A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Chang vs. Yakushima for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koh Chang or Yakushima?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Chang or Yakushima, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Koh Chang or Yakushima?

Koh Chang

Most people pick Thailand for their destination because they're anxious to collapse on a breathtaking beach. If that is you, Ko Chang does not disappoint. As one the country's most beautiful islands, Ko Chang is full of white beaches and incredible wildlife. Beware, though, you're not the only one with Ko Chang in mind. During the high season, the island can become quite crowded with tourists.

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 Thailand, The Best Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Chang and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. And not only is Koh Chang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Chang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Chang 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 Koh Chang.

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

When is the best time to visit Koh Chang or Yakushima?

Yakushima has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Chang experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Koh Chang or Yakushima in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Koh Chang as well as Yakushima. Koh Chang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the summer, Koh Chang is around the same temperature as Yakushima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Chang in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Yakushima averages at about 27°C (81°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Koh Chang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Chang usually gets more rain in July than Yakushima. Koh Chang gets 440 mm (17.3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Chang or Yakushima in the Autumn?

Both Yakushima and Koh Chang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Chang throughout the year.

In October, Koh Chang is generally a little warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Koh Chang average around 27°C (81°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Koh Chang. In October, Koh Chang usually receives more rain than Yakushima. Koh Chang gets 280 mm (11 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Koh Chang is November to February. The rainy season in Koh Chang is June to October.

Should I visit Koh Chang or Yakushima in the Winter?

Both Yakushima and Koh Chang during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Chang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Koh Chang is much warmer than Yakushima in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Chang averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Koh Chang usually gets less rain in January than Yakushima. Koh Chang gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year. November to February is the dry season in Koh Chang.

Should I visit Koh Chang or Yakushima in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Chang and Yakushima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Chang year-round.

In the spring, Koh Chang is much warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Chang in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Yakushima averages at about 18°C (64°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the spring. Koh Chang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koh Chang usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Koh Chang gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Koh Chang.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Koh Chang