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

Should you visit Mount Kailash or Hualien?

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

Should I visit Mount Kailash or Hualien? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Mount Kailash or Hualien?

Mount Kailash

The main point of entry to Mount Kailash is a small village called Darchen. Once an important sheep station for nomads and their flocks, the village has now grown to provide for the pilgrims wishing to embark towards Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. It contains a number of guest houses and restaurants as well as a hotel where pilgrims must get permission from the Public Security Bureau to make the trek around the mountain. Also in the village are a handful of small stores and kiosks, as well as some grounds for camping. It is about 330 km (a one-day bus drive) from the town of Shiquanhe to the northeast, where Gunsa Airport is located, offering flights twice a week to Lhasa and Chengdu.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Taipei, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Taiwan.


Which place is cheaper, Hualien or Mount Kailash?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Mount Kailash Prices
    China Prices
    Hualien Prices
    Taiwan Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Mount Kailash $90
    Hualien $136

The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Kailash is $90, 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 Mount Kailash and Hualien in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mount Kailash $27
    Hualien $60
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mount Kailash $54
    Hualien $120
Compare Hotels in Mount Kailash and Hualien

Looking for a hotel in Mount Kailash 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.

Hotels in Mount Kailash


Hotels in Hualien


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mount Kailash $32
    Hualien $29

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 Mount Kailash or Hualien?

Prices for flights to both Hualien and Mount Kailash 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
    Mount Kailash $43
    Hualien $56

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mount Kailash $16
    Hualien $21

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mount Kailash $2.80
    Hualien $15


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mount Kailash and Hualien, we can see that Hualien is more expensive. And not only is Mount Kailash much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mount Kailash would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mount Kailash 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 Mount Kailash.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mount Kailash Expensive? and Is Hualien Expensive?.