Which place is cheaper, Hualien or Ao Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ao Nang or Hualien?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Hualien? 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: Ao Nang or Hualien?
Ao Nang
If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.
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 Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, 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 dayAo Nang $116Hualien $106
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $116, while the average daily cost in Hualien is $106. 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 Ao Nang and Hualien in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAo Nang $56Hualien $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAo Nang $112Hualien $112
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Hualien
Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang 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: Ao Nang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ao Nang $61Hualien $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $19
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Station, Krabi: $19
- Krabi Airport Private One-Way SUV Transfer: $24
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Statation: $24
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $26
- Krabi: Ao Nang To/From Phi Phi By Fast Speed Boat Transfer: $27
- One way Private transfer from Krabi airport to Ao Nang: $33
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Phuket: $34
- Krabi:Speedboat Transfer to Phi Phi Islands: $45
- Phuket: Speedboat Transfer to Ao Nang or Railay via Ko Yao: $45
- Ko Lanta: Speed Boat Transfer Direct to Aonang: $56
- Krabi: Private Transfer Between Ao Nang Area and Ko Lanta: $112
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hualien
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hualien:
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport(TPE): $106
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport: $96
- Private Transfer from Hualien Cruise Port to Taipei city hotels: $96
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Hualien?
Prices for flights to both Hualien and Ao Nang 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 dayAo Nang $26Hualien $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Krabi: Ya's Cookery Late Afternoon Thai Cooking Class: $43
- Krabi : Authentic Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour: $45
- Krabi: Morning/Afternoon Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $51
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi: $55
- Krabi 7 Island Sunset by Luxury Vintage Boat With BBQ Dinner: $141
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.Ao Nang $12Hualien $20
Tours and Activities in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Krabi: South Kayak Klong Root Kayaking Tour: $17
- Krabi: Saitai Mountain Tail ATV Adventure: $24
- Krabi ATV adventure drive 30mins: $24
- Krabi kayaking and swimming clongrood Tour: $25
- Ao Nang Kayak Adventure: Explore the Stunning Flooded Forest: $27
- Krabi 4 Island One Day Tour by Speed boat or Longtail boat: $27
- ATV adventure 30 mins drive: $30
- Krabi: ATV adventure and extreme: $30
- Kayak Tour in Krabi Mangrove Forest with Lunch: $30
- Kayaking klongroot and atv adventure: $34
- ATV adventure and achery (1้hour ): $36
- Krabi: Tiger Cave, Hot Springs and Emerald Pool Jungle Tour: $36
Tours and Activities in Hualien
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hualien are as follows:
- 3 Tribes Cultural Past and Present Day Tour in Hualien: $200
- Chartered Hualien Taroko Day Tour: $185
- Full-Day Private Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City: $139
- Full-Day Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City: $115
- Full-Day Tour About Taroko Culture Excellent Stories , 8 Hours: $120
- Hualien Changhong Bridge SUP Day tour: $85
- Hualien Day Tour Qixingtan Beach Liyu Lake Lintianshan Park: $68
- Hualien Light Mountain & Sea One Day Tour | Hualien: $53
- One day tour, the highlights of Taroko Tribe, The perfect 10 : $165
- One-Day Private Guided Tour in Taroko Gorge from Hualien: $117
- Private Full Day Tour to East Coast and East Valley from Hualien : $107
- Qixingtan Fish Fishing Chihsingtan Classic Fishing Tour: $23
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAo Nang $16Hualien $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Ao Nang
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ao Nang:
- Guided Bar Crawl with Shots and a T-Shirt: $19
When comparing the travel costs between Ao Nang and Hualien, we can see that Ao Nang 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ao Nang Expensive? and Is Hualien Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Hualien?
Hualien has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang 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.