A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Taiyuan vs. Nelson for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Taiyuan or Nelson?

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 Taiyuan and Nelson. 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: Taiyuan or Nelson?

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!

Nelson

Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to China, The Best Tours for Seniors to China, The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Nelson or Taiyuan?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Taiyuan is $90, while the average daily cost in Nelson is $94. 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 Taiyuan and Nelson in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Taiyuan $42
    Nelson $41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Taiyuan $84
    Nelson $82
Compare Hotels in Taiyuan and Nelson

Looking for a hotel in Taiyuan or Nelson? 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 Taiyuan


Hotels in Nelson


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: Nelson Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Taiyuan $47
    Nelson $28

Is it cheaper to fly into Taiyuan or Nelson?

Prices for flights to both Nelson and Taiyuan 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
    Taiyuan $20
    Nelson $27

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Taiyuan $15
    Nelson $24

Tours and Activities in Nelson

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:

  • Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $56
  • Cruise, Walk, and Sail in Abel Tasman National Park: $121
  • Full-Day Sailing Adventure in the Abel Tasman National Park: $159
  • Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $79
  • Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $76
  • Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $75
  • Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $29
  • Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure: $71
  • Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire Experience: $65
  • Guided Quad Biking Tour Through Forest and Farmland: $80
  • Kahurangi National Park and Mt Owen Helicopter Tour: $1,948
  • SKYWIRE Experience: $67

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Taiyuan $6.31
    Nelson $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:

  • Self-guided E-bike cycle tour with private wine tasting : $97


When comparing the travel costs between Taiyuan and Nelson, we can see that Nelson 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. Even though Taiyuan is in Asia and Nelson is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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


Which is Bigger, Taiyuan or Nelson?

Taiyuan has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Nelson. When comparing the sizes of Taiyuan and Nelson, 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.