Which place is cheaper, Xi'an or Doha?
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 Doha or Xi'an?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and Xi'an can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Doha or Xi'an?
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.
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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Doha Prices
Qatar PricesXi'an Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDoha $245Xi'an $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $245, while the average daily cost in Xi'an is $112. 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 Doha and Xi'an in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDoha $120Xi'an $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDoha $240Xi'an $130
Compare Hotels in Doha and Xi'an
Looking for a hotel in Doha 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: Doha Hotel Prices and Xi'an Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Doha $23Xi'an $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
- Airport Transfer TO or FROM Hammad International Airport: $39
- Airport Transfer: Doha Airport DOH to Doha by Luxury Van: $126
- CO2-Offset | RoundTrip Transfer from DOH Airport to Doha/West Bay: $194
- Departure Transfer From Doha City: $15
- Departure Transfer From West Bay / Pearl Qatar: $25
- Departure Transfer from Lusail: $27
- Departure Transfer: Doha to Hamad Airport DOH by Luxury Van: $126
- Doha Airport Arrival Departure Transfer to Doha City and Hotel: $55
- Doha Airport Chauffeur Transfer One Way: $35
- Doha Airport Transfers Taxi: $30
- Doha Attractions -4 Hour City Tour & Transfer from Hotel/Airport: $70
- Doha Desert Horse Riding: 2-Hour Ride & Private Transfer: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xi'an
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Xi'an:
- 1-Day Xi'an Layover Tour: Terracotta Army with Round Airport transfers(XIY): $100
- 1-way Private Transfer: Xi'an City Hotel to Airport/Train Station: $55
- 2-Day Customized Private Tour With Transfer in Historical Xi'an: $269
- All-Inclusive: Private Terracotta Warriors Transfer + Ticket: $85
- Arrival Transfer Xi'an Xianyang International Airport to Hotel: $35
- Bullet Train Station Transfer Service: $31
- Departure Transfer Hotel to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport: $61
- From Xian: Terracotta Army and City Wall Tour with Airport Transfer: $245
- Full-Day Layover Private Tour: Essence of Xi'an With Airport Transfer: $229
- Mt. Huashan Private Roundtrip Transfer with Driver's Tickets Help: $113
- Private Airport Transfer: Xi'an Hotel to Xianyang International Airport: $29
- Private Arrival Transfer Xi'an Railway Stations to Hotel: $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or Xi'an?
Prices for flights to both Xi'an and Doha 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 dayDoha $106Xi'an $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
- Traditional Sunset Dhow Cruise Tour with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $25
- Traditional Dhow Cruise Dinner with BBQ Buffet & Transfers: $26
- Starlight Dhow Cruise Dinner Experience on Doha Waterfront: $34
- Traditional Arabian Dhow Cruise with Sunset and Skyline Dinner: $40
- Moonlight on Marina Traditional Dhow Cruise With Optional Dinner: $42
- Traditional Dhow Cruise Tour with Dinner on board: $50
- Sunset Dinner Cruise in Doha Bay A Traditional Dhow Experience: $55
- Qatar Desert Safari Tour with Bedouin Camp Lunch or Dinner: $130
- Doha Desert Safari: Sunset Dune Bashing Camp Access & Dinner: $135
- Overnight Private Desert Safari with Buffet Dinner and Camel Ride: $149
- 5-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner: $158
- Full Day Desert Safari in Qatar with Lunch/Dinner by sea side: $159
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：City Wall Multi-Entry or Night Food Tour with Show: $21
- 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 Show Ticket Optional Dumplings or Royal Dinner: $37
- Tang Dynasty Royal Show Optinal Dinner With Round-trip Transfers: $38
- Skip The Line Xi'an Tang Dynasty Show Or Dinner With Transfer: $39
- Xi'an: Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show with Dinner Option: $40
- Dinner and Show of Tang Dynasty Palace in Xian: $40
- Tang Dynasty Dinner Show with Private transfer: $55
- Xi'an Tang Dynasty Show Ticket with Optional Dinner: $57
- Xi’an: Market Tour and Cooking Class with Local Family: $59
- Xi'an Vegetarian Food Tour: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Doha $18Xi'an $38
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Museum of Islamic Art Doha Standard Entry Ticket: $20
- Dhow Boat Cruise with Sun Set at Al Safliya Island: $20
- National Museum Ticket at Qatar: $23
- 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum ticket | Qatar: $23
- Doha City Sightseeing Tour To All Main Attractions: $29
- Doha 4 Hours City Tour with Licensed Tour Guide: $29
- Guided City Tour with Airport and Hotel Pickup: $29
- Half Day Desert Safari with Camel Ride and Inland Sea Tour: $29
- Explore Doha Souq Waqif Katara Cultural Village Pearl Island Tour: $30
- Moonlight on The Gulf A Doha Dhow Cruise Adventure: $30
- Doha Sunset & Moonlight Dhow Cruise – Land and Sea Experience: $35
- Guided City Tour – Culture, Skyline & Top Attractions: $35
Tours and Activities in Xi'an
Here are a few actual costs in Xi'an for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Xi'an: Daci'en Temple(Great Wild Goose Pagoda) E-ticket: $9.99
- Xi'an Charter Service: Terracotta Warriors & City Tours: $13
- Xi'an: City Wall & Old Town Walking Tour w/ 10+ Food Tasting: $14
- Xi’an City Wall – E-Ticket: $15
- Xi'an: Xi’an City Wall South Gate(Yongningmen) Entry Ticket: $15
- Shaanxi History Museum Admission Tickets: $15
- Xi'an: City Wall Moat Smart Boat Tour: $17
- Huaqing Palace Adult Ticket[Direct Subway Access]: $18
- Xian: Terracotta Army Ticket & Guided Bus Tour with Options: $20
- Morning Tour to Terracotta Warriors Museum with Lunch: $20
- Terracotta Army, Big Wild Goose Pagoda&City Wall Full Day Tour: $20
- Xi'an: Exclusive Terracotta Army Tour & Local Family Lunch: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDoha $15Xi'an $7.82
Sample the Local Flavors in Xi'an
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Xi'an:
- Xi'an Bar Crawl: Drink, Gaming, Snacks & Meet with Locals: $29
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Doha and Xi'an, we can see that Doha is more expensive. And not only is Xi'an much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Doha is in Middle East 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 Doha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Doha 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 Doha Expensive? and Is Xi'an Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Doha or Xi'an?
Xi'an has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Doha. When comparing the sizes of Doha 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.