Which place is cheaper, Nelson or Hualien?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hualien or Nelson?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hualien or Nelson, 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 Nelson?
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.
Nelson
Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.
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 New Zealand, and The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHualien $105Nelson $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Hualien is $105, while the average daily cost in Nelson is $94. 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 Nelson in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHualien $56Nelson $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHualien $112Nelson $82
Compare Hotels in Hualien and Nelson
Looking for a hotel in Hualien or Nelson? 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: Nelson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hualien $27Nelson $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hualien
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hualien:
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Hualien Cruise Port to Taipei city hotels: $93
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport(TPE): $103
Is it cheaper to fly into Hualien or Nelson?
Prices for flights to both Nelson 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 $30Nelson $27
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.Hualien $20Nelson $24
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
Tours and Activities in Nelson
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:
- Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $29
- Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $56
- Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire Experience: $65
- SKYWIRE Experience: $67
- Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure: $71
- Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure: $72
- Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $75
- Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $76
- Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $79
- Guided Quad Biking Tour Through Forest and Farmland: $80
- Spooners Tunnel to Nelson One Day Cycle Self Guided Tour: $82
- Cruise, Walk, and Sail in Abel Tasman National Park: $121
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHualien $14Nelson $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:
- Self-guided E-bike cycle tour with private wine tasting : $97
When comparing the travel costs between Hualien and Nelson, we can see that Hualien 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 Nelson 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 Nelson Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hualien or Nelson?
Hualien has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Nelson. When comparing the sizes of Hualien and Nelson, 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.