Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Tauranga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Tauranga or Yakushima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tauranga 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: Tauranga or Yakushima?
Tauranga
Tauranga is a city on the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the western side of the Bay of Plenty, which is on the east coast of the island. Its population of 130,000 makes it the fifth largest city in the country. Tauranga is a Maori word translated roughly to 'a sheltered anchorage'. This makes sense as the town is located near a very large harbor and protected by Matakana Island. Mount Maunganui is at the headland of the town and regarded as a suburb of Tauranga. The beach at Mt Maunganui is a surfing hot spot. The climate is mostly warm and dry because of the town's sheltered position.
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 Adventure Tours to New Zealand, The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.
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Tauranga Prices
New Zealand PricesYakushima Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTauranga $118Yakushima $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Tauranga is $118, while the average daily cost in Yakushima is $141. 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 Tauranga and Yakushima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTauranga $74Yakushima $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTauranga $148Yakushima $122
Compare Hotels in Tauranga and Yakushima
Looking for a hotel in Tauranga 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: Tauranga Hotel Prices and Yakushima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tauranga $6.75Yakushima $51
Is it cheaper to fly into Tauranga or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima and Tauranga 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 dayTauranga $37Yakushima $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tauranga $10Yakushima $21
Tours and Activities in Tauranga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tauranga are as follows:
- Mount Maunganui Hot Pools Experience: $16
- Mount Maunganui: Hot Ocean Water Pools Entry Ticket: $16
- Mount Maunganui Harbour Sightseeing Cruise: $23
- Tauranga Harbour Scenic One Hour Historical Boat Cruise : $24
- Waimarino Adventure Park Supreme Pass Entry Ticket: $34
- Katikati Avocado Adventure: $35
- Mount Maunganui: Pohutukawa grove and Beach Walking Tour: $40
- Tauranga City & Scenic Sightseeing 2-hour Tour: $46
- TAURANGA City & Scenic Sightseeing 2-hour Local Bus Tour: $47
- Tauranga Harbour Cruise: $55
- Tauranga Shore Excursion: Small-Group Bay of Plenty and Tauranga Tour: $67
- New Zealand Tauranga Tour with Transportation and Snacks: $75
Tours and Activities in Yakushima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yakushima are as follows:
- Private Guided Tour: $336
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTauranga $10Yakushima $6.61
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tauranga and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. And not only is Tauranga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tauranga 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 Tauranga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tauranga 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 Tauranga.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tauranga Expensive? and Is Yakushima Expensive?.
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.