A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hualien vs. Nagasaki for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hualien or Nagasaki?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hualien or Nagasaki, 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 Nagasaki?

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.

Nagasaki

Set in a natural harbor on the northwest coast of Japan, Nagasaki is a Japanese city synonymous with a key moment during WWII after suffering an Allied nuclear attack in 1945. While the event is memorialized at the city's Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park, the city in no way is defined by the event. Today it exists as a culturally and religiously diverse port town with a certain charm amongst the terraces of surrounding hills.

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 Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Nagasaki or Hualien?

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

  • Hualien Prices
    Taiwan Prices
    Nagasaki Prices
    Japan Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Hualien $136
    Nagasaki $114

The average daily cost (per person) in Hualien is $136, while the average daily cost in Nagasaki is $114. 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 Nagasaki in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hualien $60
    Nagasaki $49
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hualien $120
    Nagasaki $98
Compare Hotels in Hualien and Nagasaki

Looking for a hotel in Hualien or Nagasaki? 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 Hualien


Hotels in Nagasaki


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: Nagasaki Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hualien $29
    Nagasaki $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hualien

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hualien:

  • Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport TPE: $280
  • Private Transfer from Hualien Cruise Port to Taipei city hotels: $280

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nagasaki

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

  • Private Transfer from Nagasaki Airport (NGS) to Nagasaki Port: $117
  • Nagasaki City to Nagasaki International Airport Private Departure Transfer: $196
  • Nagasaki International Airport to Nagasaki City Private Arrival Transfer: $196

Is it cheaper to fly into Hualien or Nagasaki?

Prices for flights to both Nagasaki 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Hualien $56
    Nagasaki $50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nagasaki

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

  • Cooking with a Local Okaasan at Kominka in Ojika Island Nagasaki: $41
  • Sunset Beach Dinner: $53

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hualien $21
    Nagasaki $23

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

Tours and Activities in Nagasaki

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

  • Nagasaki GPS App Walking Tour Mobile Game: $12
  • Gunkanjima Digital Museum Attraction Ticket: $13
  • Discover Stunning Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
  • Private Ring Craft Experience in Nagasaki: $23
  • Experience farming (rice cultivation) in terraced rice paddies: $38
  • Private Fishing and Dining Experience in Ojika Japan: $45
  • Traditional Kimono Experience in Nagasaki: $55
  • Nagasaki Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $55
  • Terraced Rice Paddy Restaurant and Rural Experience: $61
  • Finding Local Cats and Hidden Alleys of Nagasaki Walking Tour: $62
  • Mochitsuki Rice Cake Making Experience in Ojika Island: $78
  • Nagasaki Gyoza&Soy Sauce Ramen Culinary Experience: $83

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hualien $15
    Nagasaki $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hualien and Nagasaki, we can see that Hualien is more expensive. And not only is Nagasaki much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nagasaki would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nagasaki 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 Hualien would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hualien than you might in Nagasaki.

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


Which is Bigger, Hualien or Nagasaki?

Nagasaki has a larger population, and is about 17% larger than the population of Hualien. When comparing the sizes of Hualien and Nagasaki, 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.