A Travel Price Comparison for China Xiamen vs. Beijing for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Xiamen or Beijing?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Xiamen and Beijing 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: Xiamen or Beijing?

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.

Beijing

Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Beijing or Xiamen?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Xiamen is $64, while the average daily cost in Beijing is $78. 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 Xiamen and Beijing in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Xiamen $31
    Beijing $40
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Xiamen $62
    Beijing $80
Compare Hotels in Xiamen and Beijing

Looking for a hotel in Xiamen or Beijing? 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 Xiamen


Hotels in Beijing


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.
    Xiamen $6.02
    Beijing $7.68

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 Departure Transfer to North Railway Station from Downtown Xiamen: $15
  • Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and HongKeng Hakka Tulou Cluster: $89
  • Private Transfer between Riyue Gu Hotspring Resort and Xiamen City : $32
  • Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Gaobei Tulou Cluster: $89
  • Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hua’an Earth Building: $89
  • Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hui'an county in Quanzhou: $89
  • Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Hongkeng Tulou from Xiamen City: $98
  • Private Transfer to Hongkeng Tulou and Yunshuiyao Village from Xiamen City: $98
  • Private Transfer to Tianluokeng Tulou and Hekeng Hakka Tulou from Xiamen City : $98
  • Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Arrival Transfer to City Area: $30
  • Private Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Transfers in Xiamen City: $12

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:


  • Taxi
    $4.74
  • Train from Airport for Two
    $6.95
  • Taxi to Hotel
    $8.34
  • 2 Metro Passes
    $2.22
  • Metro
    $0.56

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:

  • [Airport Transfer] Beijing Capital Airport ⇔ Beijing City Transfer (one way) ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $30
  • Visit Great Wall With Beijing Capital Airport Round-Way Transfer : $215
  • Ultimate Forbidden City and Mutianyu Great Wall Discovery with Airport Transfer: $186
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Beijing HTL-APT (PEK): $62
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Beijing APT-HTL (PEK): $62
  • Transfers to Jinshanling Great Wall with professional driver: $95
  • Transfer to Daxing International Airport : $49
  • Transfer from Daxing International Airport: $49
  • Tianjin International Cruise Port to Beijing Capital Airport by private transfer: $148
  • Tianjin International Cruise Port Transfer from Beijing: $130
  • Tianjin Cruise Port to Beijing Daxing Airport by Private Transfer: $148
  • Tianjin Cruise Port Private Transfer to Beijing International Airport: $153

Is it cheaper to fly into Xiamen or Beijing?

Prices for flights to both Beijing and Xiamen 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
    Xiamen $26
    Beijing $21

Typical Food Prices in Beijing

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:


  • Popcorn
    $0.83
  • Hot Pot Dinner
    $6.95
  • Dumpling Breakfast for Two
    $2.78
  • Watermelon
    $1.95
  • Peking Duck Dinner for 2
    $17
  • Two Popsicles
    $0.83

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.

  • Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef : $20
  • Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
  • Online Cooking Class Kungpao Chicken: $20
  • Online Cooking Class Orange Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
  • Beijing Acrobatic Show Tickets w/ Optional Dinner or Transfer: $48
  • 3.5-Hour Walking Food Tour: A Bite of History at Beijing Niujie Street: $49
  • Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
  • 3 hours Morning or Afternoon Tea Tasting on Maliandao Street and Tea Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Tour: $69
  • Old Beijing Dinner Tour: $80
  • Authentic Lunch or Dinner Tour in Beijing's Best Hidden Spots: $80
  • Private Nightlife Trip to See Wonderful Acrobatic Show Enjoy Delicious Barbecue Buffet Dinner: $96
  • Peking Duck Dinner with Face Changing show and Massage Option: $98

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Xiamen $16
    Beijing $24

Tours and Activities in Xiamen

For Xiamen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Xiamen Private Half Day Tour of Gulangyu Island and Shuzhuang Garden: $97
  • Private Xiamen Half Day Tour to Gulangyu Island and the Hi Heaven Villa: $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
  • Xiamen Layover Day Tour-Gulangyu,Shuzhuang Garden And Piano Museum: $132

