Which place is cheaper, Hualien or Darjiling?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Darjiling or Hualien?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Darjiling 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: Darjiling or Hualien?
Darjiling
What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.
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 Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, 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 dayDarjiling $35Hualien $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $35, 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 Darjiling and Hualien in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarjiling $13Hualien $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarjiling $26Hualien $112
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Hualien
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling 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: Darjiling Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darjiling $7.48Hualien $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $49
- Rafting Journey at the Down on Teesta River's White Water with Private Transfer: $197
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hualien
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hualien:
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport(TPE): $103
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Hualien Cruise Port to Taipei city hotels: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Darjiling or Hualien?
Prices for flights to both Hualien and Darjiling 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 dayDarjiling $14Hualien $30
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.Darjiling $12Hualien $20
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Gangtok (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Gangtok Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour): $25
- Tiger Hill Darjeeling Nature Walk (3 Hours Guided Trekking Experience): $25
- Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $31
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $31
- Mirik Lake Day tour From Darjeeling: $37
- Private Morning Excursion Tour To Tiger Hill (3 Points) With Pickup and Drop: $62
- Excursion to Tea Estate Tour With Tea Processing Tour with Transportation: $62
- Gangtok Monastery Tour (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $82
- Best of Gangtok (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $84
Tours and Activities in Hualien
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hualien are as follows:
- Full Day Tour in Taroko National Park from Hualien: $199
- Full-Day Private Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City: $139
- Full-Day Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City: $115
- Hualien Changhong Bridge SUP Day tour: $85
- One-Day Private Guided Tour in Taroko Gorge from Hualien: $117
- Qixingtan Fish Fishing Chihsingtan Classic Fishing Tour: $23
- Shuimutin Exclusive SUP Day tour(Hualien to Taitung): $89
- Taroko, Qingshui Cliffs and Qixingtan Chartered Tour from Hualien: $156
- Wild ATV Self-driving Experience: $42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDarjiling $8.77Hualien $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Hualien, we can see that Hualien is more expensive. And not only is Darjiling much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darjiling would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darjiling 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 Darjiling.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Darjiling Expensive? and Is Hualien Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Darjiling or Hualien?
Hualien has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Darjiling 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.