Xi'an travel guide
Xi'an Travel Budget: Daily Costs & Calculator
Xi’an costs roughly ¥200–350 (AU$42–75) per day backpacker-style, ¥550–1,000 (AU$115–210) mid-range and ¥1,500+ for comfort. The Terracotta Army (¥120) is the only expensive sight; street food keeps eating costs among China’s lowest.
How expensive is Xi’an?
Cheaper than Beijing or Shanghai across the board. Only two sights cost real money — the Terracotta Army (¥120) and Mount Hua (entry plus cable cars can reach ¥300–400) — while the Muslim Quarter feeds you magnificently for under ¥40 a meal. As a rule of thumb, ¥100 is about AU$21.
Xi’an trip budget calculator
Pick your travel style and trip length — the calculator estimates your total budget in USD using real 2026 Xi’an prices.
Excludes international flights. Lodging is per room (shared by travellers); other costs are per person. Prices in USD, converted from Chinese yuan (CNY) at typical 2026 rates.
Daily costs by style
| Backpacker | ¥200–350 / day (~AU$42–75): dorm ¥60–110, street-food meals, metro and buses, one paid sight a day |
|---|---|
| Mid-range | ¥550–1,000 / day (~AU$115–210): 3–4-star double ¥300–600, restaurant meals plus snack crawls, all sights, Didi at will |
| Comfort | ¥1,500+ / day (~AU$315+): five-star from ¥800, private drivers for the warriors and Mount Hua |
What things cost
Sights: Terracotta Army ¥120, City Wall ¥54 (bike ~¥45 extra), Big Wild Goose Pagoda ~¥40 to climb, Shaanxi History Museum free (reserve), Bell or Drum Tower ~¥30 each. Food: roujiamo ¥10–15, biangbiang noodles ¥15–25, paomo ¥30–40, skewers ¥2–5 each, pomegranate juice ¥10–15. Transport: metro ¥2–8, Didi across town ¥15–30, airport metro/bus ¥8–25, high-speed train to Beijing from ~¥515, to Chengdu from ~¥263.
Money tips
Pay by Alipay or WeChat Pay; cash as backup in the markets. Winter (except Chinese New Year) discounts hotels by 30–40%. The warriors shuttle from the railway area costs a few yuan versus ¥150+ for a hired car — fine if you are up early. Skip the tourist shows priced at ¥200+ and spend the evening in the Muslim Quarter instead; it is free and far more memorable.
Also in China
Xi’an budget — FAQs
How much money do I need per day in Xi’an?
Around ¥200–350 (AU$42–75) covers a dorm, street food and one paid sight; ¥550–1,000 (AU$115–210) is comfortable mid-range. Xi’an is the cheapest of China’s big four tourist cities.
Is the Terracotta Army expensive?
¥120 entry — the priciest sight in Xi’an but worth it. Add ~¥20–40 for shuttle or share a Didi (~¥150 each way from the centre). Everything else in town is ¥55 or less.
Last reviewed and updated: by the AmazingAsia editorial team. See our editorial policy.