Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Te Anau?
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 Te Anau 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 Te Anau 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: Te Anau or Yakushima?
Te Anau
Te Anau is a town on the South Island of New Zealand, best-known as a gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. The region is a major destination for ecotourism as it is home to rare species like the endangered flightless takahe bird and natural features like caves, waterfalls, forests, lakes, glacial valleys, and mountains.
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 New Zealand, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.
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Te Anau Prices
New Zealand PricesYakushima Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTe Anau $118Yakushima $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Te Anau 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 Te Anau and Yakushima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTe Anau $44Yakushima $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTe Anau $88Yakushima $122
Compare Hotels in Te Anau and Yakushima
Looking for a hotel in Te Anau 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: Te Anau Hotel Prices and Yakushima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Te Anau $27Yakushima $51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Te Anau
Also for Te Anau, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kepler Water Taxi Transfer across Lake Te Anau: $17
- Te Anau to Invercargill Small Group Transfer: $54
- Lake Marian Guided Hike with Transfers, Lunch & Morning Tea: $185
Is it cheaper to fly into Te Anau or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima and Te Anau 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 dayTe Anau $46Yakushima $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Te Anau $47Yakushima $21
Tours and Activities in Te Anau
For Te Anau, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Glowworm Caves Guided Tour: $75
- Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour: $77
- Evening Champagne Cruise on Historic 1935 Motor Yacht.: $84
- Scenic Cruise & Guided walk on Historic Motor Yacht Lake Te Anau: $86
- Scenic Cruise & Guided Walk on Historic Motor Yacht Lake Te Anau: $86
- Champagne Sightseeing Cruise on Lake Te Anau: $98
- From Milford Sound Coach Tour and Cruise: $119
- Fiordland: Jet Boat & Nature Walk Experience from Te Anau: $119
- Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Tour from Te Anau : $122
- From Milford Sound Cruise & Scenic Coach Tour: $126
- Milford Sound Day Tour from Te Anau: $130
- From Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip: $133
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 dayTe Anau $14Yakushima $6.61
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Te Anau and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. And not only is Te Anau much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Te Anau 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 Te Anau would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Te Anau 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 Te Anau.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Te Anau 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.