A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Vientiane vs. Yaeyama Islands for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Vientiane or Yaeyama Islands?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Yaeyama Islands, 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: Vientiane or Yaeyama Islands?

Vientiane

You wouldn't expect the capital city to have such a relaxing environment, but in Vientiane, Laos you can sit back and take in the beautiful scenery without feeling pressure to see every little thing. With Vientiane, what you see is what you get.

While picturesque temples and markets line the streets, the city is still experiencing a successful building boom. Even the Presidential Palace has undergone some hefty renovations.

Yaeyama Islands

The Yaeyama Islands is a cluster of islands located in the southwestern part of Japan, close to Taiwan. There are nine different islands, varying from small islets to large holiday resort islands. The Yaeyama Islands are one of the most popular destination in Japan due to their beautiful beaches and underwater ruins. Yaeyama is also known for having their own language and writing system. For the most part, everyone on the Islands speak Japanese, but you'll often find the Yaeyama writing on T-shirts in souvenir shops or scattered around Yaeyama.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Vientiane or Yaeyama Islands?

Yaeyama Islands has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Vientiane experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Vientiane or Yaeyama Islands in the Summer?

Both Yaeyama Islands and Vientiane are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Yaeyama Islands in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

Vientiane is around the same temperature as Yaeyama Islands in the summer. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 30°C (85°F) in July, and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

It's quite sunny in Yaeyama Islands. Vientiane usually receives less sunshine than Yaeyama Islands during summer. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Yaeyama Islands receives 279 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yaeyama Islands. It's quite rainy in Vientiane. In July, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Yaeyama Islands. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 179 mm (7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Vientiane or Yaeyama Islands in the Autumn?

Both Yaeyama Islands and Vientiane during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Vientiane because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Yaeyama Islands for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Vientiane is around the same temperature as Yaeyama Islands. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vientiane in October average around 28°C (83°F), and Yaeyama Islands averages at about 26°C (78°F).

It's quite sunny in Vientiane. In the autumn, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yaeyama Islands receives 177 hours of full sun.

Yaeyama Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Vientiane usually gets less rain in October than Yaeyama Islands. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vientiane or Yaeyama Islands in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and Yaeyama Islands. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Yaeyama Islands because of the museums and the cuisine.

In January, Vientiane is generally a little warmer than Yaeyama Islands. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 24°C (75°F), and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands during winter. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Yaeyama Islands receives 97 hours of full sun in the winter.

Yaeyama Islands receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Vientiane usually receives less rain than Yaeyama Islands. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Vientiane or Yaeyama Islands in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as Yaeyama Islands. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Yaeyama Islands this time of year.

It's very hot in Vientiane this time of the year. Vientiane is a little warmer than Yaeyama Islands in the spring. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 31°C (88°F) in April, and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. In the spring, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yaeyama Islands receives 154 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Yaeyama Islands. Vientiane usually gets less rain in April than Yaeyama Islands. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year. May to June in Yaeyama Islands is the rainy season.

Typical Weather for Yaeyama Islands and Vientiane