A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Zhangjiajie vs. Okinawa for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Zhangjiajie or Okinawa?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Zhangjiajie and Okinawa. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Zhangjiajie or Okinawa?

Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.

Okinawa

Okinawa is the southernmost prefecture of Japan and includes hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands. The chain of islands is off the southern mainland portion of the country and is made up of 49 inhabited islands and over one hundred uninhabited islands. Naha is Okinawa's capital, which is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo.


Which place is cheaper, Okinawa or Zhangjiajie?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangjiajie is $63, while the average daily cost in Okinawa is $103. 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 Zhangjiajie and Okinawa in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Zhangjiajie $30
    Okinawa $72
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Zhangjiajie $60
    Okinawa $144
Compare Hotels in Zhangjiajie and Okinawa

Looking for a hotel in Zhangjiajie or Okinawa? 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.

Hotels in Zhangjiajie


Hotels in Okinawa


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Zhangjiajie $14
    Okinawa $9.32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie

Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Zhangjiajie Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $18
  • Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie Train Station to Fenghuang hotel: $149
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Aizhai bridge area: $187
  • Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Okinawa

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Okinawa:

  • Airport Transfer! Center of Naha to Naha Airport (OKA): $125
  • Airport Transfer! Naha Airport (OKA) to Center of Naha: $124
  • Okinawa Naha Airport (OKA) to Naha Hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $118
  • Private Transfer from Nakagusuku Port to Okinawa Airport (OKA): $94
  • Private Transfer from Okinawa Airport (OKA) to Nakagusuku Port: $85
  • Private Transfer from Nakagusuku Port to Okinawa Airport (OKA): $85
  • Private Transfer from Nakagusuku Cruise Port to Naha City Hotels : $66
  • Private Transfer from Naha City Hotels to Nakagusuku Cruise Port : $66
  • Naha hotels to Okinawa Naha Airport (ОКА) - Departure Transfer: $59
  • Private Transfer from Naha City Hotels to Nakagusuku Cruise Port : $59
  • Okinawa Naha Airport (OKA) to Naha hotels - Arrival Transfer: $59

Is it cheaper to fly into Zhangjiajie or Okinawa?

Prices for flights to both Okinawa and Zhangjiajie 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 day
    Zhangjiajie $20
    Okinawa $23

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie

For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Full-Day Private Discovery Tour to Tianmen Mountain National Park with Dinner: $184
  • 1 Day Zhangjiajie Private Tour Visit Avatar Mount and Tianzi Mount with Dinner: $196

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Zhangjiajie $23
    Okinawa $14

Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.

  • Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge Ticket: $57
  • Tianmen Mountain day tour: $96
  • Full-Day Private Tour of Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) National Forest Park: $115
  • Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain With the Skywalk: $121
  • Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain: $122
  • 1-day Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge Tour: $132
  • 1 Days Zhangjiajie Natural Beauty Tour with Baofeng Lake: $132
  • 1 Day Tianmen Mountain Tour: $139
  • Private Day Tour of Baofeng Lake and Yellow Dragon Cave: $140
  • 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour: $146
  • Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge and Baofeng Lake Private Day Tour: $147
  • Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountain Glass Bridge day tour: $150

Tours and Activities in Okinawa

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Okinawa are as follows:

  • Okinawa Local Experience and Sunset Cycling Tour: $85
  • 2-Hour Private Gorilla Go Kart Experience in Okinawa: $68
  • 4 Person Group Tour Kerama Blue Cycling in Aka Island : $118
  • American Village &Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium Tour from Naha/Chatan: $78
  • Beautiful sunset kayak tour in Okinawa: $36
  • City of Romance and Great Figures Haebaru Cycling Tour: $99
  • Cycling Experience in the Historic City of Urasoe: $99
  • E-Bike Nature Tour in Shuri: $89
  • Jungle River Trek: private tour in Yanbaru, north Okinawa: $49
  • Karate History Tour in Okinawa: $106
  • Kayak & Snorkel: private tour in Yanbaru, north Okinawa: $111
  • Kayak Mangroves or Coral Reef: private tour in north Okinawa : $53

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Zhangjiajie $16
    Okinawa $14

Sample the Local Flavors in Okinawa

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Okinawa:

  • Naha Local Pub Crawl: $110


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

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


Which is Bigger, Zhangjiajie or Okinawa?

Okinawa has a larger population, and is about 46% larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Zhangjiajie and Okinawa, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.


When is the best time to visit Zhangjiajie or Okinawa?

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 Zhangjiajie or Okinawa in the Summer?

Both Okinawa and Zhangjiajie during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Okinawa this time of year.

In the summer, Zhangjiajie is around the same temperature as Okinawa. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zhangjiajie in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Okinawa averages at about 29°C (84°F).

Okinawa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Zhangjiajie. Zhangjiajie usually gets less rain in July than Okinawa. Zhangjiajie gets 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Okinawa receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F) 
    Okinawa 29°C (84°F)

Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Okinawa in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zhangjiajie and Okinawa. Furthermore, many travelers come to Okinawa for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Zhangjiajie is generally cooler than Okinawa. Daily temperatures in Zhangjiajie average around 19°C (65°F), and Okinawa fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

Okinawa receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Zhangjiajie usually receives less rain than Okinawa. Zhangjiajie gets 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Okinawa receives 152 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F) 
    Okinawa 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Okinawa in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Zhangjiajie as well as Okinawa. Additionally, many visitors come to Okinawa in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Zhangjiajie is much colder than Okinawa in the winter. The daily temperature in Zhangjiajie averages around 5°C (42°F) in January, and Okinawa fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

It's quite rainy in Okinawa. Zhangjiajie usually gets less rain in January than Okinawa. Zhangjiajie gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Okinawa receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F) 
    Okinawa 16°C (61°F)

Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Okinawa in the Spring?

Both Okinawa and Zhangjiajie are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Okinawa for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Zhangjiajie is cooler than Okinawa. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zhangjiajie in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Okinawa averages at about 22°C (71°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Okinawa. It's quite rainy in Zhangjiajie. In April, Zhangjiajie usually receives around the same amount of rain as Okinawa. Zhangjiajie gets 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Okinawa receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F) 
    Okinawa 22°C (71°F)

Typical Weather for Okinawa and Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie Okinawa
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 5°C (42°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 16°C (61°F) 125 mm (4.9 in)
Feb 6°C (44°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 17°C (62°F) 107 mm (4.2 in)
Mar 11°C (52°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 18°C (65°F) 156 mm (6.1 in)
Apr 17°C (63°F) 166 mm (6.5 in) 22°C (71°F) 164 mm (6.5 in)
May 22°C (72°F) 179 mm (7 in) 24°C (76°F) 254 mm (10 in)
Jun 26°C (78°F) 199 mm (7.8 in) 27°C (80°F) 255 mm (10 in)
Jul 29°C (85°F) 125 mm (4.9 in) 29°C (84°F) 171 mm (6.7 in)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 149 mm (5.9 in) 28°C (83°F) 266 mm (10.5 in)
Sep 24°C (75°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 28°C (82°F) 161 mm (6.3 in)
Oct 19°C (65°F) 90 mm (3.6 in) 25°C (77°F) 152 mm (6 in)
Nov 13°C (55°F) 70 mm (2.7 in) 22°C (71°F) 117 mm (4.6 in)
Dec 7°C (45°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 18°C (65°F) 116 mm (4.6 in)