A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sandakan vs. Yaeyama Islands for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sandakan or Yaeyama Islands?

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

Should I visit Sandakan or Yaeyama Islands? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Sandakan or Yaeyama Islands?

Sandakan

Located on the Northeast side of the state of Sabah in Borneo is the city of Sandakan, which is the 2nd largest city in the country. Sandakan was a prosperous port town in the 1800s because of its exports of tobacco, timber, pearls, and ivory. However, this booming town that was formerly the administrative capital in North Borneo was bombed practically out of existence at the end of World War II.

Yaeyama Islands

The Yaeyama Islands is a cluster of islands located in the southwestern part of Japan, close to Taiwan. There are nine different islands, varying from small islets to large holiday resort islands. The Yaeyama Islands are one of the most popular destination in Japan due to their beautiful beaches and underwater ruins. Yaeyama is also known for having their own language and writing system. For the most part, everyone on the Islands speak Japanese, but you'll often find the Yaeyama writing on T-shirts in souvenir shops or scattered around Yaeyama.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Yaeyama Islands, we can see that Yaeyama Islands is more expensive. And not only is Sandakan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sandakan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sandakan 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 Yaeyama Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yaeyama Islands than you might in Sandakan.

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

When is the best time to visit Sandakan or Yaeyama Islands?

Yaeyama Islands has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Sandakan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Sandakan or Yaeyama Islands in the Summer?

Both Yaeyama Islands and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Yaeyama Islands because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Sandakan is generally around the same temperature as Yaeyama Islands. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 27°C (81°F), and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

It's quite sunny in Yaeyama Islands. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually receives less sunshine than Yaeyama Islands during summer. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Yaeyama Islands receives 279 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yaeyama Islands. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In July, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Yaeyama Islands. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 179 mm (7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Sandakan or Yaeyama Islands in the Autumn?

Both Yaeyama Islands and Sandakan during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sandakan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Yaeyama Islands this time of year.

Sandakan is around the same temperature as Yaeyama Islands in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

In the autumn, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yaeyama Islands receives 177 hours of full sun.

Yaeyama Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in October than Yaeyama Islands. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sandakan or Yaeyama Islands in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Yaeyama Islands. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Yaeyama Islands for the museums and the cuisine.

In the winter, Sandakan is a little warmer than Yaeyama Islands. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sandakan in January average around 26°C (80°F), and Yaeyama Islands averages at about 18°C (64°F).

Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands during winter. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Yaeyama Islands receives 97 hours of full sun in the winter.

Yaeyama Islands receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Yaeyama Islands. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Sandakan or Yaeyama Islands in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Yaeyama Islands. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Yaeyama Islands in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Sandakan is generally a little warmer than Yaeyama Islands. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 28°C (82°F), and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sandakan this time of the year. In the spring, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yaeyama Islands receives 154 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Yaeyama Islands. Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the spring. Sandakan usually gets less rain in April than Yaeyama Islands. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year. May to June in Yaeyama Islands is the rainy season.

Typical Weather for Yaeyama Islands and Sandakan