A Travel Price Comparison for Taiwan Taipei vs. Tainan City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Taipei or Tainan City?

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 Tainan City. 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 Tainan City?

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.

Tainan City

The oldest city in Taiwan, Tainan was once the nation's capital during imperial times and is today famous for its temples and historic buildings which speak to this distant past. Additionally Tainan has become known for its lively night markets and fantastic snack foods available from a large concentrate of street vendors located throughout the city.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Taiwan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Taiwan, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Taiwan, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Taipei.


Which place is cheaper, Tainan City or Taipei?

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

  • Taipei Prices
    Taiwan Prices
    Tainan City Prices
    Taiwan Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Taipei $195
    Tainan City $111

The average daily cost (per person) in Taipei is $195, while the average daily cost in Tainan City is $111. 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 Tainan City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Taipei $147
    Tainan City $60
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Taipei $294
    Tainan City $120
Compare Hotels in Taipei and Tainan City

Looking for a hotel in Taipei or Tainan City? 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 Tainan City


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 Tainan City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Taipei $10
    Tainan City $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Taipei

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


  • Easycard
    $2.03
  • Easycard
    $9.36

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taipei

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

  • Taoyuan Airport (TPE) Return Bus Transfer: $8.68
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Taipei APT-HTL (TSA): $28
  • Taoyuan Airport TPE to Taoyuan or Taipei Arrival Private Transfer: $39
  • Keelung (Taipei) Cruise Port to Taipei city - Arrival Private Transfer : $39
  • Taipei City to Keelung (Taipei) Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $39
  • TPE Airport: private transfer to and from Taipei City: $40
  • Private Transfer between TPE-Taoyuan int. Airport and Taipei City: $40
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Taipei APT- HTL (TPE): $41
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Taipei HTL- APT (TPE): $41
  • Keelung Port: private transfer to and from Taipei City: $42
  • Jiufen: private transfer to and from Taipei City: $42
  • Private Two Way Transfer in Jiufen and Taipei: $42

Is it cheaper to fly into Taipei or Tainan City?

Prices for flights to both Tainan City 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 $28
    Tainan City $39
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
    $6.86
  • EasyCard
    $31
  • Lunch
    $2.96
  • Lunch
    $1.87
  • Dinner
    $6.24
  • Lunch
    $3.59
  • Lunch
    $4.68
  • Louisa coffee
    $2.96

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
  • Historic Night Market Food Tour with Tastings: $45
  • 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
  • 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
  • Taipei : Private Food Tour With A Guide: $77

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Taipei $17
    Tainan City $11

Tours and Activities in Taipei

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

  • Taipei's Origin & Longshan Temple - Taiwan Cultural Tour: $1.00
  • Vintage Taipei - Best of Taiwan & Sunset Walking Tour (Tip-based): $1.00
  • Old Town Walking Tour: $1.00
  • Vintage Taipei - Best of Taiwan and Sunset Walking Tour: $1.00
  • Zoo Entrance Ticket: $3.10
  • Chiang Kai-Shek Shilin Residence Ticket: $3.10
  • Taipei Historic Shared Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Taipei Old Town - Taiwan Introduction Walking Tour (Tip-Based): $5.00
  • Taipei's Origin & Longshan Temple - Taiwan Cultural Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Miramar Ferris Wheel Ticket: $6.20
  • Taipei Miniatures Museum+2 Museum Combo Ticket: $8.06
  • Taipei Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Taipei $18
    Tainan City $5.79

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): $30
  • Private Tour to Yilan Kavalan Whisky Distillery: $130


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

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


Which is Bigger, Taipei or Tainan City?

Taipei has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Tainan City. When comparing the sizes of Taipei and Tainan City, 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.