Which place is cheaper, Xi'an or Eilat?
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 Eilat or Xi'an?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Eilat 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: Eilat or Xi'an?
Eilat
Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.
Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.
Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.
Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
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 Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.
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Eilat Prices
Israel PricesXi'an Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEilat $203Xi'an $110
The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $203, while the average daily cost in Xi'an is $110. 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 Eilat and Xi'an in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEilat $114Xi'an $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEilat $228Xi'an $128
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Xi'an
Looking for a hotel in Eilat 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: Eilat Hotel Prices and Xi'an Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eilat $16Xi'an $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:
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Local Bus$4.57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xi'an
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Xi'an:
- seat in coach Terracotta army within 3rd ring transfers W lunch: $70
- Xianyang/Xi'An to Xianyang Airport(XIY)-Deparure Private Transfer: $48
- Xianyang/Xi'An to Xianyang Airport XIY-Departure Private Transfer: $28
- Xianyang Airport(XIY) to Xianyang/Xi'An -Arrival Private Transfer: $48
- Xianyang Airport(XIY) to Xianyang/Xi'An -Arrival Private Transfer: $28
- Xianyang Airport XIY to Xianyang/Xi'An-Roundtrip Private Transfer: $96
- Xian: Terracotta Army Ticket （Guided & Transfer Tour Option）: $97
- Xian Xianyang International Airport (XIY) Private Departure Transfer: $40
- Xian Xianyang International Airport (XIY) Private Arrival Transfer: $40
- Xian Terracotta Warriors and City Wall Tour with Airport Transfer: $254
- Xian Terracotta Warriors Tour with Airport Transfer: $216
- Xian Terracotta Warriors Museum Tour with Airport Transfer: $214
Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Xi'an?
Prices for flights to both Xi'an and Eilat 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 dayEilat $75Xi'an $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Eilat
For Eilat, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Feast at the Camel Ranch in Eilat with Dinner Alcohol Event: $95
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
- Xian Tang Dynasty Show -Optional Dumpling Dinner or Royal Banquet: $38
- Tang Dynasty Royal Show Optinal Dinner With Round-trip Transfers: $38
- Skip The Line Xi'an Tang Dynasty Show Or Dinner With Transfer: $39
- Dinner and Show of Tang Dynasty Palace in Xian: $40
- Xi'an: Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show with Dinner Option: $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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eilat $20Xi'an $38
Tours and Activities in Eilat
For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Glass Bottom Boat Cruise in Eilat: $22
- Eilat Mountains: Sunset Jeep Adventure to Mount Joash: $63
- Summer Night Guided Tour with Picnic in the Mountains: $63
- Morning Jeep Tour of Eilat Mountains: $63
- Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $75
- Summer night jeep tour in Eilat mountains: $75
- From Red Canyon Guided Tour: $78
- From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $78
- Timna park Jeep tour adventure: $98
- Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
- Private Scuba Diving Tour with Transportation and Guide: $220
- Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $289
Tours and Activities in Xi'an
Here are a few actual costs in Xi'an for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- #1 Bestselling Private Terracotta Army Tours + Customized Xian Tours: $108
- 1 Day Beijing to Xi'an Terracotta Warriors Tour by Air: $779
- 1 day Adventure Tour of Mount Hua in Xi'an: $85
- 1 day Xi'an Culture and History Discovery Mini Group tour: $112
- 1-Day Private Tour: Mount Huashan With the Lunch from Xi'an: $190
- 1-Day Xi'an City Highlights and Hanyangling Museum Private Tour: $100
- 1-Day Xi'an Terracotta Warriors Museum and Banpo Neolithic Village Museum Tour: $100
- 1-Day Xi'an Tour with Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi History Museum and City Wall: $100
- 2 Day Private Terracotta Warriors and Mount Huashan Tour: $265
- 2 Days Xi'an City Tour: $292
- 2 Days Xian Small Group Tour: Terracotta Army, Hanyangling: $228
- 2-Day Highlights Xi'an Private Tour Combo Package: Terracotta Warriors and City Sightseeing: $240
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEilat $33Xi'an $7.73
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 Eilat and Xi'an, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Xi'an much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat 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 Eilat Expensive? and Is Xi'an Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Eilat or Xi'an?
Xi'an has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Eilat. When comparing the sizes of Eilat 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.