Which place is cheaper, Hualien or Beirut?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Beirut or Hualien?
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 Beirut and Hualien. 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: Beirut or Hualien?
Beirut
Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Taipei, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Taiwan.
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Beirut Prices
Lebanon PricesHualien Prices
Taiwan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeirut $2.77Hualien $129
The average daily cost (per person) in Beirut is $2.77, while the average daily cost in Hualien is $129. 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 Beirut and Hualien in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeirut $1.26Hualien $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeirut $2.52Hualien $114
Compare Hotels in Beirut and Hualien
Looking for a hotel in Beirut 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: Beirut Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beirut $0.44Hualien $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut
Also for Beirut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer Pickup: $9.99
- Airport Departure Transfer From Your Beirut Hotel: $10
- Departure Transfer:From Hotel To Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY): $10
- Private Arrival Transfer | Beirut Airport to Your Hotel: $10
- Paragliding in Lebanon with Hotel Transfer From Beirut: $192
- Beirut Airport Transfer in a Limousine: $200
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hualien
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hualien:
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport TPE: $273
- Private Transfer from Hualien Cruise Port to Taipei city hotels: $273
Is it cheaper to fly into Beirut or Hualien?
Prices for flights to both Hualien and Beirut 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 dayBeirut $1.23Hualien $54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut
For Beirut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Lebanese Virtual Cooking Class Live from Lebanon: $35
- Private Lebanese Home Cooking Class in Byblos with a Local Family: $86
- Authentic Lebanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with Tania's Family in Beirut: $100
- Beirut Street Food Tour | Hummus, Knefeh & Manoushe: $135
- Beirut Street Food Tour | 4 Neighbourhoods · All Inclusive: $150
- Private Beirut Street Food Tour with Lunch | Max 6 People: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Beirut $0.26Hualien $20
Tours and Activities in Beirut
For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jeita Grotto, Harisa & Byblos: Small Group Tour with Hotel pickup: $30
- New Cost Saver Small-Group Tour to Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos: $30
- Beirut Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
- Beirut : Private Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private tour): $36
- Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $45
- Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $45
- Guided Small-Group Tour to Jeita, Harissa, Byblos with Lunch: $45
- Small-Group Tour to Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos with Lunch: $45
- Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $45
- Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $45
- Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $45
- Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche | Budget Small-Group Tour From Beirut: $45
Tours and Activities in Hualien
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hualien are as follows:
- 2026 Taroko Gorge Tour Excellent Cultural Stories , 8 Hours: $119
- From Hualien Day Tour– Taroko Gorge & Scenic Coastal Views: $170
- Full-Day Private Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City: $149
- Hualien Changhong Bridge SUP Day tour: $85
- Hualien Taroko National Park Guided Tour: $230
- Hualien Tour in Qixingtan Beach, Liyu Lake, and Lintianshan Park: $68
- Liyu Lake, Sugar Factory, and Ruisui Ranch Tour: $320
- Private East Coast & Jade Hunting Tour from Hualien: $137
- Private Taroko Gorge English Guided Tour from Hualien City: $127
- Shuimutin Exclusive SUP Day tour(Hualien to Taitung): $89
- Taroko Gorge, Qingshui Cliffs & Qixingtan Beach Tour from Hualien: $159
- Taroko, Qingshui Cliffs: Liyu Lake & Hualien Sugar Factory Tour: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeirut $0.23Hualien $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut
Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Private Wine Tasting Day Tour from Beirut: $75
- Private Wine Tour | Chateau Musar, Ixsir & Batroun Day Trip: $75
- Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour From Beirut (Entrance Fee Included): $91
- Private Baalbek Temples & Ksara Wine Tour | From Beirut: $100
- Private Bekaa Wine Tour | Saint Thomas, Kefraya & Ksara · Beirut: $100
- Private Wine Tour | Chateau Musar, Ixsir & Batroun from Beirut: $100
- Private Bekaa Valley Wine Tour | Ksara, Kefraya & Saint Thomas: $100
- Private Bekaa Valley Wine Tour | 3 Wineries from Beirut: $100
- Private Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour from Beirut: $100
- Private tour to Jeita Grotto with Wine Tasting in Faqra Ruins: $110
- PRIVATE Wine Tour in Central Bekaa Valley: $113
- Private Cedar Hike & Bekaa Wine Tour | Kefraya & Ksara: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beirut and Hualien, we can see that Hualien is more expensive. And not only is Beirut much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beirut 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 Beirut would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beirut 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 Hualien would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hualien than you might in Beirut.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beirut Expensive? and Is Hualien Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beirut or Hualien?
Beirut has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Hualien. When comparing the sizes of Beirut 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.