A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tehran vs. Xi'an for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Jump to  down-arrow

Should you visit Tehran or Xi'an?

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 Tehran and Xi'an. 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: Tehran or Xi'an?

Tehran

The capital of Iran, Tehran is a cosmopolitan city with great museums, art galleries, parks, restaurants, and more. It is located in the northernmost part of Central Iran at the foot of the towering Alborz mountain range. Some of the most popular attractions include the Treasury of the National Jewels, Golestan Palace, and the Tajrish Bazaar.

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.

Which place is cheaper, Xi'an or Tehran?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Tehran is $78, while the average daily cost in Xi'an is $94. 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 Tehran and Xi'an in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tehran $62
    Xi'an $60
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tehran $124
    Xi'an $120
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Xi'an

Looking for a hotel in Tehran 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.

Hotels in Tehran


Hotels in Xian


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tehran $0.38
    Xi'an $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xi'an

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Xi'an:

  • Private Beijing One Day Tour From Xi'an 's Hotel Including Transfer Service : $1,241
  • 3-Day Xi'an Private Tour including Mt Huashan and Airport Transfer: $454
  • Private Tour of Terra Cotta Army with Bullet Train Transfer: $419
  • Private 2-Days Xian Exploration Tour with Airport Transfers: $329
  • Private express Terra Cotta Army & 2 other sites with round way airport transfer: $308
  • Private Round-trip Airport Transfer to Terracotta Army & City Wall with A Guide: $259
  • Private Terra Cotta Army Tour with Airport Transfer: $248
  • 2-Day Customized Private Tour With Transfer in Historical Xi'an: $231
  • Full-Day Layover Private Tour: Essence of Xi'an With Airport Transfer: $197
  • Essential Xian Tour with Airport Train Station or Hotel Transfer: $197
  • Xian Highlights Private Tour With Airport Transfer: $195
  • From Xian: Terracotta Army and City Wall Tour with Airport Transfer: $194

Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Xi'an?

Prices for flights to both Xi'an and Tehran 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Tehran $14
    Xi'an $12

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
  • Xian Muslim Quarter: 2-Hour Small Group Walking Food Tour : $36
  • Xi'an Tang Dynasty Show and Dumpling Dinner with Private Hotel Transfer: $40
  • Dinner and Show of Tang Dynasty Palace in Xian: $40
  • Half-day Xi'an Biang Biang Noodles Cooking Class with Spice Market Visit: $50
  • Private Home Cooking Class:Dumpling Cooking Class Tour in Xi'an: $50
  • Xi'an Twilight Sightseeing and Food Tour: $51
  • Tang Dynasty Show with Optional Dinner: $51
  • Xi'an Authentic Food Tour with Local Beverages: $54
  • Tang Dynasty Dinner Show: $55
  • Xi'an Vegetarian Food Tour: $60
  • Xi'an Food Tour by Tuk Tuk: $62

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tehran $4.57
    Xi'an $35

Tours and Activities in Xi'an

Here are a few actual costs in Xi'an for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 3-Day Private Tour to Zhangjiajie National Park and Glass Bridge from Xi’an: $718
  • 5-Day Private Tour to Xi'an,Pingyao and Datong by Bullet Train: $1,062
  • Group Tour to the Terra-cotta Warriors Museum & Lunch : $60
  • Private Half Day Tour to See The Big Wild Goose Pagoda&City Wall:: $185
  • Xi'an Morning Food & Market Tour by TukTuk: $55
  • #1 Bestselling Private Terracotta Army Tours + Customized Xian Tours: $109
  • 1 Day Xian City Highlights Private Tour: $148
  • 1 Day Xian Group Tour: Terracotta Warriors & City Wall: $138
  • 1 day Hua mountain tour: $309
  • 1 day The Terracotta Army+Xi'an City Wall+Yongxing Square Mini Group Tour: $106
  • 1 day Xi'an Culture and History Discovery Mini Group tour: $112
  • 1 day private tour to Xi'an Terra Cotta Warriors by Metro/Subway: $110

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tehran -
    Xi'an $7.23

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tehran and Xi'an, we can see that Xi'an is more expensive. And not only is Tehran much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tehran 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 Tehran would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tehran 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 Xi'an would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Xi'an than you might in Tehran.

Which is Bigger, Tehran or Xi'an?

Tehran is bigger, and its population is about 2.2 times larger than the population of Xi'an. When comparing the population of Tehran vs. 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 and the activities 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.
About BudgetYourTrip.com
More City Comparisons
Tehran vs. Zanzibar
Tehran vs. Nairobi
Tehran vs. Kampala
Tehran vs. Amman
Tehran vs. Santorini
Tehran vs. Mykonos
Tehran vs. Athens
Tehran vs. Beirut
Tehran vs. Jerusalem
Tehran vs. Doha
Tehran vs. Dubai
Tehran vs. Abu Dhabi
Tehran vs. Tel Aviv
Tehran vs. Antalya
Tehran vs. Ankara
Tehran vs. Addis Ababa
Tehran vs. Cairo
Tehran vs. Alexandria
Tehran vs. Rhodes
Tehran vs. Riga
Tehran vs. Saint Petersburg
Tehran vs. Moscow
Tehran vs. Tallinn
Tehran vs. Vilnius
Tehran vs. Tbilisi
Tehran vs. Minsk
Tehran vs. Helsinki
Tehran vs. Bucharest
Share This Page
Pin This Page
Tehran vs. Xi'an Travel Comparison

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.