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

Should you visit Taiyuan or Wellington?

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 Wellington. 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 Wellington?

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!

Wellington

Wellington is the capital and second largest city in New Zealand. It sits on the southwestern edge of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It's a beautiful setting that is encircled by mountains giving it a beautiful backdrop. There are also many cultural sights and attractions around town. Wellington really is the perfect mix of New Zealand's natural beauty and a vibrant urban core. The film industry is also prevelant in the city. The city's production centers have helped create Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, Tin Tin, and District 9.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to China, The Best Tours for Seniors to China, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Wellington or Taiyuan?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Taiyuan is $106, while the average daily cost in Wellington is $124. 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 Wellington in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Taiyuan $43
    Wellington $60
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Taiyuan $86
    Wellington $120
Compare Hotels in Taiyuan and Wellington

Looking for a hotel in Taiyuan or Wellington? 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 Wellington


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: Wellington Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Taiyuan $48
    Wellington $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Wellington

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

  • Wellington Airport(WLG) to Wellington-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $155
  • Private Transfer from Wellington Cruise Port to Wellington Hotels: $105
  • Private Transfer from Wellington hotels to Wellington Cruise Port: $105
  • WLG Airport to City Private RoundTrip Transfer: $93
  • Wellington to Wellington Airport(WLG)-Departure Private Transfer: $78
  • Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington - Arrival Private Transfer: $78
  • Private Airport Transfer Service Vice Versa in Wellington by SUV: $74
  • Wētā Workshop Guided Transfers & Tour: $59
  • Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket + Transfer: $57
  • Private Transfer from Wellington Port to Wellington Airport (WLG): $26
  • Private Transfer from Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington Port: $26

Is it cheaper to fly into Taiyuan or Wellington?

Prices for flights to both Wellington 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 $36
    Wellington $51

Typical Food Prices in Wellington

For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dinner
    $8.87

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington

For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • 3 Hour Walking Food Tour: $125
  • Capital Bites, A food tour of Wellington: $134

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Taiyuan $15
    Wellington $16

Tours and Activities in Wellington

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

  • Animals of Aotearoa Wellington Zoo Tour: $53
  • Auckland: Wētā Workshop Unleashed Creative Classes Ticket: $38
  • Axe Throwing Lesson and Tournament: $33
  • Discover Wellington 3 hour City Tour : $53
  • From Half-Day Foodie Tour of the Wairarapa: $108
  • From Kapiti Island Classic Guided Day Tour: $289
  • From Martinborough Winery Tour: $111
  • From Remutaka Rail Trail eBike Tour: $127
  • Full Day Guided Wellington Tour including Cable Car: $149
  • Full Day Lord of the Rings Tour: $176
  • Full Day Tour of Wellington: $176
  • Full Day Wellington Tour - Including maoritanga: $164

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Taiyuan $6.41
    Wellington $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington

Also in Wellington, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Wellington Craft Beer & Brewery Half-Day Tour: $98
  • Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $99
  • From Martinborough Wine Tasting Tour: $168
  • Exclusive Martinborough Wine Tour: $208
  • Chefs Private Martinborough wine tour with Gourmet Lunch: $391


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Taiyuan and Wellington, we can see that Wellington is more expensive. And not only is Taiyuan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Taiyuan is in Asia and Wellington is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Wellington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wellington 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 Taiyuan Expensive? and Is Wellington Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Taiyuan or Wellington?

Taiyuan has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Wellington. When comparing the sizes of Taiyuan and Wellington, 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.