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

Should you visit Hualien or Nagoya?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hualien or Nagoya, 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 Nagoya?

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.

Nagoya

Nagoya is Japan's fourth-largest city after Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka, as well as one of the nation's major economic centers, being the home of auto giants like Toyota, Honda, and Mitsubishi Motors. With a history that dates back to samurai and ninja, Nagoya has evolved over the years into a trade center and hub for automobile and aircraft manufacturing. And it's also home to the Legoland resort!

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 Luxury Tours to Japan, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Nagoya or Hualien?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Hualien is $136, while the average daily cost in Nagoya is $113. 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 Nagoya in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hualien $60
    Nagoya $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hualien $120
    Nagoya $96
Compare Hotels in Hualien and Nagoya

Looking for a hotel in Hualien or Nagoya? 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 Nagoya


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: Nagoya Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hualien $29
    Nagoya $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hualien

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hualien:

  • Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport TPE: $280
  • Private Transfer from Hualien Cruise Port to Taipei city hotels: $280

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nagoya

Also for Nagoya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Japan Railway Station Shared Departure Transfer : Nagoya City to Nagoya Station: $71
  • Nagoya to Nagoya Int Airport NGO, Departure Private Transfer: $91
  • Shared Departure Transfer : Nagoya City to Chubu Airport: $99
  • Private Transfer from Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya City Hotels: $126
  • Private Transfer from Nagoya hotels to Nagoya Cruise Port: $139
  • Private Transfer from Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya hotels: $139
  • Nagoya to Nagoya Int Airport (NGO) - Departure Private Transfer: $151
  • Private Transfer from Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya Airport (NGO): $201
  • Private Transfer - Nagoya Int Airport (NGO) to Nagoya Cruise Port: $201
  • Private Departure Transfer Nagoya City to Chubu Centrair International Airport: $208
  • Private Transfer from Nagoya Airport (NGO) to Toyama Port: $235
  • Private Transfer from Nagoya Int Airport (NGO) to Nagoya Port: $285

Is it cheaper to fly into Hualien or Nagoya?

Prices for flights to both Nagoya 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 $56
    Nagoya $49

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nagoya

For Nagoya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Nagoya Night Bar & Food Tour with Locals 【Private Tour】: $59
  • Osu Kannon Temple & Street Food Tour in Nagoya's Osu District: $83
  • Specialties of Nagoya Food Tour: $159
  • Traditional Ukai Watching Private Tour from Nagoya With Dinner: $221

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hualien $21
    Nagoya $13

Tours and Activities in Hualien

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hualien are as follows:

  • 2025 Taroko Gorge Tour Excellent Cultural Stories , 8 Hours: $130
  • Exclusive Private Taroko Gorge Day Tour with Local English Guide: $121
  • Full-Day Private Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City: $139
  • Hualien Changhong Bridge SUP Day tour: $85
  • Liyu Lake, Sugar Factory, and Ruisui Ranch Tour: $320
  • Shuimutin Exclusive SUP Day tour(Hualien to Taitung): $89
  • Taroko Gorge, Qingshui Cliffs & Qixingtan Beach Tour from Hualien: $159
  • Taroko, Qingshui Cliff, Xincheng Old Street & Qixingtan Day Tour: $80
  • Wild ATV Self-driving Experience: $43

Tours and Activities in Nagoya

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

  • Ramen Making Experience: $38
  • Experience Being a Shinto Priest or Shrine Maiden at NAGOYA: $45
  • English-Guided Jogging Tour of the City (2 hours): $50
  • Shirakawago and Takayama Bus Tour from Nagoya: $58
  • Hida Takayama & Shirakawa-go Bus Tour w/Optional Lunch: $59
  • Shiragawa-go, Hida Takayama UNESCO Full-Day Tour from Nagoya: $61
  • Nagoya Castle Private Guided Tour: $64
  • Gujo, Hida Takayama, and Shirakawa-go Day Tour from Nagoya: $65
  • Shirakawa-go + Hida Takayama Day Tour from Nagoya Station: $66
  • Nagoya Tour in Inuyama Castle, Ena George, Magome and Tsumagojuku: $68
  • Private Japanese Martial Arts and Samurai Experience in Gifu: $68
  • Legoland Resort ticket in Japan : $69

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hualien $15
    Nagoya $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Nagoya

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nagoya:

  • The Nagoya Restaurant and Bar Crawl: $40


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

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


Which is Bigger, Hualien or Nagoya?

Nagoya has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Hualien. When comparing the sizes of Hualien and Nagoya, 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.