Which place is cheaper, Xi'an or Alexandria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Alexandria or Xi'an?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Alexandria and Xi'an can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Alexandria or Xi'an?
Alexandria
There are few cities in the world with a history as rich, deep, tragic and fascinating than Alexandria, Egypt. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Egypt's second largest city has seen the most extreme ups and extreme downs. The city watched the beautiful and iconic Alexandria Lighthouse crumble to the ground after several natural disasters. The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground. These structures may be physically gone, but the history remains. Alexandria is a city with an ancient allure that draws in visitors from all over the world. Alexandria is a survivor city ready for a comeback.
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 Luxury Tours to Egypt, The Best Budget Tours to Egypt, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlexandria $16Xi'an $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Alexandria is $16, while the average daily cost in Xi'an is $94. 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 Alexandria and Xi'an in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlexandria $7.91Xi'an $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlexandria $16Xi'an $120
Compare Hotels in Alexandria and Xi'an
Looking for a hotel in Alexandria 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: Alexandria Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Alexandria $2.46Xi'an $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Alexandria
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Alexandria:
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Taxi to Train Station$0.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alexandria
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alexandria:
- Alexandria Airport Arrival Transfer: $24
- Alexandria Airport to Alexandria - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $53
- Pick Up Transfers From Alexandria Borg Al Arab Airport To Cairo: $130
- Private One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo and Giza Hotels: $68
- Private Pick Up Transfers From Alexandria To Cairo: $130
- Private Transfer from 6 of October City to El Cairo (CAI) Airport: $53
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Cairo Int Airport (CAI): $72
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo : $74
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo in Egypt or vice versa: $160
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo/Giza Hotels or Cairo./Giza to Alexandr: $65
- Private transfer from Alexandria to Luxor: $260
- Private transfer from Luxor to Alexandria: $247
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xi'an
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Xi'an:
- Xi’an Xianyang International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area: $29
- 1-Day Xi'an Layover Tour: Terracotta Army with Round Airport transfers(XIY): $100
- 2-Day Customized Private Tour With Transfer in Historical Xi'an: $231
- Airport Transfer] Xi'an Airport Xi'an City Transfer High reputation for service! : $27
- Bullet Train Station Transfer Service: $31
- Essential Xian Tour with Airport Train Station or Hotel Transfer: $197
- Mt. Hua Entrance Ticket w/ Shuttle Bus&Cable Car&Private Transfer: $224
- One Day Private Xian Tour to Terracotta Warriors with Airport Transfers: $149
- One-Way Airport Transfer From Xi'an Xianyang International Airport to Xi'an Hotel: $75
- Private Airport Transfer:Xi'an Xianyang International Airport to Xi'an Hotel: $29
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Xi'an Railway Station to Xi'an City Hotel: $56
- Private Arrival Transfer:Xi'an Xianyang International Airport(XIY) to City Hotel: $83
Is it cheaper to fly into Alexandria or Xi'an?
Prices for flights to both Xi'an and Alexandria 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 dayAlexandria $6.39Xi'an $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alexandria
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alexandria.
- Half-Day Food Tour in Alexandria, Egypt: $35
- Food Tour in Alexandria for Lunch or Dinner in The Best Restaurants: $45
- From Giza: Sound&light show, Giza pyramids and Dinner on the Nile: $94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Xi'an
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Xi'an.
- Skip the Line: Xi'an Tang Dynasty Show Ticket & Dumpling Dinner or Royal Banquet: $32
- Xian Muslim Quarter: 2-Hour Small Group Walking Food Tour : $36
- Dinner and Show of Tang Dynasty Palace in Xian: $40
- Private Home Cooking Class:Dumpling Cooking Class Tour in Xi'an: $50
- Xi'an Twilight Sightseeing and Food Tour: $51
- Tang Dynasty Dinner Show with Private transfer: $55
- Half-day Xi'an Biang Biang Noodles Cooking Class with Spice Market Visit: $65
- Private Xi'an Food Tour: $65
- Private Old Xi'an Authentic Local Beer Dinner Tour: $68
- Xi'an Evening Food Tour by TukTuk: $69
- 4 Hours Food Tours in Xi'an: $72
- Authentic Old Xi'an Back Street Food Tour : $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alexandria $3.46Xi'an $35
Tours and Activities in Alexandria
Here are a few actual costs in Alexandria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- The Ancient Roman Theater Entry Ticket: $3.80
- Pompey's Pillar Entry Ticket: $3.80
- Alexandria Library Entry Tickets With Pickup and Drop Off: $3.80
- Catacomb Of Kom El-Shoqafa Entry Tickets : $3.80
- Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa Entry Tickets: $4.41
- Skip The Line Entry Ticket to Pompey's Pillar in Alexandria: $4.41
- Skip The Line Entry Ticket to the Roman Theater in Alexandria: $4.41
- Skip the Line Tickets for The Roman Theater in Alexandria: $6.16
- Skip the Line Tickets for The Catacomb of Kom eL Shoqafa: $6.16
- Qaitbay Citadel Entry Tickets: $6.16
- Citadel of Qaitbay Entry Ticket with Pick up and Drop Off : $14
- Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa Entry Ticket with Pick and Drop Off: $14
Tours and Activities in Xi'an
Here are a few actual costs in Xi'an for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Xi'an Virtual Tour: Emperor Qin Shi Huang and His Terracotta Army: $15
- 6 Hour Bus Tour: From Xi'an to Terra Cotta Warriors Museum Round Trip (8:30am): $20
- Terra-cotta Warriors Entrance Ticket with Optional Guided Service: $26
- Terracotta Army Ticket: $28
- Terracotta Army Tickets Booking: $28
- Terracotta Warriors Tickets Booking: $28
- Terracotta Army Tickets Booking: $28
- Terracotta Warriors 5-Hour Private Tour w/ Pickup: $30
- Group Bus Tour to Terracotta Warriors with Hotel Pickup & Lunch: $35
- Tang Dynasty Palace Show Tickets Booking: $37
- Half Day Walking Tour around Xi'an Peaceful Old Downtown Area: $38
- Xi'an Religions Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlexandria $1.33Xi'an $7.20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alexandria and Xi'an, we can see that Xi'an is more expensive. And not only is Alexandria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Alexandria 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 Alexandria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alexandria 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 Alexandria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Alexandria Expensive? and Is Xi'an Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Alexandria or Xi'an?
Alexandria has a larger population, and is about 18% larger than the population of Xi'an. When comparing the sizes of Alexandria 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.