasan $4.89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Qingdao and Koyasan, we can see that Koyasan is more expensive. And not only is Qingdao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Qingdao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Qingdao 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 Koyasan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koyasan than you might in Qingdao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Qingdao Expensive? and Is Koyasan Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Qingdao or Koyasan?
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 Qingdao or Koyasan in the Summer?
Both Koyasan and Qingdao during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Koyasan in the summer for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Qingdao is generally around the same temperature as Koyasan. Daily temperatures in Qingdao average around 25°C (77°F), and Koyasan fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In the summer, Qingdao often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Koyasan. Qingdao gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koyasan receives 183 hours of full sun.
Koyasan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Qingdao. Qingdao usually gets more rain in July than Koyasan. Qingdao gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Koyasan receives 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyQingdao 25°C (77°F)Koyasan 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Koyasan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Qingdao and Koyasan. Furthermore, most visitors come to Koyasan for the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Qingdao is cooler than Koyasan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Qingdao averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Koyasan fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
In Qingdao, it's very sunny this time of the year. Qingdao usually receives more sunshine than Koyasan during autumn. Qingdao gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Koyasan receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Koyasan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Qingdao usually receives less rain than Koyasan. Qingdao gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Koyasan receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberQingdao 17°C (62°F)Koyasan 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Koyasan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Qingdao as well as Koyasan. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Koyasan because of the museums and the cuisine.
Qingdao can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Qingdao is much colder than Koyasan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Qingdao in January average around -0°C (32°F), and Koyasan averages at about 6°C (42°F).
In the winter, Qingdao often gets more sunshine than Koyasan. Qingdao gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koyasan receives 140 hours of full sun.
Qingdao usually gets less rain in January than Koyasan. Qingdao gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Koyasan receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryQingdao -0°C (32°F)Koyasan 6°C (42°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Koyasan in the Spring?
Both Koyasan and Qingdao are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the small town charm and the natural beauty are the main draw to Koyasan this time of year.
In April, Qingdao is generally cooler than Koyasan. Daily temperatures in Qingdao average around 12°C (53°F), and Koyasan fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Qingdao. Qingdao usually receives more sunshine than Koyasan during spring. Qingdao gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Koyasan receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Koyasan. In April, Qingdao usually receives less rain than Koyasan. Qingdao gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Koyasan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilQingdao 12°C (53°F)Koyasan 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Koyasan and Qingdao
| Qingdao | Koyasan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -0°C (32°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (34°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| May | 17°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 208 mm (8.2 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Nov | 10°C (49°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (37°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 35 mm (1.4 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.