Which place is cheaper, Ulaanbaatar or Hualien?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hualien or Ulaanbaatar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hualien or Ulaanbaatar, 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 Ulaanbaatar?
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.
Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia's capital city. It has a population of slightly over two million people, or about sixty percent of the country's entire population. You are likely to arrive in Ulaanbaatar either by train, coming from China or Russia, or by plane. Many people use Ulaanbaatar as a stop off while doing the Transsiberian Railway. The city is a great place to organize a tour of the surrounding countryside. It's also good city to relax, so make sure you allow yourself a few days to recover from your tour, enjoy some of the great food options, and see some of the fascinating cultural sights around town.
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 Mongolia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Mongolia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHualien $106Ulaanbaatar $25
The average daily cost (per person) in Hualien is $106, while the average daily cost in Ulaanbaatar is $25. 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 Ulaanbaatar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHualien $56Ulaanbaatar $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHualien $112Ulaanbaatar $24
Compare Hotels in Hualien and Ulaanbaatar
Looking for a hotel in Hualien or Ulaanbaatar? 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: Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hualien $27Ulaanbaatar $2.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hualien
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hualien:
- Private Transfer from Hualien Cruise Port to Taipei city hotels: $96
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport: $96
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport(TPE): $106
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:
- BEST 5* Airport Transfer Taxi Shuttle Pick Up: $18
- BEST 5* Chinggis Khaan Airport UBN to Ulaanbaatar Transfer Taxi: $18
- ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA: Airport Private Transfer: $20
- Private Transfer Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN to Ulaanbaatar City : $29
- Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN by Business Vehicle: $29
- Private Transfer from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Ulaanbaatar: $35
- Private Transfer from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Ulaanbaatar: $37
- VIP Pick Up Or Drop Off Airport Transfer In Ulaanbaatar City (UB): $39
- Airport - Ulaanbaatar transfer service: $40
- Private Departure Transfer: Ulaanbaatar Airport: $42
- Airport transfer service: $50
- Transfer service to Terelj national park : $51
Is it cheaper to fly into Hualien or Ulaanbaatar?
Prices for flights to both Ulaanbaatar 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 $31Ulaanbaatar $9.06
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ulaanbaatar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ulaanbaatar.
- Cooking Class in a Traditional Ger Home in Ulaanbaatar Suburbs: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hualien $20Ulaanbaatar $4.48
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 Ulaanbaatar
Here are a few actual costs in Ulaanbaatar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Genghis Statue & Gorkhi-Terelj National Park Tour : $45
- Genghis Khan Statue Tour- Terelj National Park: $45
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $49
- Ulaanbaatar : Private Custom Tour With A Local Guide : $50
- Genghis Khan Statue Tour: 3-Hour Ticket Included: $50
- Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex and Sain Nomun Monastery Tour : $50
- Nightlife Bar Hopping Adventure in Ulaanbaatar: $60
- GENGHIS KHAN STATUE COMPLEX: Half Day Private Tour: $69
- Traditional Music and Dance Performance Ticket: $69
- Genghis Khan Statue One Day Tour +Bonus Terelj National Park And Aryabal Temple: $79
- Ancient Fine Arts with Honored Masters - UB City Experience: $82
- 1 Day Coach Tour of Genghis Khan Statue Complex and Terelj National Park Including Lunch: $83
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHualien $14Ulaanbaatar $3.88
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hualien and Ulaanbaatar, we can see that Hualien is more expensive. And not only is Ulaanbaatar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ulaanbaatar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ulaanbaatar 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 Ulaanbaatar.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hualien Expensive? and Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hualien or Ulaanbaatar?
Ulaanbaatar has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Hualien. When comparing the sizes of Hualien and Ulaanbaatar, 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.