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

Should you visit Koh Lipe or Yakushima?

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 Koh Lipe and Yakushima can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Koh Lipe or Yakushima?

Koh Lipe

Ko Lipe used to be one of Thailand's most gorgeous hidden treasures. While it's still breathtaking, it's certainly not hidden anymore. With a small community of approximately 700 chow lair, or sea gypsies, this region is doing its best to maintain the beauty of its culture and beaches despite the influx of tourism. The rapid development has seen additions of concrete cafes and travel agencies. There are still rich, cultural gems to find in Ko Lipe - you just have to be willing to wander.

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 Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to 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 Lipe and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. And not only is Koh Lipe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Lipe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Lipe 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 Lipe.

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

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

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

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Yakushima in the Summer?

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

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

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Lipe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Yakushima. Koh Lipe gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Yakushima in the Autumn?

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

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

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Koh Lipe receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in October than Yakushima. Koh Lipe gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to April in Koh Lipe is the dry season. May to October in Koh Lipe is the rainy season.

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Yakushima in the Winter?

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

Koh Lipe is much warmer than Yakushima in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Lipe averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. In January, Koh Lipe usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Koh Lipe gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Yakushima in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Koh Lipe is much warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Lipe in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Yakushima averages at about 18°C (64°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Lipe. Koh Lipe usually gets less rain in April than Yakushima. Koh Lipe gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year. December to April is the dry season in Koh Lipe. May to October is the rainy season in Koh Lipe.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Koh Lipe