Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Rotorua?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Rotorua or Yakushima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Rotorua and Yakushima can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Rotorua or Yakushima?
Rotorua
Located on the banks of Lake Rotorua, Rotorua is famous as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand. The area has a variety of geothermal sights, but it is also close to several lakes and has more traditional activities as well, including fishing, boating and white water rafting.
Rotorua is located in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, which is the largest volcano in the area. There are four major volcanic calderas that now have lakes, and several other volcanoes in the area. Rotorua sits on top of a thermal hot spring, and there are many vents and hot pools throughout the area. Many of the hot pools and sights are located within parks, with some of the best being Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Rainbow Springs Nature Park, and Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.
Rotorua has a warm, temperate climate. Because of the area's inland location, it has less wind than many places in New Zealand. Temperatures during the winter months can fall to below freezing, but snow is incredibly rare.
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 2-Week Tours in New Zealand, The Best Bicycle Tours in New Zealand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRotorua $93Yakushima $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Rotorua is $93, 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 Rotorua and Yakushima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRotorua $48Yakushima $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRotorua $96Yakushima $118
Compare Hotels in Rotorua and Yakushima
Looking for a hotel in Rotorua 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.
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: Rotorua Hotel Prices and Yakushima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rotorua $5.01Yakushima $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rotorua
Also for Rotorua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Rotorua to Auckland Afternoon Transfer with Waitomo Glow Worms: $182
Is it cheaper to fly into Rotorua or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima and Rotorua 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 dayRotorua $29Yakushima $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rotorua
For Rotorua, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Mitai Maori Village: Cultural Experience and Dinner Buffet: $92
- Te Pa Tu Māori Cultural Experience with Dinner: $154
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rotorua $34Yakushima $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rotorua
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Rotorua's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Lunch Out for Two$27
Tours and Activities in Rotorua
For Rotorua, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jade Carving Experience at a Local Studio: $21
- Whaka Geothermal Trails Self-Guided Tour: $21
- Mountain Jade Highlights Tour: $21
- Government Gardens Walking Tour: $23
- Geothermal Mineral Baths Experience: Pavilion Pools for 12+: $27
- Whakarewarewa Village Guided Tour: $27
- Geothermal Adults Only Mineral Bathing - Pavilion Pools Bathing Ticket: $27
- Whakarewarewa Village Guided Tour: $27
- Agrodome Farm Tour with Show and Produce Tasting: $29
- Agrodome Farm Experience including Farm Show and Farm Tour - Rotorua: $30
- Velocity Valley Ticket: $33
- The National Kiwi Hatchery Tour: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRotorua $12Yakushima $6.38
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rotorua
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rotorua:
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Bottle of Wine$11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rotorua and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. And not only is Rotorua much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rotorua is in Pacific and Yakushima is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Rotorua would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rotorua 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 Yakushima would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yakushima than you might in Rotorua.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rotorua Expensive? and Is Yakushima Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Rotorua or Yakushima?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Rotorua is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Yakushima has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Rotorua or Yakushima in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Rotorua as well as Yakushima. Many travelers come to Rotorua for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
In January, Rotorua is generally much colder than Yakushimain July. Daily temperatures in Rotorua average around 12°C (54°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Rotorua usually gets less rain in January than Yakushimain July. Rotorua gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyRotorua 12°C (54°F)Yakushima 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Rotorua or Yakushima in the Autumn?
Both Yakushima and Rotorua are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Rotorua in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Rotorua is cooler than Yakushima in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rotorua averages around 16°C (61°F) in April, and Yakushima fluctuates around 22°C (71°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. In April, Rotorua usually receives less rain than Yakushimain October. Rotorua gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberRotorua 16°C (61°F)Yakushima 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Rotorua or Yakushima in the Winter?
Both Yakushima and Rotorua during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Rotorua for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Rotorua is much warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rotorua in July average around 26°C (79°F), and Yakushima averages at about 11°C (52°F)in January.
Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Rotorua usually gets less rain in July than Yakushimain January. Rotorua gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRotorua 26°C (79°F)Yakushima 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Rotorua or Yakushima in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rotorua and Yakushima. The spring months attract visitors to Rotorua because of the natural beauty.
In October, Rotorua is generally around the same temperature as Yakushimain April. Daily temperatures in Rotorua average around 19°C (66°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the spring. In October, Rotorua usually receives less rain than Yakushimain April. Rotorua gets 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilRotorua 19°C (66°F)Yakushima 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Yakushima and Rotorua
| Rotorua | Yakushima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (54°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 288 mm (11.3 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 352 mm (13.9 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 253 mm (10 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 13°C (55°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 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.