Which place is cheaper, Tainan City or Taipei?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Taipei or Tainan City?
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 Taipei and Tainan City. 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: Taipei or Tainan City?
Taipei
Few cities in the world are full of more diverse opportunities than the cultural crosshairs city of Taipei. As the capital of Taiwan, this 300-year-old city is the financial, cultural and governmental center of Taiwan. Located in the northern part of the island between the Yangming Mountains and Central Mountains, this city of 2.6 million people is always ready to welcome more visitors.
Tainan City
The oldest city in Taiwan, Tainan was once the nation's capital during imperial times and is today famous for its temples and historic buildings which speak to this distant past. Additionally Tainan has become known for its lively night markets and fantastic snack foods available from a large concentrate of street vendors located throughout the city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Taiwan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Taiwan, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Taiwan, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Taipei.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTaipei $182Tainan City $110
The average daily cost (per person) in Taipei is $182, while the average daily cost in Tainan City is $110. 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 Taipei and Tainan City in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTaipei $145Tainan City $59
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTaipei $290Tainan City $118
Compare Hotels in Taipei and Tainan City
Looking for a hotel in Taipei or Tainan City? 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: Taipei Hotel Prices and Tainan City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Taipei $10Tainan City $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Taipei
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Taipei:
-
Easycard$2.01
-
Easycard$9.27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taipei
Also for Taipei, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Taoyuan Airport (TPE) Return Bus Transfer: $8.65
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Taipei APT-HTL (TSA): $28
- Keelung (Taipei) Cruise Port to Taipei city - Arrival Private Transfer : $38
- Taipei City to Keelung (Taipei) Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Private Transfer：Taoyuan International Airport to Hotel: $40
- Bicycle transfer (Taipei - Hualien) 4 persons: $40
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Taipei APT- HTL (TPE): $41
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Taipei HTL- APT (TPE): $41
- Private Transfer from Taoyuan airport Taiwan to Taipei: $52
- Taipei Arrival Private Transfer: Taoyuan International Airport to Hotel: $55
- Taipei Departure Private Transfer: Hotel to Taoyuan International Airport: $55
- Private Transfer from Taipei Taoyuan Airport to Taichung Port: $57
Is it cheaper to fly into Taipei or Tainan City?
Prices for flights to both Tainan City and Taipei 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 dayTaipei $16Tainan City $39
Typical Food Prices in Taipei
For Taipei, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
EasyCard$15
-
Lunch at The Can$6.80
-
EasyCard$31
-
Lunch$2.94
-
Lunch$1.85
-
Dinner$6.18
-
Lunch$3.56
-
Lunch$4.64
-
Louisa coffee$2.94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Taipei
For Taipei, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Historic Night Market Food Tour with Tastings: $45
- Taipei Food Tour: Yongkang Street for Foodies: $58
- Yansan Night Market Food Tour: $62
- Xiao long bao, Pork thick soup, Bubble milk tea. (Taiwan Cooking Class)-B : $65
- Taipei Food Tour and Colorful Bubble Tea Making: $65
- Taipei Food Tour and Colorful Bubble Tea Making: $70
- Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals: $74
- Xiao Long Bao, Chicken vermicelli with mushroom and sesame oil, Tofu strips salad, Bubble milk tea. Taiwan Traditional Delicacies Experience-A (Taipei Cooking Class): $77
- Xiao Long Bao, Chicken vermicelli with mushroom and sesame oil, Tofu strips salad, Bubble milk tea. Taiwan Traditional Delicacies Experience-A (Taipei Cooking Class): $77
- The Award-Winning PRIVATE Food Tour of The 10 Tastings: $80
- Taiwanese Breakfast Cooking Class in Taipei : $80
- Taipei City: Datong District Food Tour with Food and Drinks: $84
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Taipei $17Tainan City $11
Tours and Activities in Taipei
For Taipei, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Taipei's Origin & Longshan Temple - Taiwan Cultural Tour: $1.00
- Old Town Walking Tour: $1.00
- Chiang Kai-Shek Shilin Residence Ticket: $3.09
- Taipei's Origin & Longshan Temple - Taiwan Cultural Walking Tour: $5.00
- Miramar Ferris Wheel Ticket: $6.18
- Scavenger Hunt and City Exploration Self-Guided Tour: $8.95
- Taipei Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Crash Course for Taipei's History (A) - English Walking Tour: $9.27
- Crash Course for Taipei's History (A) - English Walking Tour : $10
- Taipei Makong Cable Car: Ticket & Combos: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- National Palace Museum E-Ticket: $11
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayTaipei $18Tainan City $5.74
Sample the Local Flavors in Taipei
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Taipei:
- Taipei Nightlife: Taipei Pub Crawls (2 Different Routes): $30
- Private Tour to Yilan Kavalan Whisky Distillery: $130
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Taipei and Tainan City, we can see that Taipei is more expensive. And not only is Tainan City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tainan City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tainan City 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 Taipei would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taipei than you might in Tainan City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Taipei Expensive? and Is Tainan City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Taipei or Tainan City?
Taipei has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Tainan City. When comparing the sizes of Taipei and Tainan City, 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.