Which place is cheaper, Tokyo or Taipei?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Taipei or Tokyo?
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 Tokyo. 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 Tokyo?
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.
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Taiwan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Taiwan, The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan.
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Taipei Prices
Taiwan PricesTokyo Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTaipei $197Tokyo $174
The average daily cost (per person) in Taipei is $197, while the average daily cost in Tokyo is $174. 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 Tokyo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTaipei $148Tokyo $73
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTaipei $296Tokyo $146
Compare Hotels in Taipei and Tokyo
Looking for a hotel in Taipei or Tokyo? 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 Tokyo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Taipei $10Tokyo $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Taipei
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Taipei:
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Easycard$2.05
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Easycard$9.46
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Train$1.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taipei
Also for Taipei, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Taipei city hotels to Hualien Cruise Port: $273
- Private Transfer from Taipei Taoyuan Airport TPE to Hualien Port: $273
- Keelung(Taipei) Cruise Port to Taipei-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $203
- Beito to Taipei Taoyuan Airport (TPE)-Departure Transfer: $187
- Taipei Taoyuan Airport TPE to Beitou New Taipei Arrival Transfer: $187
- Private Transfer from Taipei Taoyuan Airport TPE to Taichung Port: $159
- Taipei Arrival Private Transfer with Guide: Airport to Hotel: $150
- Private Transfer from Taipei Taoyuan Airport to Taichung Port: $143
- Luxury Chartered Private Transfer Taoyuan Airport to Taipei City: $140
- Luxury Chartered Private Transfer from Taipei to Taoyuan Airport: $139
- Taiwan Airport Private Transfer: $119
- Taipei Private Transfer: Taiwan International Airport to Keelung Cruise Port: $115
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yokohama Port: Private Customizable Tour with Transfer: $352
- Transfer from Tokyo City Center to Haneda Airport (HND): $90
- Tokyo:TeamLab Private Transfer with Hotel Pickup & Drop-off: $200
- Private Transfers to/from Narita Airport(NRT): $75
- Private Transfer to/from Haneda Airport 7 Seater: $124
- Private Transfer from/to Yokohama Port: $178
- Private Transfer from Haneda/Narita Airport to Hotel: $308
- Private Transfer Between Narita Airport & City: $167
- Private One-Way Transfers to/from Yokohama Port: $64
- Private One-Way Transfers to/from Hakone or Mt.Fuji: $156
- Private Customize Day Tour With Hotel Transfer: $210
- One-Way Private Transfer from Haneda Airport: $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Taipei or Tokyo?
Prices for flights to both Tokyo 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 $28Tokyo $61
Typical Food Prices in Taipei
For Taipei, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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EasyCard$16
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Lunch at The Can$6.94
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EasyCard$32
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Lunch$3.00
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Lunch$1.89
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Dinner$6.31
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Lunch$3.63
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Lunch$4.73
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Louisa coffee$3.00
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Lunch$5.99
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Lunch$3.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Taipei
For Taipei, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sumire Nostalgic Taiwanese Lunch and Dinner Set: $17
- Food Tours w/ Top 10 Taiwan Food (Breakfast/Dinner): $45
- Taipei Food Tour Taiwan Traditional Breakfast and Market and Tea: $45
- Taipei Food Tour: Night Market & Convenience Store(Food Included): $45
- Food Tour Local Market with 12+ tasters & Drinks Included: $49
- Taipei Hidden Eats, Market & Street Food Tour with 8+ Tastings: $55
- Street Food & Hidden Eats Night Market Food Tour: $55
- Taipei Tastes Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $55
- Formosa Flavours Taipei Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $59
