Which place is cheaper, Xiamen or Hoi An?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hoi An or Xiamen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Hoi An and Xiamen. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Hoi An or Xiamen?
Hoi An
Located just south of the city of Da Nang, Hoi An is famous for it's beautiful old town. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, since its designation as a World Heritage Site in 1999, mass tourism has grown and the city has felt the growing pains. Most of the homes and shops in the old town are now used for commercial purposes. The city is still quaint, but the old town is lined with tailor shops, souvenir stores, and restaurants. Foreigners are required to purchase a ticket to enter the old town of Hoi An (120,000 VND, about $5).
Xiamen
Xiamen is a coastal city in the Fujian Province of China and has been a major port city and gateway to China for centuries. This vibrant and modern city was named the most livable city in the world in 2002 and one of the first cities to be named a Special Economic Zone. Xiamen is best known for being home to Gulangyu Island, a beautiful island full of historic colonial buildings and lovely walking paths.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Vietnam, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Vietnam, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, and The Best Historical Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHoi An $46Xiamen $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Hoi An is $46, while the average daily cost in Xiamen is $64. 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 Hoi An and Xiamen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHoi An $21Xiamen $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHoi An $42Xiamen $60
Compare Hotels in Hoi An and Xiamen
Looking for a hotel in Hoi An or Xiamen? 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: Hoi An Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hoi An $19Xiamen $5.98
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hoi An
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Hoi An are as follows:
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Taxi From Danang to Hoi An$8.79
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Bus From Hoi An Bus Station to Town$0.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hoi An
Also for Hoi An, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tour/transfer to My Son sanctuary from Da Nang/HoiAn: $32
- Private transfer to Da Nang Hotels or to Hoi An City: $4.10
- Private Transfer To My Son Sanctuary From Hoi An or Da Nang: $45
- Private Transfer To Marble Mountains and My Son HolyLand: $76
- Private Transfer From Hue To Hoi An With A Sightseeing Tour: $39
- My Son Sanctuary & Hai Van Pass: Transfer Hoi An to/from Hue: $70
- Lady Buddha in Monkey Mountain: Transfer Hue to/from Hoi An: $57
- Hue: Transfer to/from Hoi An by Private Car via Hai Van Pass: $47
- Hue: Transfer to/from Airport, Hoi An, Danang by Private Car: $10
- Hue Private Transfer to Hoi An Via HaiVan Pass & Sightseeing: $41
- HoiAn city private trip with Guide, Lunch, tickets &Transfer: $91
- Hoi An:Private transfer To/From Hue with Sightseeing: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xiamen
Also for Xiamen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Xiamen North Railway Station Private Transfer from City Area: $19
- Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Chauffeur Service ,Xiamen Airport Transfer: $47
- Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Private Transfer to Local Railway Station : $19
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Transfers in Xiamen City: $12
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Arrival Transfer to City Area: $30
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng Tulou and Hekeng Hakka Tulou from Xiamen City : $98
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Hongkeng Tulou from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Village: $115
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster : $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hua’an Earth Building: $89
- Private Transfer between Riyue Gu Hotspring Resort and Xiamen City : $32
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen and Anxi : $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Hoi An or Xiamen?
