A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sendai vs. Whitsundays for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sendai or Whitsundays?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sendai or Whitsundays, 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: Sendai or Whitsundays?

Sendai

Sendai, Japan is located in the Toohoku region on the main Honshu island. It is often referred to as "Forest City" due to the large amount of green space throughout the city and the tree filled parks and public spaces. Sendai is a very pleasant city to visit; they are in close proximity to both mountains and the sea and have many large universities throughout the city, making it a popular college town.

Whitsundays

Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.

As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Sendai?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Sendai is $105, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $132. 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 Sendai and Whitsundays in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sendai $59
    Whitsundays $69
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sendai $118
    Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Sendai and Whitsundays

Looking for a hotel in Sendai or Whitsundays? 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 Sendai


Hotels in Whitsundays


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: Sendai Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sendai $18
    Whitsundays $55

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sendai

Also for Sendai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Sendai Airport to/from Sendai City private transfer: $76

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whitsundays

Also for Whitsundays, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $124

Is it cheaper to fly into Sendai or Whitsundays?

Prices for flights to both Whitsundays and Sendai 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
    Sendai $33
    Whitsundays $30

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whitsundays

For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $98

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sendai $18
    Whitsundays $25

Tours and Activities in Sendai

For Sendai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Japanese Taiko Drum Experience at Sairi Yashiki : $71
  • Sendai, Okama: Private tour from Sendai city to Okama: $251

Tours and Activities in Whitsundays

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.

  • Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,941
  • Daydream Island: Great Barrier Reef Adventure Cruise: $195
  • From Daydream Is.: Whitsundays & Whitehaven Half-Day Cruise: $91
  • Whitsundays Camira Sailing Adventure from Daydream Island: $150

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sendai $11
    Whitsundays $12


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

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



When is the best time to visit Sendai or Whitsundays?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Whitsundays is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Sendai has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Sendai or Whitsundays in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sendai and Whitsundays. Many visitors come to Sendai in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Sendai is generally cooler than Whitsundaysin January. Daily temperatures in Sendai average around 23°C (73°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays this time of the year. Sendai usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during summer. Sendai gets 124 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.

Whitsundays receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sendai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Sendai usually receives less rain than Whitsundaysin January. Sendai gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Sendai 23°C (73°F) 
    Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Sendai or Whitsundays in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Sendai as well as Whitsundays. Most visitors come to Sendai for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

Sendai is much colder than Whitsundays in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sendai averages around 15°C (59°F) in October, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in April.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. In the autumn, Sendai often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin April. Sendai gets 149 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 207 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Whitsundays. Sendai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Sendai usually gets less rain in October than Whitsundaysin April. Sendai gets 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Sendai 15°C (59°F) 
    Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Sendai or Whitsundays in the Winter?

Both Whitsundays and Sendai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Sendai because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Sendai can be very cold. In the winter, Sendai is much colder than Whitsundays. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sendai in January average around 2°C (35°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 16°C (62°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. Sendai usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during winter. Sendai gets 149 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Sendai usually receives around the same amount of rain as Whitsundaysin July. Sendai gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Sendai 2°C (35°F) 
    Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)

Should I visit Sendai or Whitsundays in the Spring?

Both Whitsundays and Sendai during the spring are popular places to visit. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Sendai this time of year.

In April, Sendai is generally much colder than Whitsundaysin October. Daily temperatures in Sendai average around 10°C (51°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Sendai often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin October. Sendai gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun.

Sendai usually gets more rain in April than Whitsundaysin October. Sendai gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Sendai 10°C (51°F) 
    Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)

Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Sendai

Sendai Whitsundays
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 2°C (35°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 26°C (79°F) 331 mm (13 in)
Feb 2°C (35°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 26°C (78°F) 377 mm (14.8 in)
Mar 5°C (40°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 25°C (77°F) 312 mm (12.3 in)
Apr 10°C (51°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 23°C (73°F) 143 mm (5.6 in)
May 15°C (60°F) 111 mm (4.4 in) 20°C (68°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Jun 19°C (66°F) 133 mm (5.2 in) 17°C (63°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Jul 23°C (73°F) 151 mm (5.9 in) 16°C (62°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Aug 25°C (77°F) 165 mm (6.5 in) 18°C (65°F) 27 mm (1.1 in)
Sep 21°C (69°F) 187 mm (7.4 in) 20°C (68°F) 15 mm (0.6 in)
Oct 15°C (59°F) 103 mm (4.1 in) 23°C (73°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Nov 9°C (49°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 25°C (77°F) 107 mm (4.2 in)
Dec 4°C (40°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 26°C (78°F) 191 mm (7.5 in)


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