Which place is cheaper, Taiyuan or Taipei?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Taipei or Taiyuan?
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 Taiyuan. 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 Taiyuan?
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.
Taiyuan
With sleek architectural designs and blossoming businesses, this metropolis is simply brimming with invigorating excitement and once-in-a-lifetime entertainment. Despite its glimmering skyscrapers and gorgeous fountains, Taiyuan, China has an extensive history of nearly 2,500 years. During ancient China, Taiyuan, or the "Dragon City," was a major military town. Presently, this city is now one of China's most important industrial cities, producing more than half of the national coal mining output. Taiyuan is both the capital and largest city of the Shanxi province of North China. It is bounded by mountains on three of its sides, allowing this great city to be surrounded by fantastic views of its landscape. Besides its economic significance, Taiyuan also achieves tourist significance due to its plethora of landmarks and sights. Some of these attractions include Jinci Temple, Forest Park, Mengshan Giant Buddha, and Shanxi Museum. Taiyuan is also celebrated internationally for holding their annual Shanxi Taiyuan International Folk Arts Festival, a celebration held in September that hosts exhibition of fine arts, painting, paper-cutting, sculpture, drama, acrobatic and the culture of costume. With such a great deal to do in such a limited window of time, it is best to make the most Taiyuan while you visit!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Taiwan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Taiwan, The Best Budget Tours to China, and The Best Tours for Seniors to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTaipei $182Taiyuan $90
The average daily cost (per person) in Taipei is $182, while the average daily cost in Taiyuan is $90. 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 Taiyuan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTaipei $145Taiyuan $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTaipei $290Taiyuan $84
Compare Hotels in Taipei and Taiyuan
Looking for a hotel in Taipei or Taiyuan? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Taipei $10Taiyuan $47
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:
- 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
- Modern nine-seater, Taiwan chartered tour, chartered day trip, round-the-island chartered car, airport transfer, hotel pick-up service: $254
- Taipei Taoyuan Airport (TPE) to Jiaoxi - Arrival Private Transfer: $238
- Luxury Chartered Private Transfer Taoyuan Airport to Taipei City: $140
- Private Transfer from Taoyuan Intl Airport to Taoyuan or Taipei city: $126
- Private Transfer from Taipei Taoyuan Airport(TPE) to Hualien Port: $103
- Taipei Private Transfer: Keelung Cruise Port to Hotel: $85
- Taipei Private Transfer: Hotel to Keelung Cruise Port: $85
- Taipei Taoyuan Airport TPE to Beitou New Taipei Arrival Transfer: $76
- Taiwan Taipei Taoyuan International Airport（TPE) Private Transfer: $75
- [Chinese driver charter wagon] 1 to 7 people ☆ Taoyuan Airport ⇔ Taipei City Airport Transfer [one way]: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Taipei or Taiyuan?
Prices for flights to both Taiyuan 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 $16Taiyuan $20
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Taipei $17Taiyuan $15
Tours and Activities in Taipei
For Taipei, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- One-Day Historical and Heritage Tour in Taipei : $47
- 1 Day Tour Northern Taiwan Coast Tour: $200
- 1-day Tour to Sun Moon Lake from Taipei by High Speed Rail : $250
- 2 Days Sun Moon Lake & Lukang Historic Area Tour: $232
- 2-Day Private Tour to Sun Moon Lake and Mount Hehuan: $195
- 2-Hour Private Longshan Temple Walking Tour: $35
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour in Beitou, Taiwan: $55
- 2-Hour Private Ximending Area Walking Tour: $35
- 2-Hour Vegetarian Private Walking Tour - S.Y.S. Memorial Hall & 44 South Village: $58
- 2-Hour Vegetarian Private Walking Tour - Xingtian Temple: $55
- 3-Day Private Tour of Taroko Gorge & East Coast Scenic Area: $290
- 3.5 hours Taipei City Tour (morning or afternoon ) : $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTaipei $18Taiyuan $6.31
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Taipei and Taiyuan, we can see that Taipei is more expensive. And not only is Taiyuan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Taiyuan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Taiyuan 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 Taiyuan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Taipei Expensive? and Is Taiyuan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Taipei or Taiyuan?
Taipei has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Taiyuan. When comparing the sizes of Taipei and Taiyuan, 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.