Which place is cheaper, Hualien or Mandalay?
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 Mandalay or Hualien?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mandalay or Hualien, 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: Mandalay or Hualien?
Mandalay
Located in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) on the banks of the Irawaddy River, Mandalay is the nation's second largest city behind Yangon. It is centered on the restored Royal Palace and has a large population of Buddhist monks who frequent the city's many temples and monasteries.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Taipei, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Taiwan.
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Mandalay Prices
Myanmar PricesHualien Prices
Taiwan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandalay $19Hualien $136
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandalay is $19, while the average daily cost in Hualien is $136. 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 Mandalay and Hualien in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandalay $8.65Hualien $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandalay $17Hualien $120
Compare Hotels in Mandalay and Hualien
Looking for a hotel in Mandalay or Hualien? 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.Mandalay -Hualien $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mandalay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mandalay:
- Private Mandalay Airport Transfer: $27
- Inle [Heho] Airport Private Transfer : $46
- Mandalay Airport Private Transfer : $55
- Bagan Land Transfer form Mandalay: $103
- Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan: $139
- Mandalay To Bagan Transfer Tour: $150
- Private Transfer Of Mandalay To Bagan: $150
- Around Mandalay in 2 Day and Next Day to Transfer Bagan: $200
- From Mandalay To Kalaw-NyaungShwe-Inle Lake Private Transfer: $200
- 2 Days in Mandalay Region, 3 Night in Monywa and 4 Days to transfer Bagan: $260
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 Mandalay or Hualien?
Prices for flights to both Hualien and Mandalay 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 dayMandalay $10Hualien $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mandalay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mandalay.
- Myanmar traditional cooking class with local: $26
- Bamboo Bike Food Tour: $42
- Bicycle Food Tour in Mandalay: $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mandalay -Hualien $21
Tours and Activities in Mandalay
Here are a few actual costs in Mandalay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- A Little Adventure Village Explore: $17
- Private Full-Day Mandalay Heritage Charter Car Tour: $45
- Mandalay Half-Day Tour: $45
- Mandalay Bike 'n Bite Tour: $46
- Mandalay Half-Day Sightseeing: $53
- Mandalay Full-Day Tour: $60
- Full day Adventure Trip in Mandalay & Amarapura : $61
- Adventure to Dee Dote Waterfalls from Mandalay: $63
- Mandalay Fullday Sightseeing: $65
- Day Tour Of Mingun/Sagaing/Amarapura: $75
- Amarapura,Sagaing,Innwa Sightseeing Tour: $75
- Amarapura,Sagging,Innwa/Ava Sightseeing : $75
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandalay -Hualien $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandalay and Hualien, we can see that Hualien is more expensive. And not only is Mandalay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mandalay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandalay 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 Mandalay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mandalay Expensive? and Is Hualien Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mandalay or Hualien?
Mandalay has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Hualien. When comparing the sizes of Mandalay and Hualien, 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.