Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Zhangjiajie?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zhangjiajie or Yakushima?
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 Yakushima. 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 Yakushima?
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.
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 Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZhangjiajie $63Yakushima $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangjiajie is $63, while the average daily cost in Yakushima is $116. 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 Yakushima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZhangjiajie $30Yakushima $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZhangjiajie $60Yakushima $118
Compare Hotels in Zhangjiajie and Yakushima
Looking for a hotel in Zhangjiajie 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: Yakushima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zhangjiajie $14Yakushima $49
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Zhangjiajie or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima 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
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Food Meals for one dayZhangjiajie $20Yakushima $28
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zhangjiajie $23Yakushima $20
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: $122
- 1 Days Zhangjiajie Natural Beauty Tour with Baofeng Lake: $132
- 1 Day Tianmen Mountain Tour: $139
- 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
- 1 Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain and Glass Skywalk Tour: $154
- Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Private All-inclusive Day Tour: $155
- Glass Bridge,Zhangjiajie park Avatar Mountain day tour: $160
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZhangjiajie $16Yakushima $6.38
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zhangjiajie and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima 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 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 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 Yakushima Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Zhangjiajie or Yakushima?
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 Yakushima in the Summer?
Both Yakushima and Zhangjiajie during the summer are popular places to visit.
Zhangjiajie is around the same temperature as Yakushima in the summer. The daily temperature in Zhangjiajie averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Yakushima 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 Yakushima. Zhangjiajie gets 125 mm (4.9 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 JulyZhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)Yakushima 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Yakushima in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zhangjiajie and Yakushima.
In the autumn, Zhangjiajie is cooler than Yakushima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zhangjiajie in October average around 19°C (65°F), and Yakushima averages at about 22°C (71°F).
Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Zhangjiajie usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Zhangjiajie gets 90 mm (3.6 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 OctoberZhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)Yakushima 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Yakushima in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Zhangjiajie as well as Yakushima.
In January, Zhangjiajie is generally much colder than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Zhangjiajie average around 5°C (42°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Zhangjiajie usually gets less rain in January than Yakushima. Zhangjiajie gets 44 mm (1.7 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 JanuaryZhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)Yakushima 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Yakushima in the Spring?
Both Yakushima and Zhangjiajie are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Zhangjiajie is around the same temperature as Yakushima in the spring. The daily temperature in Zhangjiajie averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Zhangjiajie. In April, Zhangjiajie usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Zhangjiajie gets 166 mm (6.5 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 AprilZhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)Yakushima 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Yakushima and Zhangjiajie
| Zhangjiajie | Yakushima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (42°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 288 mm (11.3 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (78°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 352 mm (13.9 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 253 mm (10 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 90 mm (3.6 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (45°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.