Which place is cheaper, Brisbane or Hualien?
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 Hualien or Brisbane?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hualien or Brisbane, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Hualien or Brisbane?
Hualien
If you're looking for hustle and bustle, head to Taipei. If you're looking for fresh air and the prettiest town by the sea, Hualien is the place to be. With many national parks to explore, cliffs and mountains to climb and beaches to get some rest and relaxation, there's plenty to do, especially for nature lovers and those who crave peace and quiet, away from the bigger cities in Taiwan.
Brisbane
Although Brisbane is often overlooked as a travel destination in Australia, it is the capital of the state of Queensland, and is the third largest city in Australia. It's a very young and vibrant city with an active nightlife and a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It's a modern and economically thriving city and, if you do have time to visit, it actually has a lot to offer travelers. It has some beautiful scenery, a wonderful warm climate all year long, and is actually one of the fastest growing cities in Australia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Taipei, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Taiwan, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia.
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Hualien Prices
Taiwan PricesBrisbane Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHualien $136Brisbane $154
The average daily cost (per person) in Hualien is $136, while the average daily cost in Brisbane is $154. 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 Hualien and Brisbane in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHualien $60Brisbane $81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHualien $120Brisbane $162
Compare Hotels in Hualien and Brisbane
Looking for a hotel in Hualien or Brisbane? 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: Brisbane Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hualien $29Brisbane $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hualien
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hualien:
- Private Transfer from Hualien Cruise Port to Taipei city hotels: $280
- Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport TPE: $280
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Brisbane:
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Airtrain to the City$9.81
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Go Card$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Brisbane
Also for Brisbane, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Brisbane: $22
- BNE Airport to City | Gold Coast Private Transfer: $40
- Private Arrival Transfer: Brisbane Airport to Hotel: $54
- Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Gold Coast: $55
- Secrets St Lucia Airport Transfer: $58
- Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Sunshine Coast: $59
- Luxury Airport Transfer Gold Coast-Brisbane / Brisbane-Gold Coast: $60
- Brisbane to Brisbane Airport (BNE) - Departure Private Transfer: $84
- Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Brisbane - Arrival Private Transfer: $84
- Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Brisbane hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $85
- NOOSA: Private Transfer to/fro Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY): $96
- UVF Luxury Transfer To Secrets St. Lucia Roundtrip: $100
Is it cheaper to fly into Hualien or Brisbane?
Prices for flights to both Brisbane and Hualien 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 dayHualien $56Brisbane $54
Typical Food Prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Brisbane:
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Hamburger Lunch$5.23
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Cup of Coffee$1.96
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Chinese Food Lunch$8.18
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Ice cream$3.60
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Japanese Meal$14
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Smoothie$4.25
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Japanese Soup$7.52
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Coffee & Muffin$4.58
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Morning Mint Tea$2.29
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Veggie Burger & Chips$9.16
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Bread$1.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Gold Coast: Glow Worms, Sunset & Stargazing with BBQ dinner: $118
- Vertigo Dinner – Dining on the Edge: $165
- Dinner on the Edge with Vertigo Brisbane: $168
- Local Icons Food Tour: $353
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hualien $21Brisbane $24
Tours and Activities in Hualien
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hualien are as follows:
- 2025 Taroko Gorge Tour Excellent Cultural Stories , 8 Hours: $130
- Exclusive Private Taroko Gorge Day Tour with Local English Guide: $121
- Full-Day Private Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City: $139
- Hualien Changhong Bridge SUP Day tour: $85
- Liyu Lake, Sugar Factory, and Ruisui Ranch Tour: $320
- Shuimutin Exclusive SUP Day tour(Hualien to Taitung): $89
- Taroko Gorge, Qingshui Cliffs & Qixingtan Beach Tour from Hualien: $159
- Taroko, Qingshui Cliff, Xincheng Old Street & Qixingtan Day Tour: $80
- Wild ATV Self-driving Experience: $43
Typical Entertainment Prices in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Concert Tickets$13
Tours and Activities in Brisbane
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Brisbane.
- Escape to Coochiemudlo Island: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Tour, Taste & Camel Encounter: $17
- True Crime Tour: $22
- Fortitude Valley Historical Crime Walking Tour: $22
- Winery Tour and Tasting: $23
- Haunted Brisbane CBD Ghost Tour: $26
- Moonlight State Fortitude Valley Crime Tour Crime Tours Australia: $26
- Adventure Theme Scavenger Hunt Experience in Brisbane: $27
- Solve a Detective Case in a themed adventure: $31
- Our Finest Hour An Escape Hunt Experience: $32
- Blackbeard's Treasure - An Escape Hunt Experience: $32
- Alice In Puzzleland an Escape Hunt Brisbane Experience: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHualien $15Brisbane $50
Typical Alcohol Prices in Brisbane
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Brisbane:
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Evening at the Bar$9.81
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Sixpack of Beer$9.16
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Guiness Beer$5.56
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Sixpack of Beer$8.50
Sample the Local Flavors in Brisbane
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Brisbane:
- XXXX Brewery Tour: $25
- Hop on Hop off Brewery Adventure : $66
- Island Pub Crawl with Lunch and High Speed Boat Tour in Brisbane : $101
- Afternoon Brisbane Half-Day Brewery Tour: $107
- Hop on Hop off Wine tasting tour to Tamborine Mountain: $110
- Island Pub Crawl with Lunch and High-Speed Boat: $115
- Hinterland Heritage Wine Tour : $134
- Brisbane Brewery Full Day Tour with Lunch: $140
- Gold Coast Full Day Brewery Tour: $140
- Deluxe Wine Tour to Tamborine Mountain, includes two course lunch: $148
- Tamborine Wine & Distillery Tour + 2 Course Lunch: $165
- Mount Tamborine Wine Tasting Tour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast: $168
When comparing the travel costs between Hualien and Brisbane, we can see that Brisbane 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 Hualien is in Asia and Brisbane 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 Hualien Expensive? and Is Brisbane Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hualien or Brisbane?
Brisbane has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Hualien. When comparing the sizes of Hualien and Brisbane, 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.