A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Railay Beach vs. Yakushima for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Railay Beach or Yakushima?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Railay Beach and Yakushima can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Railay Beach or Yakushima?

Railay Beach

If you're looking to scale great heights and add more achievements to your list during your vacation, consider a trip to the peninsula of Rai Leh, or more commonly Railay Bay or Railay Beach, in the Krabi region of Thailand. This swimming and rock climbing hotspot is known for its towering limestone peaks and gorgeous surrounding scenery.

Yakushima

Yakushima, Japan is a UNESCO World Heritage island located north of Okinawa and off the south east of of Kyushu. The island is well-known to Japanese tourists but not so much to international ones, making it a bit of a hidden gem to international tourists. This also means that English isn't spoken as much as in larger cities, so make sure to brush up on your Japanese and bring a dictionary.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Railay Beach?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Railay Beach is $105, while the average daily cost in Yakushima is $116. 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 Railay Beach and Yakushima in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Railay Beach $63
    Yakushima $59
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Railay Beach $126
    Yakushima $118
Compare Hotels in Railay Beach and Yakushima

Looking for a hotel in Railay Beach or Yakushima? 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.

Hotels in Railay Beach


Hotels in Yakushima


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: Yakushima Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Railay Beach $25
    Yakushima $49

Is it cheaper to fly into Railay Beach or Yakushima?

Prices for flights to both Yakushima and Railay Beach 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 day
    Railay Beach $22
    Yakushima $28
Typical Food Prices in Railay Beach

Some typical examples of dining costs in Railay Beach are as follows:


  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $5.46
  • Pizza
    $4.64

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Railay Beach $23
    Yakushima $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Railay Beach

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Railay Beach are as follows:


  • Rock Climbing (for Two)
    $19

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Railay Beach $15
    Yakushima $6.38
Typical Alcohol Prices in Railay Beach

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Railay Beach are as follows:


  • Beer
    $1.64


When comparing the travel costs between Railay Beach and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima 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 Railay Beach Expensive? and Is Yakushima Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Railay Beach or Yakushima?

Yakushima has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Railay Beach experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Railay Beach or Yakushima in the Summer?

Both Yakushima and Railay Beach are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Railay Beach throughout the year.

In the summer, Railay Beach is around the same temperature as Yakushima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Railay Beach in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Yakushima averages at about 27°C (81°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Railay Beach. In July, Railay Beach usually receives more rain than Yakushima. Railay Beach gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Railay Beach is August to October.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Railay Beach 28°C (82°F) 
    Yakushima 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Railay Beach or Yakushima in the Autumn?

Both Yakushima and Railay Beach during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Railay Beach because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In October, Railay Beach is generally a little warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Railay Beach average around 27°C (81°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. Railay Beach usually gets more rain in October than Yakushima. Railay Beach gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Railay Beach. August to October is the rainy season in Railay Beach.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Railay Beach 27°C (81°F) 
    Yakushima 22°C (71°F)

Should I visit Railay Beach or Yakushima in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Railay Beach and Yakushima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Railay Beach year-round.

Railay Beach is much warmer than Yakushima in the winter. The daily temperature in Railay Beach averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Railay Beach usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Railay Beach gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the winter. December to March in Railay Beach is the dry season.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Railay Beach 28°C (82°F) 
    Yakushima 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Railay Beach or Yakushima in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Railay Beach as well as Yakushima. Railay Beach attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the spring, Railay Beach is much warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Railay Beach in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Yakushima averages at about 18°C (64°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Railay Beach receives a lot of rain in the spring. Railay Beach usually gets less rain in April than Yakushima. Railay Beach gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Railay Beach 29°C (84°F) 
    Yakushima 18°C (64°F)

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Railay Beach

Railay Beach Yakushima
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 28°C (82°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 11°C (52°F) 106 mm (4.2 in)
Feb 28°C (83°F) 22 mm (0.9 in) 12°C (53°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Mar 29°C (84°F) 52 mm (2 in) 14°C (57°F) 160 mm (6.3 in)
Apr 29°C (84°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 18°C (64°F) 207 mm (8.1 in)
May 28°C (83°F) 318 mm (12.5 in) 21°C (69°F) 288 mm (11.3 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 279 mm (11 in) 24°C (74°F) 352 mm (13.9 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 287 mm (11.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 189 mm (7.4 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 262 mm (10.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 205 mm (8.1 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 399 mm (15.7 in) 26°C (78°F) 253 mm (10 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 304 mm (12 in) 22°C (71°F) 161 mm (6.3 in)
Nov 27°C (81°F) 165 mm (6.5 in) 18°C (64°F) 118 mm (4.6 in)
Dec 27°C (81°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 13°C (55°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)


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