Which place is cheaper, Hualien or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Hualien?
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 Abu Dhabi and Hualien can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Hualien?
Abu Dhabi
It doesn't get more "lifestyles of the rich and famous" than a vacation to Abu Dhabi. The federal capital and center of government for the United Arab Emirates is arguably the most modern city in the world.
Abu Dhabi has a population of 1.5 million and provides a home to several oil companies and embassies, but this place is definitely a playground for the world's fanciest tourists. This city has several large projects underway including Yas Island's Formula 1 track and Ferrari theme park.
Note: homosexuality is still outlawed in the UAE with harsh punishments including deportation, fines, jail time or even a death sentence.
Hualien
If you're looking for hustle and bustle, head to Taipei. If you're looking for fresh air and the prettiest town by the sea, Hualien is the place to be. With many national parks to explore, cliffs and mountains to climb and beaches to get some rest and relaxation, there's plenty to do, especially for nature lovers and those who crave peace and quiet, away from the bigger cities in Taiwan.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Arab Emirates, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Taipei, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Taiwan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164Hualien $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Hualien is $105. 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 Abu Dhabi and Hualien in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Hualien $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Hualien $112
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Hualien
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Hualien? 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: Abu Dhabi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Hualien $27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Abu Dhabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Abu Dhabi are as follows:
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Car Rental$31
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Taxi to Airport$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Abu Dhabi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Abu Dhabi:
- Private One-way Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer To Abu Dhabi: $26
- Private One-way Abu Dhabi Transfer To Abu Dhabi Airport: $26
- Abu Dhabi Airport Private Departure Transfer: $33
- Abu Dhabi to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) - Departure Private Transfer: $35
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi city to Abu Dhabi Cruise Port: $38
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi Port: $38
- Private transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi: $40
- Private transfer: Abu Dhabi to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $41
- Abu Dhabi to Dubai Airport (DXB) - Departure Private Transfer: $42
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Cruise Port to Abu Dhabi Hotels: $43
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Abu Dhabi HTL-APT(AUH): $52
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hualien
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hualien:
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Hualien Cruise Port to Taipei city hotels: $93
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport(TPE): $103
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Hualien?
Prices for flights to both Hualien and Abu Dhabi 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 dayAbu Dhabi $45Hualien $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Dubai: Dhow Cruise Marina Multi Cusine Dinner & Tanura Show: $35
- Dubai Marina luxury Dhow Cruise Dinner (catamaran): $42
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Live Shows Pick & Drop More: $45
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $49
- Desert Safari, Quad Bike, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $50
- Desert Tour with BBQ Dinner and Hotel Transfer: $51
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $60
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner and all Camp Activities : $72
- Desert Safari Abu Dhabi w/ Sand Boarding, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $75
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari & Dinner Under the Stars: $77
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari (Dune Bashing, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride & Sand Skii): $80
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari 4x4, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride: $81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hualien
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hualien.
- Aboriginal Cooking Class in Hualien: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Hualien $20
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Qasr Al Hosn: Entry Tickets with 1 GB Data eSIM: $8.12
- Sea Breeze Boat Tour: $8.17
- Fast-Track Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Hosn: $8.37
- Abu Dhabi 4G & 5G Data Roaming for Tourist: $11
- Louvre Join an Express Tour: $14
- Qasr Al Watan Museum Abu Dhabi Ticket: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi with Tourist Shuttle Bus & eSIM: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum General Admission Ticket: $17
- Qasr Al Watan Admission Ticket: $18
- Qasr Al Watan Palace & Garden Entrance Ticket: $18
- Ticket to Louvre Museum, Abu Dhabi: $19
- Shop & Eat in Abu Dhabi’s Markets Like a Local Walking Tour: $19
Tours and Activities in Hualien
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hualien are as follows:
- Qixingtan Fish Fishing Chihsingtan Classic Fishing Tour: $23
- Wild ATV Self-driving Experience: $42
- Taroko National Park One day Tour from Hualien: $53
- Hualien Light Mountain & Sea One Day Tour | Hualien: $53
- Hualien Changhong Bridge SUP Day tour: $85
- Shuimutin Exclusive SUP Day tour(Hualien to Taitung): $89
- Private Full Day Tour to East Coast and East Valley from Hualien : $105
- Full-Day Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City: $115
- One-Day Private Guided Tour in Taroko Gorge from Hualien: $117
- Full-Day Private Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City: $139
- Taroko, Qingshui Cliffs and Qixingtan Chartered Tour from Hualien: $156
- Full Day Tour in Taroko National Park from Hualien: $199
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Hualien $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Hualien, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Hualien much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Hualien is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Hualien would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hualien 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 Abu Dhabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Abu Dhabi than you might in Hualien.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Abu Dhabi Expensive? and Is Hualien Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Hualien?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 72% larger than the population of Hualien. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Hualien, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.