Which place is cheaper, Dalian or Xiamen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Xiamen or Dalian?
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 Dalian 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 Dalian?
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.
Dalian
Dalian, China is a very large peninsula city located in the southernmost part of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The area has a wealth of history, with roots in Russian and Japanese rule, resulting in unique architecture and many universities that attract foreign students and teachers. