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

Should you visit Hualien or Tauranga?

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

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

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.

Tauranga

Tauranga is a city on the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the western side of the Bay of Plenty, which is on the east coast of the island. Its population of 130,000 makes it the fifth largest city in the country. Tauranga is a Maori word translated roughly to 'a sheltered anchorage'. This makes sense as the town is located near a very large harbor and protected by Matakana Island. Mount Maunganui is at the headland of the town and regarded as a suburb of Tauranga. The beach at Mt Maunganui is a surfing hot spot. The climate is mostly warm and dry because of the town's sheltered position.

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 Adventure Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Tauranga 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 Tauranga is $118. 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 Tauranga in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hualien $60
    Tauranga $74
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hualien $120
    Tauranga $148
Compare Hotels in Hualien and Tauranga

Looking for a hotel in Hualien or Tauranga? 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 Tauranga


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: Tauranga Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hualien $29
    Tauranga $6.75

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hualien

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hualien:

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Hualien or Tauranga?

Prices for flights to both Tauranga 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
    Tauranga $37

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hualien $21
    Tauranga $10

Tours and Activities in Hualien

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

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

Tours and Activities in Tauranga

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

  • Mount Maunganui Hot Pools Experience: $16
  • Mount Maunganui: Hot Ocean Water Pools Entry Ticket: $16
  • Mount Maunganui Harbour Sightseeing Cruise: $23
  • Tauranga Harbour Scenic One Hour Historical Boat Cruise : $24
  • Waimarino Adventure Park Supreme Pass Entry Ticket: $34
  • Katikati Avocado Adventure: $35
  • Mount Maunganui: Pohutukawa grove and Beach Walking Tour: $40
  • Tauranga City & Scenic Sightseeing 2-hour Tour: $46
  • TAURANGA City & Scenic Sightseeing 2-hour Local Bus Tour: $47
  • Tauranga Harbour Cruise: $55
  • Tauranga Shore Excursion: Small-Group Bay of Plenty and Tauranga Tour: $67
  • New Zealand Tauranga Tour with Transportation and Snacks: $75

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hualien $15
    Tauranga $10


When comparing the travel costs between Hualien and Tauranga, 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 Tauranga 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 Tauranga Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Hualien or Tauranga?

Hualien has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Tauranga. When comparing the sizes of Hualien and Tauranga, 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.