Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Dunedin?
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 Dunedin or Yakushima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Dunedin 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: Dunedin or Yakushima?
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second largest city on the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the southeast coast and is largely Scottish in its heritage. It is part of the Otago region and has mild temperatures during the spring and summer, but extremely cold temperatures during the end of fall and winter. Dunedin is a university town; The University of Otago is the oldest in New Zealand, established in 1869. The students make up over a tenth of the entire city's population.
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 Adventure Tours to New Zealand, The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.
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Dunedin Prices
New Zealand PricesYakushima Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDunedin $122Yakushima $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Dunedin is $122, 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 Dunedin and Yakushima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDunedin $51Yakushima $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDunedin $102Yakushima $122
Compare Hotels in Dunedin and Yakushima
Looking for a hotel in Dunedin 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: Dunedin Hotel Prices and Yakushima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dunedin $27Yakushima $51
Is it cheaper to fly into Dunedin or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima and Dunedin 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 dayDunedin $49Yakushima $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dunedin $17Yakushima $21
Tours and Activities in Dunedin
Here are a few actual costs in Dunedin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Olveston Historic Home Guided Tour: $16
- Larnach Castle and Gardens Admission Ticket: $27
- Larnach Castle & Gardens Admission Ticket: $28
- Garden and City tour: $35
- Heritage Dunedin City Walking Guided Tour: $39
- Wildlife and Penguin Tour: $39
- Otago Peninsula Wildlife Cruise with Monarch: $39
- Monarch - One Hour Wildlife Cruise: $41
- Wildlife and Penguin Tour: $43
- Shore Excursion: V8 Trike, Peninsula and City Tour: $48
- Dunedin Nature & City Tour – Full Day Cruise Excursion: $56
- Iconic Shore Excursion: Dunedin City Highlights Tour: $59
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 dayDunedin $14Yakushima $6.61
Sample the Local Flavors in Dunedin
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dunedin:
- Speight's Brewery Tour & Guided Tasting: $27
- Speight's Brewery Guided Tour with Tasting: $27
- City Sights Tour, Distillery & Lunch all inclusive: $138
When comparing the travel costs between Dunedin 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 Dunedin 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 Dunedin Expensive? and Is Yakushima Expensive?.
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.