- Turnip cake, Pork thick soup, Tofu pudding. Taiwan Traditional Light Meals Experience-C (Taipei Cooking Class): $65
- Backstreet Food Tour: Food, Culture, and Fun: $75
- Street Food Cooking Class in Taipei : Gua Bao/Lu Rou Fan/Boba Tea: $79
Typical Food Prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
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Late Night Noodles$4.96
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Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$4.96
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Meal at Airport$6.47
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hide's Table A Unique Dinner Gathering Every Wednesday Night: $19
- Tokyo : Vintage, Music & Food Tour in Shimokitazawa with a Local: $22
- Tsukiji Market Culture and Food Tour with 40-Year Resident: $25
- Shinjuku: 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $28
- Asakusa: Senso-ji Sightseeing & Street Food Tour with Photos: $29
- Shinjuku Chef‐Led Night Food Tour — What Guides Don’t Show: $29
- Shinjuku 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $29
- For First Time Visitor：Tsukiji Food Tour with Tokyo Travel Advice: $32
- Guided Tsukiji’s Local Food Tour: $32
- Ueno Private Walking Tour and Night Food Tour: $38
- Authentic Homestyle Japanese Cooking Class near Tokyo with Risa: $39
- Private Yanaka District Walking & Food Tour: $44
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Taipei $18Tokyo $65
Tours and Activities in Taipei
For Taipei, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 101 Skyline 460 Observatory Ticket | Taipei: $125
- 12hrs - Chiayi Meteor Garden Classic Tour From Taipei: $72
- 2 days Yeliou (or Pingxi sky lantern) & Sun Moon Lake tour (Taichung city end): $200
- 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
- 2-hr Ningxia Night Market Walking Private Tour with a Tour Guide: $35
- 2-hr Raohe Night Market Walking Private Tour with a Tour Guide: $38
- 4 Days Private Tour Taipei, Jiufen, Sun Moon Lake & Taichung: $1,079
- 4 Hour Afternoon Cycling City Tour North with Snack: $83
- 4-Hour Morning Cycling City Tour (incl. breakfast): $83
- 7-Hour Jiufen Night View, Shifen Waterfall & Raohe Market Tour: $37
Tours and Activities in Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- “Daikoku Car Meet Night Tour | JDM Experience in Tokyo”: $158
- "Enjoy Tokyo Tour" Harajuku Meiji-jingu & Delicious Sake Tasting: $63
- "Ginza → Tsukishima" Walking and Japanese Style Fun Dining Tour: $158
- (Private tour)ShinjukuUnfiltered Secret bar restaurant Tour: $254
- 1 Day Tour to Oshino Hakkai Ole Hot Spring in Mount Fuji: $76
- 1 Day Walking Tour in Asakusa Traditional Tokyo and Nature: $145
- 1-Day Mt Fuji and Hakone Sightseeing trip from Tokyo: $338
- 1-Day Mt.Fuji Hiking Tour(Subashiri 5th to 7th) from Tokyo: $101
- 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour: $124
- 100% PRIVATE Anime, Manga, Game & Pop Culture Tour in Akihabara: $99
- 10:30 local gathering and rafting tour half day (3 hours): $38
- 14:00 local rafting tour half day (3 hours): $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTaipei $18Tokyo $31
Sample the Local Flavors in Taipei
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Taipei:
- Taipei Authentic Night Sober-Friendly Pub Crawl: $20
- Taipei Nightlife: Taipei Pub Crawls (2 Different Routes): $27
- Yilan Kavalan Whisky Distillery,Jim&Dad's Brewing, Shenkeng Tour: $95
Typical Alcohol Prices in Tokyo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
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Sake$3.72
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $34
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $35
- 3 Hours Pub Crawl Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $35
- 3-Hour Tokyo Pub Crawl Nightlife Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $46
- Tokyo Sake Terroir Journey – Guided by Sake Brewery Professional: $89
- Mt. Fuji & Hakushu Distillery Whisky Museum Bus Tour from Tokyo: $89
- Tokyo Shinjuku Gay Bar Crawl with Drinks: $90
- Shibuya Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local Foods-: $101
- Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and jump into historic town: $108
- Private Sake Tasting at 300 Years Old Sake Brewery in Tokyo: $121
- Sake Brewery and Spiritual Nature Tour in Okutama Tokyo: $130
- Private Shinjuku Nightlife Walking Tour & Golden-Gai Bar Crawl: $146
When comparing the travel costs between Taipei and Tokyo, we can see that Taipei is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Taipei Expensive? and Is Tokyo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Taipei or Tokyo?
Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Taipei. When comparing the sizes of Taipei and Tokyo, 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.