Which place is cheaper, Kao-hsiung or Eilat?
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 Eilat or Kao-hsiung?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Eilat or Kao-hsiung? 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: Eilat or Kao-hsiung?
Eilat
Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.
Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.
Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.
Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Kao-hsiung
Kaohsiung is the second-most populated city and also the largest port city in the country, located in the south of Taiwan. Compared to Taipei, the lifestyle in Kaohsiung is laid-back and noticeably slower, populated with friendly locals. However, with Taipei in the spotlight, Kaohsiung is often overlooked, though it offers so much in the way of art and culture, history, and delicious food.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best 2-Week Tours in Israel, The Best Historical Tours in Taiwan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Taiwan.
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Eilat Prices
Israel PricesKao-hsiung Prices
Taiwan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEilat $211Kao-hsiung $128
The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $211, while the average daily cost in Kao-hsiung is $128. 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 Eilat and Kao-hsiung in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEilat $118Kao-hsiung $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEilat $236Kao-hsiung $114
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Kao-hsiung
Looking for a hotel in Eilat or Kao-hsiung? 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: Eilat Hotel Prices and Kao-hsiung Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eilat $17Kao-hsiung $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:
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Local Bus$4.73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kao-hsiung
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kao-hsiung:
- Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Airport to Kenting: $138
- Private Kaohsiung Airport to Taitung Resorts Arrival Transfer: $187
- Kaohsiung Airport Chauffeur service , Kaohsiung Airport Transfer: $50
- Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Guanziling Resorts-Round-Trip Transfer: $261
- Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Guanziling Resorts - Arrival Transfer: $131
Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Kao-hsiung?
Prices for flights to both Kao-hsiung and Eilat 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 dayEilat $77Kao-hsiung $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Eilat
For Eilat, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Feast at the Camel Ranch in Eilat with Dinner Alcohol Event: $95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kao-hsiung
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kao-hsiung.
- Sunset Dinner on Monkey Mountain: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eilat $20Kao-hsiung $21
Tours and Activities in Eilat
For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Glass Bottom Boat Cruise in Eilat: $22
- Eilat Mountains: Sunset Jeep Adventure to Mount Joash: $63
- Summer Night Guided Tour with Picnic in the Mountains: $63
- Morning Jeep Tour of Eilat Mountains: $63
- Morning jeep tour in Eilat mountains: $75
- Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $75
- From Red Canyon Guided Tour: $78
- From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $78
- Red canyon jeep tour in Eilat: $98
- Timna park Jeep tour adventure: $98
- Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
- Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219
Tours and Activities in Kao-hsiung
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kao-hsiung are as follows:
- Alishan Join-in Day Tour from Kaohsiung (Incl. Park Entrance): $86
- Buddha Museum tour: $220
- Classic Kaohsiung Day Tour: Fo Guang Shan x Lotus Pond x Pier-2: $62
- From Kaohsiung Private Tainan Historical Highlights Tour: $128
- From Taichung/Kaohsiung/Chiayi：Alishan Hidden Gems Private Tour: $220
- Full-Day Private Guided Tour in Kaohsiung Port Shore: $300
- Half Day Kaohsiung City Walks and Night Market Tour: $120
- Kaohsiung Area Classic Tour: $300
- Kaohsiung Cultural Day: TourMoon World, Hakka Lei Cha DIY, Pier-2: $73
- Kaohsiung Departure - Alishan National Park Day Tour: $220
- Kaohsiung Private Walking Tour with a Local: $48
- Kaohsiung's Cruiseship Shore Excursion: $300
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEilat $34Kao-hsiung $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Kao-hsiung, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Kao-hsiung much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Kao-hsiung 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 Kao-hsiung would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kao-hsiung 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat than you might in Kao-hsiung.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eilat Expensive? and Is Kao-hsiung Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Eilat or Kao-hsiung?
Kao-hsiung has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Eilat. When comparing the sizes of Eilat and Kao-hsiung, 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.