Which place is cheaper, Sado or Yangshuo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Yangshuo or Sado?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Yangshuo and Sado can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Yangshuo or Sado?
Yangshuo
A county of the city, Guilin, Yangshuo is located in a region famous for its karst topography. Surrounded by jagged mountain peaks and bordered on one side by the Li River, Yangshuo has become a popular home base for tourists looking to explore the region's natural wonders. Backpackers and tourists, both foreign and domestic, come to Yangshuo every year making it a city of many cultures. Most locals are even able to speak English, which is fairly uncommon for Chinese cities.
Sado
Sado Island, Japan is located just off the coast of Niigata and is an old gold mining town that has since developed into a quiet summer holiday destination. The island is home to two mountain ranges, O-Sado in the north and Ko-sado in the south, with the popular Kuninaka plain in between the mountain ranges. With the remoteness of the island, it has become a popular destination for tourists to experience old Japan and get away from the busy mainland.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to China, The Best Tours for Seniors to China, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayYangshuo $72Sado $62
The average daily cost (per person) in Yangshuo is $72, while the average daily cost in Sado is $62. 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 Yangshuo and Sado in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personYangshuo $25Sado $30
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomYangshuo $50Sado $60
Compare Hotels in Yangshuo and Sado
Looking for a hotel in Yangshuo or Sado? 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: Sado Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Yangshuo $42Sado $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yangshuo
Also for Yangshuo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo(Xingping) Train Station to Yangshuo Hotel: $21
- Private Transfer from Xingping hotel to Yangshuo hotel: $21
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo hotel to Guilin hotel: $37
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo Train Station to Yangshuo Hotel: $48
- Private Departure Transfer: Yangshuo to Guilin Train Stations: $49
- Private Departure Transfer: Yangshuo to Guilin International Airport (KWL): $49
- Yangshuo Rock Climbing with Hotel Transfer (3 hours): $69
- Impression Liu Sanjie - Ticket Booking (including Round-trip Transfer): $75
- Private Impression Sanjie Liu Evening Show with Hotel Transfer: $88
- Private Transfer from Xingping hotel to Longsheng hotel: $107
Is it cheaper to fly into Yangshuo or Sado?
Prices for flights to both Sado and Yangshuo 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 dayYangshuo $19Sado $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yangshuo
For Yangshuo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 3-Hour Yangshuo Cooking Class with Yangshuo Town Shopping: $138
- Yangshuo Full Day Tour: Cooking class, River boat, Light Show: $259
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Yangshuo $23Sado $8.43
Tours and Activities in Yangshuo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Yangshuo.
- Tour to learn Chinese cuisine in Yangshuo group: $37
- Impression Sanjie Liu Show Ticket: $45
- Yangshuo Impression Liusanjie Show Ticket: $45
- Yangshuo Impression Liusanjie Show Ticket: $47
- Yangshuo Ruyi peak & round way cable car ticket: $55
- Yangshuo Via Ferrata Ticket: $56
- Half/Full-Day Yangshuo Countryside Moderate Cycling and Sightseeing Private Tour: $60
- Gullin: Li River Cruise with Pickup and Yangshuo: $65
- Private Half-Day Bike and Bamboo Raft Tour in Yangshuo: $80
- 1 Day - Yangshuo Bike Tour: $80
- Xingping Parasailing Experience Ticket: $89
- Yangshuo Parasailing Experience Ticket: $89
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayYangshuo $33Sado $66
When comparing the travel costs between Yangshuo and Sado, we can see that Yangshuo 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Yangshuo Expensive? and Is Sado Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Yangshuo or Sado?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Yangshuo or Sado in the Summer?
Both Sado and Yangshuo during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Sado because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Yangshuo is generally a little warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Yangshuo average around 30°C (86°F), and Sado fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).
Sado gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Yangshuo. Yangshuo usually gets more rain in July than Sado. Yangshuo gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyYangshuo 30°C (86°F)Sado 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Yangshuo or Sado in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Yangshuo and Sado. Also, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Sado this time of year.
Yangshuo is a little warmer than Sado in the autumn. The daily temperature in Yangshuo averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Sado fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
Sado receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Yangshuo usually receives less rain than Sado. Yangshuo gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberYangshuo 23°C (73°F)Sado 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Yangshuo or Sado in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Yangshuo as well as Sado. Also, many travelers come to Sado for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Sado. In the winter, Yangshuo is much warmer than Sado. Typically, the winter temperatures in Yangshuo in January average around 10°C (49°F), and Sado averages at about 3°C (37°F).
It's quite rainy in Sado. Yangshuo usually gets less rain in January than Sado. Yangshuo gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryYangshuo 10°C (49°F)Sado 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Yangshuo or Sado in the Spring?
Both Sado and Yangshuo are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In April, Yangshuo is generally much warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Yangshuo average around 20°C (68°F), and Sado fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. It's quite rainy in Yangshuo. In April, Yangshuo usually receives more rain than Sado. Yangshuo gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilYangshuo 20°C (68°F)Sado 10°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Sado and Yangshuo
| Yangshuo | Sado | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (49°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (68°F) | 263 mm (10.3 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 334 mm (13.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (86°F) | 168 mm (6.6 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 159 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 162 mm (6.4 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.