Which place is cheaper, Kyoto or Taipei?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Taipei or Kyoto?
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 Kyoto. 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 Kyoto?
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.
Kyoto
Kyoto is a larger city of Japan, though it is very much set in the old ways. With quiet temples, sublime gardens, colorful shrines, and geisha walking amidst a city surrounded by stunning mountains, Kyoto feels like a world of another time and place. True to ancient Japanese tradition, most aspects of daily life are tied closely with the changing of the seasons.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Taiwan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Taiwan, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTaipei $182Kyoto $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Taipei is $182, while the average daily cost in Kyoto is $96. 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 Kyoto in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTaipei $145Kyoto $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTaipei $290Kyoto $126
Compare Hotels in Taipei and Kyoto
Looking for a hotel in Taipei or Kyoto? 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: Taipei Hotel Prices and Kyoto Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Taipei $10Kyoto $7.55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Taipei
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Taipei:
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Easycard$2.01
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Easycard$9.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taipei
Also for Taipei, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bicycle transfer (Taipei - Hualien) 4 persons: $40
- Bruns 9 seater, charter tour, business transfer, airport transfer, round-the-island charter tour: $299
- Flowserve Nine-seat-Taiwan travel charter, charter tour, business transfer, round-the-island tour, airport shuttle charter service: $256
- Luxury Chartered Private Transfer Taoyuan Airport to Taipei City: $140
- Modern nine-seater, Taiwan chartered tour, chartered day trip, round-the-island chartered car, airport transfer, hotel pick-up service: $254
- Private Transfer from Taipei Taoyuan Airport TPE to Taichung Port: $63
- Private Transfer from Taipei Taoyuan Airport(TPE) to Hualien Port: $103
- Private Transfer from Taipei city to Keelung (Taipei) Cruise Port: $38
- Private Transfer from Taoyuan Intl Airport to Taoyuan or Taipei city: $126
- Private Transfer from Taoyuan airport Taiwan to Taipei: $52
- Private Transfer：Taoyuan International Airport to Hotel: $40
- Taipei Arrival Private Transfer: Taoyuan International Airport to Hotel: $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kyoto
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kyoto:
- Shared Departure Transfer : Kyoto City to Kansai International Airport: $67
- Private departure transfer from Kyoto city to Kansai International airport: $107
- Osaka City to/from Kyoto City Private transfer: $221
- Osaka (Itami) Airport to/from Kyoto City Private Transfer: $136
- Osaka (Itami) Airport ITM Private Transfer to/from Kyoto: $212
- One-Way Private Transfer to/from Itami Airport: $316
- Customizable Private Tour with Hotel Transfers: $504
- Kyoto Early Bird Half Day Private Tour with Transfer: $292
- Kansai Intl. Airport KIX Private Transfer to/from Kyoto: $222
- Kansai Int Airport to/from Kyoto City Private Transfer: $264
- Kansai Airport (KIX): Private One-Way Transfer to/from Kyoto: $207
- From Private 1-Way Transfer to Kansai Airport: $316
Is it cheaper to fly into Taipei or Kyoto?
Prices for flights to both Kyoto 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
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Food Meals for one dayTaipei $16Kyoto $24
Typical Food Prices in Taipei
For Taipei, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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EasyCard$15
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Lunch at The Can$6.81
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EasyCard$31
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Lunch$2.94
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Lunch$1.86
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Dinner$6.19
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Lunch$3.56
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Lunch$4.64
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Louisa coffee$2.94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Taipei
For Taipei, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Historic Night Market Food Tour with Tastings: $45
- Ximending Vegan Food Tour Snack, Dessert & Main!: $46
- Taipei Food Tour: Yongkang Street for Foodies: $58
- Yansan Night Market Food Tour: $62
- 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
- Taipei Food Tour and Colorful Bubble Tea Making: $70
- Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals: $74
- Backstreet Food Tour: Food, Culture, and Fun: $75
- Xiao Long Bao, Chicken vermicelli with mushroom and sesame oil, Tofu strips salad, Bubble milk tea. Taiwan Traditional Delicacies Experience-A (Taipei Cooking Class): $77
- Xiao Long Bao, Chicken vermicelli with mushroom and sesame oil, Tofu strips salad, Bubble milk tea. Taiwan Traditional Delicacies Experience-A (Taipei Cooking Class): $77
- Xiao Long Bao, Chicken vermicelli with mushroom and sesame oil, Tofu strips salad, Bubble milk tea. Taiwan Traditional Delicacies Experience-A (Taipei Cooking Class): $77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kyoto
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kyoto.
