Which place is cheaper, Okinawa or Hualien?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hualien or Okinawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hualien or Okinawa, 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 Okinawa?
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.
Okinawa
Okinawa is the southernmost prefecture of Japan and includes hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands. The chain of islands is off the southern mainland portion of the country and is made up of 49 inhabited islands and over one hundred uninhabited islands. Naha is Okinawa's capital, which is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHualien $106Okinawa $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Hualien is $106, while the average daily cost in Okinawa is $112. 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 Okinawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHualien $56Okinawa $78
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHualien $112Okinawa $156
Compare Hotels in Hualien and Okinawa
Looking for a hotel in Hualien or Okinawa? 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 $27Okinawa $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hualien
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hualien:
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport: $96
- Private Transfer from Hualien Cruise Port to Taipei city hotels: $96
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport(TPE): $106
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Okinawa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Okinawa:
- Private Transfer from Naha City Hotels to Nakagusuku Cruise Port : $61
- Private Transfer from Naha City Hotels to Nakagusuku Cruise Port : $68
- Private Transfer from Nakagusuku Cruise Port to Naha City Hotels : $68
- Airport Transfer! Naha Airport (OKA) to Center of Naha: $124
- Airport Transfer! Center of Naha to Naha Airport (OKA): $125
- Private One Way Transfer: Naha Airport (OKA) to/from Naha: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Hualien or Okinawa?
Prices for flights to both Okinawa 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 $31Okinawa $25
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 $20Okinawa $15
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 Okinawa
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Okinawa are as follows:
- Beautiful sunset kayak tour in Okinawa: $40
- Mangrove Kayaking Tour: $43
- Okinawa Hot spot walk and local food ＆ beer tour(All include): $51
- Okinawa Sightseeing Bus Tour: $52
- Jungle River Trek: private tour in Yanbaru, north Okinawa: $54
- Okinawa Hip-hop Bus A Course Tour｜Churaumi Aqualium,Kori Island: $57
- Mangrove Kayak ＆ Sea Fishing Experience in Okinawa: $63
- North Okinawa Bus Day Tour Manzamo Kouri Island Ocean Expo Park American Village: $63
- Sakaemachi Market Bar Hopping Tour: $64
- Okinawa Hip-hop Bus B Course Tour (Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium): $65
- Okinawa World Limestone Cave and War Memorial Sites Day Tour: $67
- 2-Hour Private Gorilla Go Kart Experience in Okinawa: $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHualien $14Okinawa $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Okinawa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Okinawa:
- Naha Local Pub Crawl: $110
When comparing the travel costs between Hualien and Okinawa, we can see that Okinawa 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hualien Expensive? and Is Okinawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hualien or Okinawa?
Hualien has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Okinawa. When comparing the sizes of Hualien and Okinawa, 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.