Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Wellington?
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 Wellington or Yakushima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Wellington 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: Wellington or Yakushima?
Wellington
Wellington is the capital and second largest city in New Zealand. It sits on the southwestern edge of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It's a beautiful setting that is encircled by mountains giving it a beautiful backdrop. There are also many cultural sights and attractions around town. Wellington really is the perfect mix of New Zealand's natural beauty and a vibrant urban core. The film industry is also prevelant in the city. The city's production centers have helped create Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, Tin Tin, and District 9.
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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Wellington Prices
New Zealand PricesYakushima Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWellington $124Yakushima $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Wellington is $124, 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 Wellington and Yakushima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWellington $60Yakushima $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWellington $120Yakushima $122
Compare Hotels in Wellington and Yakushima
Looking for a hotel in Wellington 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: Wellington Hotel Prices and Yakushima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Wellington $12Yakushima $51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Wellington
Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington Port: $26
- Private Transfer from Wellington Port to Wellington Airport (WLG): $26
- Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket + Transfer: $57
- Private Large SUV Airport Transfers Wellington - Executive Travel: $58
- Wētā Workshop Guided Transfers & Tour: $59
- Private Airport Transfer Service Vice Versa in Wellington by SUV: $75
- WLG Airport to City Private RoundTrip Transfer: $93
- Private Transfer from Wellington hotels to Wellington Cruise Port: $106
- Wellington Airport(WLG) to Wellington-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $156
Is it cheaper to fly into Wellington or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima and Wellington 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 dayWellington $51Yakushima $50
Typical Food Prices in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner$8.87
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 3 Hour Walking Food Tour: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Wellington $16Yakushima $21
Tours and Activities in Wellington
For Wellington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Return Cable Car Ticket: $6.95
- Wellington Zoo General Entry Tickets: $15
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Atlantis: $27
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Temple: $27
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Spaceship: $27
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Entry Ticket: $28
- Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket: $32
- Wētā Workshop Creative Classes Experience Ticket: $32
- Wētā Workshop Experiences Tour - Wellington: $33
- Axe Throwing Lesson and Tournament: $33
- Zealandia by Day Tour: $37
- Auckland: Wētā Workshop Unleashed Creative Classes Ticket: $38
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 dayWellington $12Yakushima $6.61
Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington
Also in Wellington, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $99
- From Martinborough Wine Tasting Tour: $168
- Exclusive Martinborough Wine Tour: $210
- Chefs Private Martinborough wine tour with Gourmet Lunch: $391
When comparing the travel costs between Wellington and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Wellington is in Pacific and Yakushima is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Wellington Expensive? and Is Yakushima Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Wellington or Yakushima?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Wellington is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Yakushima has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Wellington or Yakushima in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Wellington as well as Yakushima. The summer months attract visitors to Wellington because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Wellington is much colder than Yakushima in the summer. The daily temperature in Wellington averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in July.
It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Wellington usually gets less rain in January than Yakushimain July. Wellington gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyWellington 18°C (64°F)Yakushima 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Yakushima in the Autumn?
Both Yakushima and Wellington are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Wellington this time of year.
In the autumn, Wellington is cooler than Yakushima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Wellington in April average around 15°C (58°F), and Yakushima averages at about 22°C (71°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. In April, Wellington usually receives less rain than Yakushimain October. Wellington gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberWellington 15°C (58°F)Yakushima 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Yakushima in the Winter?
Both Yakushima and Wellington during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Wellington for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In July, Wellington is generally cooler than Yakushimain January. Daily temperatures in Wellington average around 10°C (49°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Wellington. Wellington usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Yakushimain January. Wellington gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryWellington 10°C (49°F)Yakushima 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Yakushima in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Wellington and Yakushima. Many visitors come to Wellington in the spring for the beaches.
Wellington is cooler than Yakushima in the spring. The daily temperature in Wellington averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in April.
Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the spring. In October, Wellington usually receives less rain than Yakushimain April. Wellington gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilWellington 13°C (55°F)Yakushima 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Yakushima and Wellington
| Wellington | Yakushima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Feb | 18°C (64°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 288 mm (11.3 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (51°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 352 mm (13.9 in) |
| Jul | 10°C (49°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (50°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 253 mm (10 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (58°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 17°C (62°F) | 69 mm (2.7 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.