- Private Cooking Class Udon in Kyoto Japan: $40
- Japanese Washoku Bento Cooking Class with Lunch: $41
- Nishiki Market Brunch Walking Food Tour: $45
- Japanese Home Cooking Lesson with Local Hosts in Peaceful Kyoto Suburb Otsu: $49
- Kyoto Nishiki Market & Depachika: 2-hours Food Tour with a Local: $59
- Afternoon Japanese Izakaya Cooking Class: $59
- Morning Japanese Bento Cooking Class: $59
- Japanese Cooking Class: $60
- Japanese Udon and Sushi Cooking Class with Tastings: $62
- Wagashi(Japanese sweets) Cooking :Kyoto near Fushimiinari: $63
- Bento Box Cooking Class: $66
- Izakaya Style Cooking Class: $66
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Taipei $17Kyoto $13
Tours and Activities in Taipei
For Taipei, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Old Town Walking Tour: $1.00
- Taipei's Origin & Longshan Temple - Taiwan Cultural Walking Tour: $1.00
- Taipei Old Town - Taiwan Introduction Walking Tour: $1.00
- Taipei's Origin & Longshan Temple - Taiwan Cultural Tour: $1.00
- Chiang Kai-Shek Shilin Residence Ticket: $3.07
- Miramar Ferris Wheel Ticket: $6.14
- Scavenger Hunt and City Exploration Self-Guided Tour: $8.75
- Taipei Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.95
- Taipei Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Taipei Makong Cable Car: Ticket & Combos: $10
- National Palace Museum E-Ticket: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Tours and Activities in Kyoto
Here are a few actual costs in Kyoto for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bar Hopping Private Tour in Kyoto: $48
- Kyoto Private Full-day Walking Tour from Kyoto Station: $149
- "Unlock Kyoto's Charm: Government-Certified Group Tour: $90
- 1 Day Hiking Tour in the Mountains of Kyoto: $169
- 1-Hour Japanese Archery Experience in Kyoto: $38
- 10 Hrs Full day Kyoto Tour w/Hotel Pick-up: $568
- 2 Hour Night Walking Tour Throughout Gion in a Small Group: $32
- 2 Hours Shared Kendo Experience In Kyoto Japan: $116
- 2-Hour Shopping Tour Plan / private: $126
- 3 Hour Private Bar Hopping Experience at Kyoto City: $39
- 3 Hours Kyoto Insider Sake Experience: $84
- 3-Hour Japanese Sake Breweries Tour in Fushimi Kyoto: $105
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTaipei $18Kyoto $12
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 Routes): $30
- Private Tour Yilan Kavalan Whisky Distillery from Taipei : $207
Sample the Local Flavors in Kyoto
Also in Kyoto, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Japanese Sake Brewery and Fushimi Inari Sightseeing Tour: $18
- Sake Brewery and Tasting Tour in Fushimi: $80
- Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Sake and Food Pairing: $83
- Rural Brewery Town Walk: Half-Day Private Tour Near Kyoto: $97
- Kyoto Sake Brewery Tour: $153
- Rural Villages & Brewery Town: Private 1-Day Cycling Near Kyoto: $181
- Kyoto Sake Bar and Pub Crawl (Food & Sake Tour): $189
- Kyoto Sake Bar and Pub Crawl (Food & Sake Tour): $195
- Private Guided Local Bar Crawl Experience in Kyoto: $223
- Kyoto Nightlife: Local Bar Crawl Experience: $435
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Taipei and Kyoto, we can see that Taipei is more expensive. And not only is Kyoto much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kyoto would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kyoto 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 Kyoto.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Taipei Expensive? and Is Kyoto Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Taipei or Kyoto?
Taipei has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Kyoto. When comparing the sizes of Taipei and Kyoto, 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.