Typical Entertainment Prices in Beijing

Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Entry to Summer Palace for Two
    $8.34
  • Two Opera Tickets
    $59
  • Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)
    $9.73
  • Forbidden City (for 2)
    $17
  • Forbidden City Tickets
    $17
  • Audio Guides at Forbidden City
    $11

Tours and Activities in Beijing

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

  • 4 hours Deep Forbidden City Private Tour by Knowledgeable Guide.: $80
  • 4-Hour Beijing Layover Tour to Hutong from Daxing Airport: $145
  • All Inclusive Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Private Tour: $188
  • All Inclusive Private Summer Palace, Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour: $204
  • Beijing Layover Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall with English Driver : $120
  • Beijing Private Tour of Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, Bird's Nest and Water Cube: $297
  • China Art Museum and 798 Art Zone Private Tour: $137
  • Classic One Day Beijing Tour: $290
  • Forbidden City Tour : $110
  • Full Day Private Tour Incredible Beijing City Highlights: $179
  • Jinshanling&Gubeikou Great Wall Private One Day Tour With Guide: $130
  • Lama temple -Confucius temple - DongYue temple Private Cultural Tour: $156

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Xiamen $17
    Beijing $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:

  • Beijing Brewery Bike Tour: $99
  • Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing: $110
  • Full Day Private Chateau Changyu Wine Tour from Beijing: $163
  • Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour and Mutianyu Great Wall Visit: $228


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Xiamen Expensive? and Is Beijing Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Xiamen or Beijing?

Beijing has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Xiamen. When comparing the sizes of Xiamen and Beijing, 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 Xiamen or Beijing?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Xiamen or Beijing in the Summer?

Both Beijing and Xiamen during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Beijing this time of year.

Xiamen is a little warmer than Beijing in the summer. The daily temperature in Xiamen averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Beijing fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Beijing gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Xiamen. Xiamen usually gets less rain in July than Beijing. Xiamen gets 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Xiamen 30°C (86°F) 
    Beijing 27°C (80°F)

Should I visit Xiamen or Beijing in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Xiamen and Beijing. Also, many travelers come to Beijing for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Xiamen is much warmer than Beijing. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Xiamen in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Beijing averages at about 14°C (56°F).

In October, Xiamen usually receives more rain than Beijing. Xiamen gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Xiamen 25°C (77°F) 
    Beijing 14°C (56°F)

Should I visit Xiamen or Beijing in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Xiamen as well as Beijing. Also, many visitors come to Beijing in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Beijing can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Xiamen is generally much warmer than Beijing. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 14°C (58°F), and Beijing fluctuates around -4°C (26°F).

Xiamen usually gets more rain in January than Beijing. Xiamen gets 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Xiamen 14°C (58°F) 
    Beijing -4°C (26°F)

Should I visit Xiamen or Beijing in the Spring?

Both Beijing and Xiamen are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Beijing for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

Xiamen is a little warmer than Beijing in the spring. The daily temperature in Xiamen averages around 20°C (69°F) in April, and Beijing fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

It's quite rainy in Xiamen. In April, Xiamen usually receives more rain than Beijing. Xiamen gets 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Xiamen 20°C (69°F) 
    Beijing 14°C (57°F)

Typical Weather for Beijing and Xiamen

Xiamen Beijing
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 14°C (58°F) 37 mm (1.4 in) -4°C (26°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Feb 14°C (57°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) -1°C (30°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
Mar 16°C (61°F) 99 mm (3.9 in) 6°C (42°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Apr 20°C (69°F) 147 mm (5.8 in) 14°C (57°F) 26 mm (1 in)
May 24°C (76°F) 152 mm (6 in) 20°C (68°F) 29 mm (1.1 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 197 mm (7.7 in) 25°C (76°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Jul 30°C (86°F) 140 mm (5.5 in) 27°C (80°F) 176 mm (6.9 in)
Aug 30°C (85°F) 149 mm (5.9 in) 25°C (78°F) 182 mm (7.2 in)
Sep 28°C (83°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) 20°C (69°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Oct 25°C (77°F) 29 mm (1.1 in) 14°C (56°F) 19 mm (0.7 in)
Nov 21°C (69°F) 37 mm (1.4 in) 5°C (41°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
Dec 16°C (61°F) 25 mm (1 in) -1°C (29°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)