Which place is cheaper, Xiamen or Hue?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hue or Xiamen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hue and Xiamen 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: Hue or Xiamen?
Hue
Hue is a major city in central Vietnam and was historically the imperial capital. The city was the base for the imperial Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled from 1802 to 1945. During the Vietnam War the city faced many challenges. It was conquered by the Viet Cong and held for 24 days. During this time about 3,000 people were slaughtered for their political views, education level, or religious affiliation.
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 Eco Tours in Vietnam, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages 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 dayHue $48Xiamen $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Hue is $48, 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 Hue and Xiamen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHue $23Xiamen $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHue $46Xiamen $60
Compare Hotels in Hue and Xiamen
Looking for a hotel in Hue 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: Hue Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hue $12Xiamen $5.98
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hue
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Hue:
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Cyclo$0.48
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Short Taxi Ride$0.88
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Taxi Ride to Tombs$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hue
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hue:
- Vinh Moc Tunnels & Khe Sanh: Transfer from Hue or Phong Nha: $43
- Transfer from Hue to Hoi An with Private Car: $98
- Transfer from Hue to Hoi An via Hai Van Pass and Golden Bridge: $55
- Transfer from Hue to Hoi An by Motorbike: $67
- Transfer from Hue to Da Nang or Hoi An via Bach Ma National Park: $81
- Transfer from Hue city to Phu Bai airport: $29
- Transfer from Hue airport to Hue city center or vice versa: $7.10
- Transfer from Da Nang or Hoi An to Hue via Hue City Tour: $64
- Transfer between Hue Hotels and Hue Airport: $7.41
- Sightseeing Transfer Between Hue and Hoi An: $102
- Sightseeing Transfer Between Hue and Hoi An: $113
- Roundtrip Transfer to Ba Na Hills - Golden Bridge via Hai Van Pass from Hue City: $85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xiamen
Also for Xiamen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Gaoqi Airport to Xiamen City Hotel: $10
- Private Transfer from Railway Station to Xiamen City: $10
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Transfers in Xiamen City: $12
- Xiamen North Railway Station Private Transfer from City Area: $19
- Private Transfer from Xiamen North Railway Station to City Area: $19
- Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Private Transfer to Local Railway Station : $19
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Arrival Transfer to City Area: $30
- Private Transfer between Riyue Gu Hotspring Resort and Xiamen City : $32
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Departure Transfer from City Areas: $33
- Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Chauffeur Service ,Xiamen Airport Transfer: $47
- Private Transfer From Xiamen City to Quanzhou City: $79
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hua’an Earth Building: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Hue or Xiamen?
Prices for flights to both Xiamen and Hue 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 dayHue $15Xiamen $26
Typical Food Prices in Hue
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hue are as follows:
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River Night Market Dinner (for Two)$7.99
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Two Sugarcane Drinks$0.80
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Quick Lunch (for Two)$2.20
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$4.39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hue
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hue.
- Private Healthy Cooking Class In Ancient Vietnamese Garden: $20
- Hue Walking Street Food Tour: $27
- Walking street food tour: $30
- Hue : Vegetarian Cooking Class with Local Family: $31
- Vietnamese Cooking Class with Local Family in Hue: $31
- Hue Food Tour by Walking or Cyclo or Motorcycle with Driver: $33
- Hue Food Tour by Walking or Cyclo or Motorbike with Driver: $33
- Home Cooking Class in Hue City : $35
- Hue Walking Food Tour: $35
- Best Hue Street Food Tour: $35
- Exploring Hue Food Tour with Local Guide : $35
- Home Vegan/Vegetarian Cooking Class with Local Girl: $35
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hue $11Xiamen $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hue
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hue are as follows:
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Boat Ride$7.79
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Bicycle Rental (One Day)$1.12
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Imperial Citadel Entrance$3.20
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Massage at Institute for the Blind$1.60
Tours and Activities in Hue
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hue are as follows:
- Hue - Bach Ma National Park Group Tour : $300
- Hue City Full-Day Tour with Boat Trip on Perfume River and Lunch: $128
- Hue City: Full-Day Guided Tour - Imperial City - All Inclusive: $59
- Hue Private Guided Tour : Citadel, Royal tombs, Thien Mu pagoda: $57
- 1-day Hue full day city tour: $39
- 12 Hours Experience Different Hue: $179
- 13 Days Private Tour Highlights of Cambodia & Vietnam: $4,731
- 2 Day Motorbike Tour from Hue to Hoi An by Mister T Easy Rider: $160
- 2,5 hours walking tour inside Hue Imperial city: $35
- 2-Day Phong Nha-Ke Bang Cave Adventure from Hue: $250
- 2-Day Sa Pa Adventure with Trekking and Ethnic Homestay: $88
- 2.5 hours Hue Walking Tour with Tour Guide: $19
Tours and Activities in Xiamen
For Xiamen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Xiamen Private English Tour Guide Service: $93
- Private Xiamen Half Day Tour to Gulangyu Island and the Hi Heaven Villa: $97
- Xiamen Private Half Day Tour of Gulangyu Island and Shuzhuang Garden: $97
- A Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
- Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour to Experience Xiamen Botanical Garden: $105
- Private Xiamen Sea Food Market & Zhongshan Road Shopping and Eating Experience: $107
- Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour with Meal Option: $109
- Flexible Private Half-Day Tour to Visit the Top Attraction Xiamen Yuanbo Garden: $110
- Day Tour to Admire the Panorama of Gulangyu Island and Visit the Precious Birds: $110
- 4-hour Xiamen Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $113
- Xiamen Half-Day Private Tour include Gulang Yu Island and Garden : $119
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Shore Excursion Tour in Your Way: $121
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHue $5.79Xiamen $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hue
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Hue:
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Beer$1.00
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hue and Xiamen, we can see that Xiamen is more expensive. And not only is Hue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hue would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hue 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 Hue.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hue Expensive? and Is Xiamen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hue or Xiamen?
Xiamen has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Hue. When comparing the sizes of Hue 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 Hue or Xiamen?
Xiamen has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Hue experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Hue or Xiamen in the Summer?
Both Xiamen and Hue during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hue because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Hue is around the same temperature as Xiamen in the summer. The daily temperature in Hue averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Xiamen fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).
Xiamen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Hue usually gets less rain in July than Xiamen. Hue gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain this time of the year. March to August is the dry season in Hue. September to December is the rainy season in Hue.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHue 29°C (85°F)Xiamen 30°C (86°F)
Should I visit Hue or Xiamen in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hue and Xiamen. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hue year-round.
In the autumn, Hue is around the same temperature as Xiamen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hue in October average around 25°C (78°F), and Xiamen averages at about 25°C (77°F).
Hue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Hue usually receives more rain than Xiamen. Hue gets 613 mm (24.1 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn. Also, September to December is the rainy season in Hue.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHue 25°C (78°F)Xiamen 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Hue or Xiamen in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Hue as well as Xiamen. Hue attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Hue is generally much warmer than Xiamen. Daily temperatures in Hue average around 22°C (71°F), and Xiamen fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
Hue receives a lot of rain in the winter. Hue usually gets more rain in January than Xiamen. Hue gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, March to August in Hue is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHue 22°C (71°F)Xiamen 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Hue or Xiamen in the Spring?
Both Xiamen and Hue are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hue throughout the year.
Hue is a little warmer than Xiamen in the spring. The daily temperature in Hue averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Xiamen fluctuates around 20°C (69°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Xiamen. In April, Hue usually receives less rain than Xiamen. Hue gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHue 26°C (80°F)Xiamen 20°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Xiamen and Hue
| Hue | 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.