Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Sandakan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sandakan or Yakushima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Yakushima? 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 Yakushima?
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.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, 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 daySandakan $58Yakushima $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $58, 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 Sandakan and Yakushima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $20Yakushima $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $40Yakushima $118
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Yakushima
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan 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: Sandakan Hotel Prices and Yakushima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $33Yakushima $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima and Sandakan 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 daySandakan $19Yakushima $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sandakan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sandakan.
- Mangrove Cruise with Fireflies Tour Including Dinner from Sandakan: $64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sandakan $7.19Yakushima $20
Tours and Activities in Sandakan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
- Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch: $51
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $78
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $105
- Private Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan, Bornean Sun Bear and Rainforest Discovery Center Tour: $125
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $138
- Sepilok Orang Utan & Bornean Sun Bear Centre with Sandakan City Tour with Lunch: $191
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $197
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $241
- 2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise: $290
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $6.59Yakushima $6.38
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima 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 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 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 Yakushima Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Sandakan or Yakushima?
Yakushima 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 Yakushima in the Summer?
Both Yakushima and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year.
Sandakan is around the same temperature as Yakushima in the summer. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In July, Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of rain as Yakushima. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySandakan 27°C (81°F)Yakushima 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Yakushima in the Autumn?
Both Yakushima 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.
In the autumn, Sandakan is a little warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sandakan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Yakushima averages at about 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 Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in October than Yakushima. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Yakushima 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Yakushima in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Yakushima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round.
In January, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 26°C (80°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
Yakushima 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 Yakushima. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySandakan 26°C (80°F)Yakushima 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Yakushima in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Yakushima. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Sandakan is much warmer than Yakushima in the spring. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the spring. Sandakan usually gets less rain in April than Yakushima. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Yakushima 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Yakushima and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Yakushima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 288 mm (11.3 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 352 mm (13.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 253 mm (10 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 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.