Which place is cheaper, Te Anau or Hualien?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Hualien or Te Anau?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hualien or Te Anau, 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 Te Anau?
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.
Te Anau
Te Anau is a town on the South Island of New Zealand, best-known as a gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. The region is a major destination for ecotourism as it is home to rare species like the endangered flightless takahe bird and natural features like caves, waterfalls, forests, lakes, glacial valleys, and mountains.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Taipei, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Taiwan, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.
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Hualien Prices
Taiwan PricesTe Anau Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHualien $136Te Anau $118
The average daily cost (per person) in Hualien is $136, while the average daily cost in Te Anau 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 Te Anau in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHualien $60Te Anau $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHualien $120Te Anau $88
Compare Hotels in Hualien and Te Anau
Looking for a hotel in Hualien or Te Anau? 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: Te Anau Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hualien $29Te Anau $27
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 Te Anau
Also for Te Anau, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kepler Water Taxi Transfer across Lake Te Anau: $17
- Te Anau to Invercargill Small Group Transfer: $54
- Lake Marian Guided Hike with Transfers, Lunch & Morning Tea: $185
Is it cheaper to fly into Hualien or Te Anau?
Prices for flights to both Te Anau 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 $56Te Anau $46
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hualien $21Te Anau $47
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 Te Anau
For Te Anau, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Glowworm Caves Guided Tour: $75
- Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour: $77
- Evening Champagne Cruise on Historic 1935 Motor Yacht.: $84
- Scenic Cruise & Guided walk on Historic Motor Yacht Lake Te Anau: $86
- Scenic Cruise & Guided Walk on Historic Motor Yacht Lake Te Anau: $86
- Champagne Sightseeing Cruise on Lake Te Anau: $98
- From Milford Sound Coach Tour and Cruise: $119
- Fiordland: Jet Boat & Nature Walk Experience from Te Anau: $119
- Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Tour from Te Anau : $122
- From Milford Sound Cruise & Scenic Coach Tour: $126
- Milford Sound Day Tour from Te Anau: $130
- From Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip: $133
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHualien $15Te Anau $14
When comparing the travel costs between Hualien and Te Anau, 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 Te Anau 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 Te Anau Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hualien or Te Anau?
Hualien has a larger population, and is about 170 times larger than the population of Te Anau. When comparing the sizes of Hualien and Te Anau, 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.