Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Vang Vieng?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Vang Vieng or Yakushima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Vang Vieng 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: Vang Vieng or Yakushima?
Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng is a town in the Vientiane province of Laos that sits along the banks of the Nam Song River. With its beautifully carved karst topography cliffs towering over the winding river, the area has become very tourist-oriented for those seeking to explore the outdoor wonders. People from all over come to engage in the unique landscape-mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, caving, swimming, and rock climbing, amongst others.
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 Laos, The Best Budget Tours to Laos, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.
-
Vang Vieng Prices
Laos PricesYakushima Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVang Vieng $19Yakushima $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $19, 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 Vang Vieng and Yakushima in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVang Vieng $4.25Yakushima $61
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVang Vieng $8.50Yakushima $122
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Yakushima
Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng 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: Vang Vieng Hotel Prices and Yakushima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vang Vieng $3.11Yakushima $51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vang Vieng
Also for Vang Vieng, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared transfer from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang city: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima and Vang Vieng 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 dayVang Vieng $11Yakushima $50
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vang Vieng $4.76Yakushima $21
Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- Nam Song River Kayak Tour: $18
- Tham Nangfar and Tham Nam Day Tour with Kayaking: $24
- Get Your Laos–China Train Ticket Fast – No Waiting, No Worries: $30
- Blue Lagoon and Countryside Bike Tour with Lunch: $38
- Vangrong Full Day Tour: $45
- Vang Vieng Shared Tour with Kayaking in Nam Song River: $48
- Vang Vieng Bike Tour: $49
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng : $50
- Kayaking&Zipline&Cave Tubing&cave tour: $51
- Vangrong One Day Shared Tour: $52
- Vang Vieng Tour B - Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour: $55
- Laos: Jungle Zipline and Caving Tour: $58
Tours and Activities in Yakushima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yakushima are as follows:
- Private Guided Tour: $336
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayVang Vieng $1.11Yakushima $6.61
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. And not only is Vang Vieng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vang Vieng would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vang Vieng 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 Vang Vieng.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Vang Vieng Expensive? and Is Yakushima Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Vang Vieng or Yakushima?
Yakushima has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Vang Vieng experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Yakushima in the Summer?
Both Yakushima and Vang Vieng during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Vang Vieng because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Vang Vieng is generally cooler than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 22°C (72°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in July than Yakushima. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyVang Vieng 22°C (72°F)Yakushima 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Yakushima in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Yakushima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round.
Vang Vieng is around the same temperature as Yakushima in the autumn. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Yakushima fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Yakushima 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Yakushima in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Yakushima. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the winter, Vang Vieng is much warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the winter temperatures in Vang Vieng in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Yakushima averages at about 11°C (52°F).
It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in January than Yakushima. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVang Vieng 24°C (75°F)Yakushima 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Yakushima in the Spring?
Both Yakushima and Vang Vieng are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vang Vieng throughout the year.
In April, Vang Vieng is generally a little warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 23°C (73°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Vang Vieng. In April, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Yakushima 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Yakushima and Vang Vieng
| Vang Vieng | Yakushima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 288 mm (11.3 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 352 mm (13.9 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 253 mm (10 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 81 mm (3.2 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.