Daily costs
| Typical daily cost | €25-45 / €60-100 |
|---|---|
| Budget level | $ / $$ |
| Trip length | 3 - 5 days recommended |
| Region | Central China |
What things cost
Illustrative planning allowances for Xi'an. These are not verified current prices. Replace these allowances with dated quotes before booking. Check whether each price is per person, room or vehicle.
| Budget hotel (per night, near the wall) | CNY 150–300 ($21–42) |
| Mid-range hotel (per night) | CNY 400–700 ($56–98) |
| Roujiamo, biangbiang noodles, yangrou paomo | CNY 15–45 ($2–6) |
| Restaurant dinner | CNY 80–160 ($11–22) |
| Terracotta Army entry | CNY 120 ($17); Muslim Quarter free |
| City wall bike hire (2h) | CNY 45–90 ($6–13) |
Daily budget by travel style
| Shoestring — CNY 220/day ($31) | Budget hotels, street food, bus 306 to the pits, wall walk. |
| Comfortable — CNY 500/day ($77) | Good hotel, hotpot and dumpling banquets, private car to the pits, shows. |
| Upside — CNY 1,100+/day ($155) | Design hotels by the Bell Tower, private guides, Tang dynasty dinner shows. |
The page-wide figure of €25-45 / €60-100 per day (at the $ / $$ level) matches the 3 - 5 days recommended. Flights are separate.
How to save money in Xi'an
- Eat the Muslim Quarter properly: roujiamo at CNY 15, biangbiang noodles at CNY 25 — Xi'an's food is the cheap attraction.
- Take bus 306 (Tourist 5) to the Terracotta Army for CNY 7 instead of hotel day tours at CNY 300+.
- Walk the wall at ground level or rent bikes for the full 14 km loop — the evening slot costs the same and looks better.
- Skip Golden Week (1-7 October): hotel prices double and the pit halls carry the year's maximum crowd.
Related guides
Ready-made itinerary · Best time to visit · General budget tips · Full Xi'an guide
FAQ
Is Xi'an expensive?
Cheaper than Beijing or Shanghai across the board: CNY 220-500 per day covers hotels, the famous street food and all entries. The Terracotta Army ticket is the fixed cost; food is almost free.
How much does the Terracotta Army cost?
CNY 120 ($17) including the mausoleum annex, with the pit shuttle extra. Weekday mornings in spring or autumn are the calm window; avoid Golden Week entirely.
Is the Muslim Quarter just tourist food?
The main drag is; the side alleys (Dapiyuan, Xiyangshi) are where the locals eat — same dishes, half the price, triple the queue credibility.
What does a 3-5 day trip to Xi'an really cost?
Multiply the daily figure by your days: at the mid-range (€60 per day per person), on-ground costs for 3-5 days land around €200–€500, before international flights. The style table above shows which choices move you between the columns.
How to use these budget figures
These amounts are editorial allowances rather than a survey of current prices. Confirm the currency and whether the charge is per person, room, vehicle or group. Replace accommodation and activity figures with quotes for your dates. Flights, insurance and entry costs must be budgeted separately unless explicitly included.