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

Should you visit Hualien or Arrowtown?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hualien or Arrowtown, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Hualien or Arrowtown?

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.

Arrowtown

Historically, Arrowtown is an old gold mining town that is located on the South Island of New Zealand. The town was established during the Otago gold rush of 1862. It is very close to Queenstown, which is a very popular destination among travelers, and it is definitely worth visiting if you are in the Otago region of New Zealand. It is a very tiny town, with a population of just over 2,000 people. The town has a lot of character and history and is a perfect place to go if you wish to get out of the touristy areas like Queenstown.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Taipei, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Taiwan, The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Arrowtown or Hualien?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Hualien is $105, while the average daily cost in Arrowtown is $114. 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 Hualien and Arrowtown in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hualien $56
    Arrowtown $67
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hualien $112
    Arrowtown $134
Compare Hotels in Hualien and Arrowtown

Looking for a hotel in Hualien or Arrowtown? 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 Hualien


Hotels in Arrowtown


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: Arrowtown Hotel Prices.

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

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 Hualien or Arrowtown?

Prices for flights to both Arrowtown and Hualien 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
    Hualien $30
    Arrowtown $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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hualien $20
    Arrowtown $15

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

Tours and Activities in Arrowtown

For Arrowtown, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Queenstown: Arrowtown Mountain Biking Adventure: $53

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hualien $14
    Arrowtown $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Arrowtown

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Arrowtown:

  • From Scenic Valley of the Vines Bike & Wine Tour: $89


When comparing the travel costs between Hualien and Arrowtown, we can see that Arrowtown is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Hualien is in Asia and Arrowtown is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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


Which is Bigger, Hualien or Arrowtown?

Hualien has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Arrowtown. When comparing the sizes of Hualien and Arrowtown, 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.