A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Taipei vs. Hong Kong for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Taipei or Hong Kong?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Taipei and Hong Kong. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Taipei or Hong Kong?

Taipei

Few cities in the world are full of more diverse opportunities than the cultural crosshairs city of Taipei. As the capital of Taiwan, this 300-year-old city is the financial, cultural and governmental center of Taiwan. Located in the northern part of the island between the Yangming Mountains and Central Mountains, this city of 2.6 million people is always ready to welcome more visitors.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong you will find a predominantly Cantonese population that has long been influenced by British occupation. Most residents speak English and you can see the obvious effects of years of capitalism. Shopping malls are everywhere and most are thriving. Along the waterfront every night the buildings light up in a dramatic and festive light show that highlights such businesses as Sony and Canon, which are fixtures in the city. The city is a major financial hub, and is very international in nature. The city itself is very densely packed and there are narrow high rises that look vulnerable due to their height. There are two main areas to the city, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Hong Kong Island is the location of the original British settlement. Today it is where you will find the highest skyscrapers, the most modern buildings, and the most popular shopping areas. Kowloon is located on a peninsula that is to the north of Hong Kong Island. The tip of the peninsula is a popular destination for backpackers as it has many of the city's hostels. This area is referred to as Tsim Sha Tsui. There are also a few high end hotels in the area. It is possible to head outside of the city so that you can escape into some rural regions where you can take a break from the crowds.

Which place is cheaper, Hong Kong or Taipei?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Taipei is $186, while the average daily cost in Hong Kong is $159. 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 Taipei and Hong Kong in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Taipei $149
    Hong Kong $75
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Taipei $298
    Hong Kong $150
Compare Hotels in Taipei and Hong Kong

Looking for a hotel in Taipei or Hong Kong? 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 Taipei


Hotels in Hong Kong


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: Taipei Hotel Prices and Hong Kong Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Taipei $10
    Hong Kong $8.71
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Taipei

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Taipei:


  • Easycard
    $2.06
  • Easycard
    $9.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taipei

Also for Taipei, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • [Chinese driver charter wagon] 1 to 7 people ☆ Taoyuan Airport ⇔ Taipei City Airport Transfer [one way]: $69
  • [Chinese driver charter sedan] 1 to 4 people ☆ Taoyuan Airport ⇔ Taipei City Hotel Airport Transfer [one way]: $55
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Taipei HTL-APT (TSA): $28
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Taipei APT-HTL (TSA): $28
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Taipei HTL- APT (TPE): $41
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Taipei APT- HTL (TPE): $41
  • Taoyuan airport to Yilan Private Transfer: $115
  • Taoyuan Airport TPE to Taoyuan or Taipei Round Trip Transfer: $78
  • Taoyuan Airport TPE to Taoyuan or Taipei Arrival Private Transfer: $39
  • Taiwan Taoyuan Airport(TPE) to Taoyuan/Taipei hotels-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $78
  • Taiwan Taoyuan Airport (TPE) to Taoyuan/Taipei hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $39
  • Taiwan Taoyuan Airport (TPE) to Keelung Cruise Port - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $118

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hong Kong

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hong Kong:


  • MTR (for 2)
    $2.81
  • Local Bus
    $2.81
  • Ferry Ticket
    $0.26
  • Hong Kong Airport Express Train Ticket
    $14

Is it cheaper to fly into Taipei or Hong Kong?

Prices for flights to both Hong Kong and Taipei 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
    Taipei $16
    Hong Kong $33
Typical Food Prices in Taipei

For Taipei, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • EasyCard
    $16
  • Lunch at The Can
    $6.97
  • EasyCard
    $32
  • Lunch
    $3.01
  • Lunch
    $1.90
  • Dinner
    $6.33
  • Lunch
    $3.64
  • Lunch
    $4.75
  • Louisa coffee
    $3.01

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Taipei

For Taipei, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Taipei Food Tour: Night Market & Convenience Store(Food Included): $40
  • Taipei Food Tour: Historic Night Market Including Full Meal: $45
  • Ximending Vegan Food Tour Snack, Dessert & Main!: $47
  • Local Favorites: Taiwan Night Market Food Tour in 2 hours: $49
  • Taipei at Night: Din Tai Fung Dinner & Raohe Street Night Market Guided Tour: $52
  • Taipei Food Tour: Yongkang Street for Foodies: $58
  • Taipei Food Tour: $58
  • Yansan Night Market Food Tour: $62
  • Xiao Long Bao, Pork thick soup, Bubble milk tea. Taiwan Traditional Light Meals Experience-B (Taipei Cooking Class): $65
  • Xiao long bao, Pork thick soup, Bubble milk tea. (Taiwan Cooking Class)-B : $65
  • Turnip cake, Pork thick soup, Tofu pudding. Taiwan Traditional Light Meals Experience-C (Taipei Cooking Class): $65
  • Taipei Food Tour and Colorful Bubble Tea Making: $65

Typical Food Prices in Hong Kong

For Hong Kong, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dinner for 2
    $11

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Taipei $17
    Hong Kong $95

Tours and Activities in Taipei

For Taipei, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 9 Hour Northeast Coast Bay View Tour in Yilan : $58
  • One-Day Historical and Heritage Tour in Taipei : $47
  • Yamingshan Volcano, Beitou Thermal Valley, Danshui Private Tour: $198
  • 1 Day Tour Northern Taiwan Coast Tour: $200
  • 1-day Tour to Sun Moon Lake from Taipei by High Speed Rail : $250
  • 12hrs - Chiayi Meteor Garden Classic Tour From Taipei: $64
  • 2 Days Sun Moon Lake & Lukang Historic Area Tour: $232
  • 2 days Yeliou (or Pingxi sky lantern) & Sun Moon Lake tour (Taichung city end) : $200
  • 2-Day Private Tour to Sun Moon Lake and Mount Hehuan: $195
  • 2-Hour Private Dadaocheng Walking Tour: $35
  • 2-Hour Private Longshan Temple Walking Tour: $35
  • 2-Hour Private Walking Tour in Beitou, Taiwan: $55

Typical Entertainment Prices in Hong Kong

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Hong Kong's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Peak Tram
    $7.66
  • Madame Tussauds Hong Kong
    $24

Tours and Activities in Hong Kong

For Hong Kong, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Ma On Shan Climbing Adventure: $115
  • Plover Cove Bicycling and Hiking Adventure: $110

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Taipei $18
    Hong Kong $21

Sample the Local Flavors in Taipei

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Taipei:

  • Taipei Nightlife: Taipei Pub Crawls (2 Different Routes): $28
  • Taipei Nightlife: Taipei Pub Crawls (2 Different Options): $30
  • Private Tour to Yilan Kavalan Whisky Distillery: $130
  • Private Tour Yilan Kavalan Whisky Distillery from Taipei : $210


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Taipei and Hong Kong, we can see that Taipei is more expensive. And not only is Hong Kong much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hong Kong would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hong Kong 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 Taipei would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taipei than you might in Hong Kong.

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


Which is Bigger, Taipei or Hong Kong?

Taipei has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Hong Kong. When comparing the sizes of Taipei and Hong Kong, 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.