Which place is cheaper, Xi'an or Lhasa?
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 Lhasa or Xi'an?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa 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: Lhasa or Xi'an?
Lhasa
Lhasa is the famed capital of Tibet, and is one of the most fascinating cities in the world to visit. It's name means "Land of the Gods" and the city dates back more than 1,300 years. It's elevation is 3,650 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest cities in the world. It sits on the northern slopes of the Himalayan Mountains by the Lhasa River and is the second largest city on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining.
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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, and The Best Budget Tours to China.
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Lhasa Prices
China PricesXi'an Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $90Xi'an $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $90, while the average daily cost in Xi'an is $103. 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 Lhasa and Xi'an in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $39Xi'an $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $78Xi'an $120
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Xi'an
Looking for a hotel in Lhasa 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lhasa $2.56Xi'an $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa
Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $260
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xi'an
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Xi'an:
- Xian Xianyang International Airport (XIY) Private Arrival Transfer: $40
- Xian Xianyang Airport (XIY) to Xian City - Arrival Private Transfer: $42
- Xian Terracotta Warriors Tour with Airport Transfer: $176
- Xian Private Day Tour with Airport Transfer: Terracotta Warriors and City Wall: $186
- Xian Highlights Private Tour With Airport Transfer: $195
- Xian City to Xian Xianyang Airport (XIY) - Departure Private Transfer: $42
- Xian Best Day Tour with Airport / Railway Station Transfer: $132
- Xi’an Terracotta Warriors Private Round-Trip Transfer from City Area : $69
- Xi’an Railway Station Private Departure Transfer from City Area: $29
- Xi'an Xianyang Airport to Hotels:Private transfer with Meet & Great service: $32
- Xi'an Xianyang Airport Transfer Hotels: $38
- Xi'an Terracotta Army Tickets with Optional Guide/Transfer: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Xi'an?
Prices for flights to both Xi'an and Lhasa 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 dayLhasa $45Xi'an $21
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
- Dinner and Show of Tang Dynasty Palace in Xian: $40
- Xi'an Vegetarian Food Tour: $60
- 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
- Xi'an Evening Food Tour by TukTuk: $69
- Authentic Old Xi'an Back Street Food Tour : $75
- 4-Hour Xi'an Experience: Shadow Puppet and Dumplings Lunch or Dinner: $82
- Private Xi'an HaiDiLao Hot Pot Local Food Tour: $86
- Xi'an delicious food Hot pot dinner night tour with Muslim street from Xi'an: $86
- Tang Dynasty Dance Show and Dumpling Dinner: $87
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $17Xi'an $35
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tibet 5-day Lhasa & Namtso Lake Tour: $65
- 4 Days Lhasa City Essence Tour: $644
- 5 Days Lhasa and Ganden Monastery Small Group Tour: $689
- Private Full-Day Tour w/ Lunch: $800
- 5 Days Lhasa to Drak Yerpa Tour: $802
- 4 Days Lhasa City Tibet Tour included Permit issued: $850
- 4 Days Best of Lhasa Tour - Discover the Holy City: $859
- 5 Days Classic Lhasa Tour with Yamdrok Lake in Tibet: $999
- 4 Days Lhasa Small Group Tour - Wandering in Sunlight City: $1,036
- 5-Day Private Tour with Potala Palace & Yamdrok Lake: $1,299
- Tibet Overland Tour - 08 Days: $1,419
- 6 Days Lhasa and Namtso Lake Small Group Tour: $1,534
Tours and Activities in Xi'an
Here are a few actual costs in Xi'an for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Group Tour to the Terra-cotta Warriors Museum & Lunch : $65
- #1 Bestselling Private Terracotta Army Tours + Customized Xian Tours: $82
- 1 Day Xian City Highlights Private Tour: $148
- 1 day Xi'an Culture and History Discovery Mini Group tour: $112
- 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 the Terracotta Warriors, Cave Dwelling and City Wall : $236
- 2 Days Beijing Xian Private Tour by Bullet Trains with Hotel: $287
- 2 Days Xian Flexible Tour Including Hotel to Explore Xian Your Own Way: $256
- 2 Days Xian Small Group Tour: Terracotta Army, Hanyangling: $228
- 2-Day Classic Xi'an Tour Combo Package: Terracotta Warriors and Downtown Sightseeing: $234
- 2-Day Customized Warriors Tours & Xian Top Attractions: $269
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $6.89Xi'an $7.22
When comparing the travel costs between Lhasa and Xi'an, we can see that Xi'an is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lhasa Expensive? and Is Xi'an Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Xi'an?
Xi'an has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Lhasa. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa 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.