Which place is cheaper, Chengdu or Hualien?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hualien or Chengdu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hualien or Chengdu, 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 Chengdu?
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.
Chengdu
Chengdu is in China's Sichuan Provence and is in what is known as the Red Basin. It is a particularly fertile region in China that is known for its agriculture. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as the "Land of Milk and Honey". The Funan River cuts through the city but has almost no boat traffic anymore. The city itself has a wonderful relaxed vibe compared to the rest of China and is filled with green parks and places to relax. It is considered one of the most livable cities in China.
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 Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHualien $106Chengdu $51
The average daily cost (per person) in Hualien is $106, while the average daily cost in Chengdu is $51. 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 Chengdu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHualien $56Chengdu $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHualien $112Chengdu $42
Compare Hotels in Hualien and Chengdu
Looking for a hotel in Hualien or Chengdu? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hualien $27Chengdu $6.05
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hualien
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hualien:
- Private Transfer from Hualien Cruise Port to Taipei city hotels: $96
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport: $96
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport(TPE): $106
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
- Chengdu to Chengdu Airport (CTU) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Chengdu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- [Airport Transfer] Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport Kosheng City Transfer High reputation for service! : $22
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chengdu International Airport (CTU) to Hotel: $23
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu International Airport (CTU): $23
- Private Transfer from Chengdu hotel to Chengdu Train Station: $27
- Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Any Railway Station in Chengdu : $28
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Chengdu Railway Station to City Hotel: $28
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu Airport (CTU or TFU): $34
- Airport transfer between Tianfu(TFU) and Chengdu downtown: $40
- Chengdu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $43
- Arrival Transfer Chengdu Airport CTU to Chengdu City by Sedan: $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Hualien or Chengdu?
Prices for flights to both Chengdu 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
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Food Meals for one dayHualien $31Chengdu $22
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats: $69
- Half-Day Professional Mapo Tofu Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $69
- Half-Day Chengdu Farm Cooking Class & Spice Market Exploration: $75
- Chengdu Evening Food Tour: $76
- Tuk Tuk Food Tour with Unlimited Beer and Soda: $79
- Half-Day Chinese Bun Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $80
- Spicy Local Food Tour through Chengdu: $80
- Cooking Class with Fresh Market Half Day Experience: $81
- Hot Pot Dinner Sichuan Opera and Local tea tasting: $88
- Half-Day Dandan Noodles Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $100
- Street Gems Guided Food Tour with Beer and Tastings: $106
- Chengdu evening food tour by local guide: $117
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hualien $20Chengdu $16
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
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Agent ticket booking service: Online ticket booking in China: $10
- Sichuan Opera night show Jinjiang theater tickets: $13
- Chengdu Panda Research Base Tickets And Half Day Tour(Private): $16
- Chengdu Sichuan Opera Show Ticket - Shu Feng Ya Yun: $18
- Chengdu Panda Base and Dujiangyan One-Day Private Tour: $18
- Giant Panda Base tickets booking option tours: $18
- Panda Breeding Base Private Tour or Tickets Only: $19
- Giant Panda Base tickets booking option tours: $19
- Panda Breeding Base Tickets Booking: $22
- Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding e-Ticket: $22
- Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket: $22
- Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHualien $14Chengdu $4.01
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hualien and Chengdu, we can see that Hualien is more expensive. And not only is Chengdu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chengdu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chengdu 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 Chengdu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hualien Expensive? and Is Chengdu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hualien or Chengdu?
Chengdu has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Hualien. When comparing the sizes of Hualien and Chengdu, 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.