Which place is cheaper, Napier 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 Napier?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hualien or Napier, 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 Napier?
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.
Napier
Napier is city on the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Hawke's Bay Region, a famous area for wine vineyards. Napier has a population of 61,000 people and is known for its Art Deco architecture and of course, wine.
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 Contiki Tours to New Zealand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand.
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Hualien Prices
Taiwan PricesNapier Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHualien $136Napier $193
The average daily cost (per person) in Hualien is $136, while the average daily cost in Napier is $193. 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 Napier in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHualien $60Napier $101
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHualien $120Napier $202
Compare Hotels in Hualien and Napier
Looking for a hotel in Hualien or Napier? 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: Napier Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hualien $29Napier $30
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Hualien or Napier?
Prices for flights to both Napier 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 $56Napier $63
Typical Food Prices in Napier
For Napier, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casural Lunch$8.28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Napier
For Napier, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Taste Hawke's Bay - A Sweet treat food Tour: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hualien $21Napier $27
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 Napier
For Napier, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discover Napier Earthquake: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier Native Icons Tour: $39
- Hawke's Bay: Self Guided Coast to Vineyards Cycle Tour: $46
- Coast to Vineyards Self-Guided Scenic Cycle Tour from Napier: $48
- Shore Excursion Cycle Winery Tour - Half Day, self-guided: $51
- Shore excursion - Napier sight seeing/Art Deco Tour, : $53
- Cape Kidnappers Gannet, Nature & Sightseeing Tour: $57
- Napier Discovery Tour: $60
- Small group - Napier City & Art Deco Tour, 2 hours: $65
- Cape Coast Winery Tour on Pedal or E-Bikes: $67
- Cape Winery Cycle Tour - 6 wineries, self-guided: $69
- Shore Excursion: 4-Hour Discover Hawkes Bay and Napier Tour: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHualien $15Napier $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Napier
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Napier are as follows:
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Wine$12
Sample the Local Flavors in Napier
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Napier:
- Art-Deco + Te Mata Peak+ Garden Walk + Wine Tasting: $86
- Deco Napier, Te Mata Peak, Garden Walk and Wine Tasting Tour: $89
- Half Day Small-Group Hawkes Bay Wine Tour: $101
- Wine Tasting Tour in Napier Region: $104
- Napier Cruise Excursion Art Deco Tour and Wine Tasting: $107
- From Hawke's Bay Small Group Wine Tour: $113
- Napier Art Deco & Distillery Tour with Tastings: $116
- Art Deco Heritage & Gin Distillery Tour with Tasting: $126
- Hawkes Bay - Scenic, luncheon, wine Tour: $131
- Wine Tour and Tastings in Hawkes Bay : $146
- Craggy Range Deluxe - Hawke's Bay Wine Tour : $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hualien and Napier, we can see that Napier is more expensive. And not only is Hualien much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hualien is in Asia and Napier 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 Hualien would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hualien 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 Napier would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Napier than you might in Hualien.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hualien Expensive? and Is Napier Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hualien or Napier?
Hualien has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Napier. When comparing the sizes of Hualien and Napier, 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.