Prices for flights to both Xiamen and Hoi An 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 dayHoi An $9.95Xiamen $26
Typical Food Prices in Hoi An
For Hoi An, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner at Bamboo Village (for Two)$14
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$3.99
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$7.99
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hoi An
For Hoi An, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bamboo Basket Boat Tour with Optional Lunch/Dinner: $14
- Hoi An:Traditional Cooking Class with Cam Thanh Local Family: $21
- Traditional Cooking Class & meal w Cam Thanh Family: $21
- Hoi An/Da Nang: Vietnamese Cooking Class with Transportation: $22
- From Cooking Class at Organic Farm: $22
- Mad Monkey Hoi An Cooking Class & Bamboo Boats: $23
- Traditional Vietnamese Cooking Class in Leina Cookery: $23
- Evening Tra Que Cooking Class with Locals in Herb Village: $24
- Hoi An : Basket Boat Ride & Cooking Class with Market Tour: $24
- Vietnamese Cooking Class with Local Family in Hoi An: $24
- Cooking Class with Traditional Vietnamese Meals: $24
- Hoi An : Cooking Class W Optional Basket Boat & Market Tour: $25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hoi An $13Xiamen $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hoi An
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Hoi An's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Golf (for Two)$148
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Short Boat Ride$1.60
Tours and Activities in Hoi An
For Hoi An, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3-Hour Sunrise or Sunset Photography Tour in Hoi An: $59
- Amazing My Son Sunset & River Cruise Tour From Hoi An/DaNang: $27
- Amazing My Son Sunset Tour With Banh My & Cruise By Group: $28
- BUFFALO RIDING ADVENTURE AND BASKET BOAT TOUR: $28
- Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge Private Tour: $120
- Basket Boat Experience: $13
- Big Experiences Water Wheel Tour - Tra Que Island: $56
- Bike and Bite Tour: $42
- Cam Thanh Bike Tour from Hoi An: $86
- Cam Thanh Coconut Forest Basket Boat Tour by Private Car: $13
- Cam Thanh Coconut Jungle Eco Tour From Hoi An: $30
- Cham Island - Snorkeling Tour from Hoi An/DaNang: $38
Tours and Activities in Xiamen
For Xiamen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Fujian Tulou Private Day Tour to World Heritage Site Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster: $178
- Xiamen Private One Day Tailor Made Tour with Gulangyu and City Highlights : $176
- 1-Day Xiamen City Highlights and Gulangyu Island Private Tour: $244
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Shore Excursion Tour in Your Way: $121
- 4-hour Xiamen Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $113
- A Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
- Day Tour to Admire the Panorama of Gulangyu Island and Visit the Precious Birds: $110
- Dongshan Island Highlights Full-Day Private Tour: $232
- Flexible Private Half-Day Tour to Visit the Top Attraction Xiamen Yuanbo Garden: $110
- Flexible Private Xiamen Layover Tour with Meal: $176
- Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour to Experience Xiamen Botanical Garden: $105
- Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour with Meal Option: $109
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHoi An $9.06Xiamen $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hoi An
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Hoi An are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$9.59
Sample the Local Flavors in Hoi An
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Hoi An:
- Pub Crawl by Bus with Shots at Each Bar: $8.21
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hoi An and Xiamen, we can see that Xiamen is more expensive. And not only is Hoi An much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hoi An would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hoi 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 Xiamen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Xiamen than you might in Hoi An.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hoi An Expensive? and Is Xiamen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hoi An or Xiamen?
Xiamen has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Hoi An. When comparing the sizes of Hoi An and Xiamen, 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.
When is the best time to visit Hoi An or Xiamen?
Xiamen has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Hoi An experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Hoi An or Xiamen in the Summer?
Both Xiamen and Hoi An are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hoi An throughout the year.
In July, Hoi An is generally around the same temperature as Xiamen. Daily temperatures in Hoi An average around 29°C (85°F), and Xiamen fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Xiamen. In July, Hoi An usually receives less rain than Xiamen. Hoi An gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain each month for the summer. The dry season in Hoi An is February to July. The rainy season in Hoi An is September to January.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHoi An 29°C (85°F)Xiamen 30°C (86°F)
Should I visit Hoi An or Xiamen in the Autumn?
Both Xiamen and Hoi An during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hoi An because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Hoi An is around the same temperature as Xiamen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hoi An averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Xiamen fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Hoi An. Hoi An usually gets more rain in October than Xiamen. Hoi An gets 613 mm (24.1 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHoi An 25°C (78°F)Xiamen 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Hoi An or Xiamen in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Hoi An and Xiamen. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hoi An year-round.
In the winter, Hoi An is much warmer than Xiamen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hoi An in January average around 22°C (71°F), and Xiamen averages at about 14°C (58°F).
Hoi An gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Hoi An usually receives more rain than Xiamen. Hoi An gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the winter. February to July in Hoi An is the dry season. Also, September to January is the rainy season in Hoi An.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHoi An 22°C (71°F)Xiamen 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Hoi An or Xiamen in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Hoi An as well as Xiamen. Hoi An attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Hoi An is generally a little warmer than Xiamen. Daily temperatures in Hoi An average around 26°C (80°F), and Xiamen fluctuates around 20°C (69°F).
It's quite rainy in Xiamen. Hoi An usually gets less rain in April than Xiamen. Hoi An gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHoi An 26°C (80°F)Xiamen 20°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Xiamen and Hoi An
| Hoi An | Xiamen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (71°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (85°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 331 mm (13 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 613 mm (24.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (76°F) | 376 mm (14.8 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 223 mm (8.8 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
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.