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

Should you visit Taiyuan 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 Taiyuan 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: Taiyuan or Yakushima?

Taiyuan

With sleek architectural designs and blossoming businesses, this metropolis is simply brimming with invigorating excitement and once-in-a-lifetime entertainment. Despite its glimmering skyscrapers and gorgeous fountains, Taiyuan, China has an extensive history of nearly 2,500 years. During ancient China, Taiyuan, or the "Dragon City," was a major military town. Presently, this city is now one of China's most important industrial cities, producing more than half of the national coal mining output. Taiyuan is both the capital and largest city of the Shanxi province of North China. It is bounded by mountains on three of its sides, allowing this great city to be surrounded by fantastic views of its landscape. Besides its economic significance, Taiyuan also achieves tourist significance due to its plethora of landmarks and sights. Some of these attractions include Jinci Temple, Forest Park, Mengshan Giant Buddha, and Shanxi Museum. Taiyuan is also celebrated internationally for holding their annual Shanxi Taiyuan International Folk Arts Festival, a celebration held in September that hosts exhibition of fine arts, painting, paper-cutting, sculpture, drama, acrobatic and the culture of costume. With such a great deal to do in such a limited window of time, it is best to make the most Taiyuan while you visit!

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 China, The Best Tours for Seniors to China, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Taiyuan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Taiyuan Prices
    China Prices
    Yakushima Prices
    Japan Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Taiyuan $106
    Yakushima $141

The average daily cost (per person) in Taiyuan is $106, 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 Taiyuan and Yakushima in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Taiyuan $43
    Yakushima $61
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Taiyuan $86
    Yakushima $122
Compare Hotels in Taiyuan and Yakushima

Looking for a hotel in Taiyuan 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.

Hotels in Taiyuan


Hotels in Yakushima


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Taiyuan $48
    Yakushima $51

Is it cheaper to fly into Taiyuan or Yakushima?

Prices for flights to both Yakushima and Taiyuan 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
    Taiyuan $36
    Yakushima $50

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Taiyuan $15
    Yakushima $21

Tours and Activities in Taiyuan

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

  • Buddhist Caves, Jinci Temple & Ancient County Tour: $256

Tours and Activities in Yakushima

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

  • Private Guided Tour: $336

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Taiyuan $6.41
    Yakushima $6.61


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

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


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