Which place is cheaper, Xi'an or Addis Ababa?
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 Addis Ababa or Xi'an?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Xi'an, 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: Addis Ababa or Xi'an?
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and also the nation's largest when ranked by its population of over three million. There are also more than 120 international missions and embassies in Addis Ababa, making the city a hub for international diplomacy concerning Africa. Other draws include its thriving marketplaces, spicy food, and rich coffee.
Xi'an
Xi'an is an ancient city in the Shaanxi Province in China. Today it is most notable as the location of the Terracotta Warriors, but for visitors who choose to linger, there is so much more to see and do in the area. The city itself is more than 3,000 years old and for about one thousand years, through 13 dynasties and 73 emperors, it was the capital. Because of its rich history there are many historical ruins and a strong culture in the city. Today the city is a pleasant place to visit, although much of it's influence and power has dwindled. The city has both cosmopolitan and modern areas as well as historic and culturally rich areas. The neighborhoods are diverse and by exploring the city in depth you can learn a little more about what China really has to offer.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.
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Addis Ababa Prices
Ethiopia PricesXi'an Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $35Xi'an $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $35, while the average daily cost in Xi'an is $103. 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 Addis Ababa and Xi'an in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAddis Ababa $19Xi'an $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $38Xi'an $120
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Xi'an
Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Xi'an? 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: Addis Ababa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Addis Ababa $3.40Xi'an $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa
Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
- Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $49
- Addis Ababa Airport pickup and Transfer: $34
- Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $17
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $40
- City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $35
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
- Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $152
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xi'an
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Xi'an:
- Xi'an Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 40 pax: $300
- Xian Terracotta Warriors and City Wall Tour with Airport Transfer: $224
- Essential Xian Tour with Airport Train Station or Hotel Transfer: $197
- Full-Day Layover Private Tour: Essence of Xi'an With Airport Transfer: $197
- Xian Private Day Tour with Airport Transfer: Terracotta Warriors and City Wall: $186
- Xian Terracotta Warriors Museum Tour with Airport Transfer: $184
- Xian Terracotta Warriors Tour with Airport Transfer: $176
- Xian City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda Tour With Airport Transfer: $176
- Terracotta Warriors Tour with Airport Train Station or Hotel Transfer: $170
- Xi'an Layover: Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum With Airport Transfer: $162
- Terracotta Warriors Museum Tour with Airport Pickup or Drop-off Transfer: $162
- Private Guided Transfer to Terracotta Warriors, City Wall, Small Wild Pagoda: $159
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Xi'an?
Prices for flights to both Xi'an and Addis Ababa 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 dayAddis Ababa $13Xi'an $21
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:
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Slice of Cake$0.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Addis Ababa
For Addis Ababa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food tour in Addis Ababa with airport pick-up.: $56
- Totot Cultural Feast & Rhythm Show With Dinner: $60
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
- Flavors of Ethiopia Explore Traditional Cooking Class : $67
- Ethiopian cooking class: $68
- Yod Abyssinia Cultural Night: Dinner, Music, and Dance: $68
- Private City Tour with Folkloric Dinner: $80
- Addis abeba Full Cooking class.: $90
- Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $90
- Half Day Food Tour Addis Ababa With Airport pickUp And Drop-Off: $90
- Cooking class in Addis Ababa: $95
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $100
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Xi'an
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Xi'an.
- Xi'an Tang Dynasty Show Ticket Optional Dumplings or Royal Dinner: $30
- Xian Tang Dynasty Show -Optional Dumpling Dinner or Royal Banquet: $32
- Skip the Line: Xi'an Tang Dynasty Show Ticket & Dumpling Dinner or Royal Banquet: $32
- Xi'An: Tang Dynasty Show Ticket w/ Transfer or Dinner: $33
- Top 3 Xian Sites to Terracotta Army & Dinner Show w/ Options: $35
- Xi'an Tang Dynasty Music Dance Show or Dinner Show with Transfer: $35
- Xian Food Tour in Muslim Quarter: $36
- Dinner and Show of Tang Dynasty Palace in Xian: $40
- Xi'an Vegetarian Food Tour: $60
- Xi'an Muslim Quarter Walking Food Tour: $61
- Half-day Xi'an Biang Biang Noodles Cooking Class with Spice Market Visit: $65
- Private Xi'an Food Tour: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $3.51Xi'an $35
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- Layover in Addis: Tailored Tours for Transit Passengers: $25
- 4 Hours Addis Ababa Cultural Discovery Tour: $39
- Entoto hill and Mercato Market layover tour: $41
- Half day Addis Ababa Layover city tour: $41
- Addis Ababa DayTours with Hotel/Airport pick up and drop off: $45
- Addis Ababa half day tour: $45
- Pup crawl and nightlife tour in Addis Ababa.: $50
- Explores the Heart of Addis Ababa full day city tour: $50
- Addis Ababa City Tour: $50
- Local Food Open-Air Market, City Tours &More: $52
- Addis Ababa City Tour. : $52
- Addis Ababa highlight city tour: $55
Tours and Activities in Xi'an
Here are a few actual costs in Xi'an for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Group Tour to the Terra-cotta Warriors Museum & Lunch : $65
- Private Half Day Tour to The Terracotta Warriors Museum: $88
- Tang Dynasty Car Tour of Xi an: $266
- Terracotta Army Day Tour with Biangbiang Noodles Making Class: $225
- Terracotta Army Uncovered Tour with Lunch (Small Group): $29
- Xi'an City Half Day Private Tour : $120
- Xi'an Morning Food & Market Tour by TukTuk: $55
- 1 Day Beijing to Xi'an Terracotta Warriors Tour by Air: $779
- 1 Day Xian City Highlights Private Tour: $148
- 1 Day Xian Group Tour: Terracotta Warriors & City Wall: $138
- 1 day The Terracotta Army+Xi'an City Wall+Yongxing Square Mini Group Tour: $106
- 1 day Xi'an Culture and History Discovery Mini Group tour: $112
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $2.90Xi'an $7.18
Sample the Local Flavors in Addis Ababa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Addis Ababa:
- Pub-crawl Tour ( locally crafted beer and wine tasting ): $58
- Night Tour Addis Ababa beer and wine tasting: $65
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Xi'an, we can see that Xi'an is more expensive. And not only is Addis Ababa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Addis Ababa is in Africa and Xi'an is in Asia, 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 Addis Ababa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Addis Ababa 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 Xi'an would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Xi'an than you might in Addis Ababa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Addis Ababa Expensive? and Is Xi'an Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Xi'an?
Xi'an has a larger population, and is about 17% larger than the population of Addis Ababa. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Xi'an, 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.