Which place is cheaper, Hualien or Hanoi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hanoi or Hualien?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hanoi and Hualien can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Hanoi or Hualien?
Hanoi
Hanoi is the chaotic capital of Vietnam, and it serves as a great introduction to the country for many travelers. It's the second largest city in the country after Saigon and is an interesting combination of East meets West. There's traditional Vietnamese culture with subtle influences brought by the French. The city continues to grow and change rapidly and it's easy to get lost amidst the chaos.
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 Vietnam, The Best Eco Tours in Vietnam, 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 dayHanoi $49Hualien $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Hanoi is $49, 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 Hanoi and Hualien in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHanoi $25Hualien $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHanoi $50Hualien $112
Compare Hotels in Hanoi and Hualien
Looking for a hotel in Hanoi 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: Hanoi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hanoi $6.89Hualien $27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hanoi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hanoi:
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Taxi to Bus Station$1.20
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Shuttle Bus From Airport (for Two)$3.20
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Local Bus Ride (for Two)$0.40
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Short Taxi Ride$1.36
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Short Motorbike Ride (10 Minutes)$0.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hanoi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hanoi:
- Amazing Hanoi Private TransferTaxi-Cheap Vietnam SimCard Internet: $6.90
- Hanoi Private Car Airport Transfer To Hotel: $7.18
- Hanoi Private Departure Transfer: City Center Hotel to Airport: $8.00
- Noi Bai International Airport Private Transfer: $8.21
- Hanoi City Center to Noi Bai Airport - Private Transfer: $8.43
- Noi Bai Airport Transfer Service: $8.54
- Hanoi Airport Departure Shared Transfer: $10
- Private Noi Bai International Airport Transfer: $11
- Bus Transfer Hanoi to Halong Bay and Vice Versa : $11
- Private Car Ha Noi Airport Transfer : $12
- Private Transfer from Hanoi Airport HAN to Old Quarter : $13
- HaNoi City to Noi Bai Airport transfer by private car: $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hualien
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hualien:
- Private Transfer from Hualien Cruise Port to Taipei city hotels: $93
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport(TPE): $103
Is it cheaper to fly into Hanoi or Hualien?
Prices for flights to both Hualien and Hanoi 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 dayHanoi $13Hualien $30
Typical Food Prices in Hanoi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hanoi:
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High End Dinner (for Two)$12
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.39
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Bowl of Pho$0.80
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Italian Dinner (for Food)$6.19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hanoi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hanoi.
- Hanoi Street Food Tour: $5.00
- Private Traditional Vietnamese Food Cooking Class in Hanoi : $5.00
- Hanoi free food tour - Old Quarter food walking tour: $5.00
- Street Food Tour (Group/Individual): $5.13
- Hanoi Street Food Tour Visit Train Street Add Old Quarter: $19
- Hanoi Walking Street Food Tour: $20
- Hanoi local street food tour: $20
- Hanoi food tour-Local street food tour (food&guide included): $21
- Hanoi Street Food Tour: $22
- Hanoi street food tour small group tour: $22
- Hanoi Street Food Tour: $23
- Ngon ngon & Authentic Hanoi Food Tour: $23
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.Hanoi $8.51Hualien $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hanoi
Here are a few typical costs in Hanoi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Puppet Theater$1.60
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The Hanoi Hilton Entrance$1.60
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National History Museum$1.60
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Puppet Theater Ticket$2.80
Tours and Activities in Hanoi
Here are a few actual costs in Hanoi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bus Ticket Cat Ba - Hanoi ( Bus+ Ferry ) - Best Selling: $0.02
- Skip the Line: Thang Long Water Puppet Theater Entrance Tickets: $4.90
- Half Day Hanoi Old Quarter Private Walking Tour: $5.00
- Sightseeing Walking Tour in Hanoi: $5.00
- (Evening) HANOI CUSTOMIZED Walking Tour: $5.00
- Street Food Walking Tour in Hanoi: $5.00
- Private Walking Tour of Hanoi City: $5.00
- Half Day Hanoi Old Quarter Private Walking Tour : $5.00
- Half-day Private Walking Tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter: $5.00
- Skip the line: Thang Long Water Puppet Theater Entrance Tickets: $5.00
- Hanoi Old Quarter Free walking tour: $5.00
- Museum Tour - Unveiling Stories of the Past: $5.13
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 Changhong Bridge SUP Day tour: $85
- Shuimutin Exclusive SUP Day tour(Hualien to Taitung): $89
- Full-Day Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City: $115
- One-Day Private Guided Tour in Taroko Gorge from Hualien: $117
- Full-Day Private Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City: $139
- Taroko, Qingshui Cliffs and Qixingtan Chartered Tour from Hualien: $156
- Full Day Tour in Taroko National Park from Hualien: $199
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHanoi $7.70Hualien $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Hanoi
Also in Hanoi, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Hanoi Beer and Brewery Tour: $48
- Pub Crawl Party & Hanoi's nightlife: $65
- Half-Day Guided Tour Australian Beef with Wine Tasting & Rickshaw in Hanoi: $106
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hanoi and Hualien, we can see that Hualien is more expensive. And not only is Hanoi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hanoi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hanoi 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 Hanoi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hanoi Expensive? and Is Hualien Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hanoi or Hualien?
Hanoi has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Hualien. When comparing the sizes of Hanoi 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.