A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Deqin vs. Hualien for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Deqin 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 Deqin 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: Deqin or Hualien?

Deqin

Highly influenced by Tibet, Deqin is both a county and a town located in the Hengduanshan Mountains of China's Yunnan province. Most people visit the area as a home base from which to hike into the surrounding mountains, though the temples and traditional villages also add to the allure of the area.

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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Taipei, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Taiwan.


Which place is cheaper, Hualien or Deqin?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Deqin is $65, while the average daily cost in Hualien is $107. 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 Deqin and Hualien in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Deqin $36
    Hualien $57
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Deqin $72
    Hualien $114
Compare Hotels in Deqin and Hualien

Looking for a hotel in Deqin 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.

Hotels in Deqin


Hotels in Hualien


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Deqin $19
    Hualien $27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hualien

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hualien:

  • Private Transfer from Hualien Cruise Port to Taipei city hotels: $97
  • Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport: $97
  • Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport(TPE): $107

Is it cheaper to fly into Deqin or Hualien?

Prices for flights to both Hualien and Deqin 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
    Deqin $16
    Hualien $31

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Deqin $13
    Hualien $20

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
  • Hualien Light Mountain & Sea One Day Tour | Hualien: $53
  • Hualien Day Tour Qixingtan Beach Liyu Lake Lintianshan Park: $68
  • 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 : $107
  • Full-Day Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City: $115
  • One-Day Private Guided Tour in Taroko Gorge from Hualien: $117
  • Full-Day Tour About Taroko Culture Excellent Stories , 8 Hours: $120
  • Full-Day Private Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City: $139
  • Taroko, Qingshui Cliffs & Qixingtan Day Tour | From Hualien: $156

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Deqin $11
    Hualien $14


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

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