Which place is cheaper, Benxi or Xiamen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Xiamen or Benxi?
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 Benxi 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 Benxi?
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.
Benxi
Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayXiamen $65Benxi $97
The average daily cost (per person) in Xiamen is $65, while the average daily cost in Benxi is $97. 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 Benxi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personXiamen $31Benxi $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomXiamen $62Benxi $96
Compare Hotels in Xiamen and Benxi
Looking for a hotel in Xiamen or Benxi? 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.Xiamen $6.15Benxi $32
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
- Private Transfer:From Gaoqi Airport to Xiamen downtown: $12
- Xiamen Railway Station Private Transfer to Gaoqi Airport : $19
- Private Transfer from Xiamen North Railway Station to City Area: $19
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Arrival Transfer to City Area: $30
- Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Chauffeur Service ,Xiamen Airport Transfer: $47
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hua’an Earth Building: $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster : $89
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen and Anxi : $89
- Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and HongKeng Hakka Tulou Cluster: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Xiamen or Benxi?
Prices for flights to both Benxi 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
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Food Meals for one dayXiamen $27Benxi $31
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Xiamen $16Benxi $7.50
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
- 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
- Xiamen Private Highlight Tour-Gulangyu Island, Shuzhuang Garden And Piano Museum: $103
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Local Food Market Experience: $103
- Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour to Experience Xiamen Botanical Garden: $105
- 4-hour Xiamen Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $113
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Shore Excursion Tour in Your Way: $121
- Xiamen Layover Day Tour-Gulangyu,Shuzhuang Garden And Piano Museum: $132
- Xiamen Half-Day Private Tour include Gulang Yu Island and Garden : $135
- Private Xiamen Local Market Tour with Shopping and Food Experience: $140
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayXiamen $17Benxi $7.90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Xiamen and Benxi, we can see that Benxi 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 Benxi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Benxi 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 Benxi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Xiamen or Benxi?
Benxi has a larger population, and is about 71% larger than the population of Xiamen. When comparing the sizes of Xiamen and Benxi, 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 Benxi?
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 Benxi in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Xiamen as well as Benxi.
In July, Xiamen is generally a little warmer than Benxi. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 30°C (86°F), and Benxi fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).
It's quite rainy in Benxi. Xiamen receives a lot of rain in the summer. Xiamen usually gets less rain in July than Benxi. Xiamen gets 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyXiamen 30°C (86°F)Benxi 25°C (78°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Benxi in the Autumn?
Both Benxi and Xiamen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
Xiamen is much warmer than Benxi in the autumn. The daily temperature in Xiamen averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
In October, Xiamen usually receives less rain than Benxi. Xiamen gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberXiamen 25°C (77°F)Benxi 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Benxi in the Winter?
Both Benxi and Xiamen during the winter are popular places to visit.
Benxi can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Xiamen is much warmer than Benxi. Typically, the winter temperatures in Xiamen in January average around 14°C (58°F), and Benxi averages at about -10°C (14°F).
Xiamen usually gets more rain in January than Benxi. Xiamen gets 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryXiamen 14°C (58°F)Benxi -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Benxi in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Xiamen and Benxi.
In April, Xiamen is generally much warmer than Benxi. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 20°C (69°F), and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Xiamen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Xiamen usually receives more rain than Benxi. Xiamen gets 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilXiamen 20°C (69°F)Benxi 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Benxi and Xiamen
| Xiamen | Benxi | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (69°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| May | 24°C (76°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.