A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Antalya vs. Xi'an for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Antalya or Xi'an?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Antalya or Xi'an? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Antalya or Xi'an?

Antalya

Antalya is the largest city along Turkey's Mediterranean coast and the eighth largest city in the country with over one million people in the metropolitan area. The city dates back to about 200 BC when it was settled by the Attalid Dynasty of Pergamon and soon conquered by the Romans. The city was ruled by several different groups and most recently was transferred to Italian suzerainty following World War I. It became part of Turkey following the War of Independence. The city has seen an influx of development in recent years and it has grown into a tourism mecca with more than 12 million visitors in 2014.

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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Anzac Day Tours in Turkey, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Xi'an or Antalya?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Antalya is $156, while the average daily cost in Xi'an is $96. 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 Antalya and Xi'an in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Antalya $52
    Xi'an $61
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Antalya $104
    Xi'an $122
Compare Hotels in Antalya and Xi'an

Looking for a hotel in Antalya 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.

Hotels in Antalya


Hotels in Xian


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: Antalya Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Antalya $104
    Xi'an $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antalya

Also for Antalya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Antalya Airport (AYT) to Turkler Transfer - Economy: $88
  • Antalya Airport (AYT) to Turkler Transfer - TOP VIP Minibus: $133
  • Antalya Airport (AYT) to Turkler Transfer - VIP Minibus: $117
  • Antalya Airport (AYT) to Turkler Transfer - VIP Minivan: $103
  • Pamukkale Tour with 3-meals, Entrance & Transfer from Antalya: $60
  • Private Transfer From Antalya Airport To Titreyengöl / Sorgun: $91
  • ANTALYA:Private Transfer Cappadocia & Antalya City Center: $536
  • AYT - Konyaaltı | Private Transfer Between Antalya Airport: $38
  • Adana Airport Transfers to Adana city Hotels: $104
  • Adana Airport Transfers to Ceyhan Hotels: $104
  • Adana Airport Transfers to Mersin Hotels: $115
  • Adana Airport Transfers to Osmaniye City Hotels: $142

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xi'an

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Xi'an:

  • Xian to Xian Xianyang Airport (XIY) - Departure Private Transfer: $32
  • Xian Xianyang International Airport (XIY) Private Departure Transfer: $40
  • Xian Xianyang International Airport (XIY) Private Arrival Transfer: $40
  • Xian Xianyang Airport (XIY) to Xian City - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
  • Xian Xianyang Airport (XIY) to Xian - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $63
  • Xian Terracotta Warriors and City Wall Tour with Airport Transfer: $224
  • Xian Terracotta Warriors Tour with Airport Transfer: $176
  • Xian Terracotta Warriors Museum Tour with Airport Transfer: $184
  • Xian Highlights Private Tour With Airport Transfer: $195
  • Xian City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda Tour With Airport Transfer: $176
  • Xi’an Xianyang International Airport Private Departure Transfer from City Area : $29
  • Xi’an Terracotta Warriors Private Round-Trip Transfer from City Area : $69

Is it cheaper to fly into Antalya or Xi'an?

Prices for flights to both Xi'an and Antalya 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 day
    Antalya $42
    Xi'an $13

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antalya

For Antalya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Full day trip to Pamukkale from Side with dinner: $64
  • Suluada Island Cruise with Dinner and Sunset: $70

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
  • Xi'an Tang Dynasty Music Dance Show or Dinner Show with Pick-Up: $35
  • Xian Food Tour in Muslim Quarter: $36
  • Dinner and Show of Tang Dynasty Palace in Xian: $40
  • Xi'an Twilight Sightseeing and Food Tour: $51
  • Tang Dynasty Show with Optional Dinner: $51
  • Tang Dynasty Dinner Show with Private transfer: $55
  • 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
  • Private Old Xi'an Authentic Local Beer Dinner Tour: $68

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Antalya $43
    Xi'an $36

Tours and Activities in Antalya

For Antalya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Antalya City Tour Full-Day Boat Tour Cable Car and Waterfall Peerless&Excellent: $7.69
  • Antalya Scavenger Hunt And Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.17
  • Spa and Skin Care Experience with Massage and Drink: $9.00
  • Antalya Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
  • Self-Guided Audio City Tour on Your Phone: $11
  • Antalya Sand Sculpture Museum Admission Ticket: $11
  • Antalya Full Day City Tour - With Waterfalls and Cable Car: $11
  • City Tour, Waterfalls, and Boat Tour with Lunch: $13
  • Antalya/Kemer: Suluada Island Boat Tour with Lunch: $13
  • Turkish Bath Experience with Oil Massage: $13
  • Old Town Harbor Sightseeing Cruise: $16
  • City Tour with Waterfall, Lunch and Cable Car: $16

Tours and Activities in Xi'an

Here are a few actual costs in Xi'an for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • All Inclusive Terracotta Army Group Tour: $110
  • Group Tour to the Terra-cotta Warriors Museum & Lunch : $65
  • Private Half Day Tour to See The Big Wild Goose Pagoda&City Wall:: $185
  • Terracotta Army Day Tour with Biangbiang Noodles Making Class: $225
  • Xi'an Morning Food & Market Tour by TukTuk: $55
  • #1 Bestselling Private Terracotta Army Tours + Customized Xian Tours: $82
  • 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
  • 1 day private tour to Xi'an Terra Cotta Warriors by Metro/Subway: $110
  • 1-Day Private Tour: Mount Huashan With the Lunch from Xi'an: $190

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Antalya $19
    Xi'an $7.35


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Antalya and Xi'an, we can see that Antalya is more expensive. And not only is Xi'an much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Antalya is in Europe 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 Xi'an would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Xi'an 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 Antalya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antalya than you might in Xi'an.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Antalya Expensive? and Is Xi'an Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Antalya or Xi'an?

Xi'an has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Antalya. When comparing the sizes of Antalya 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.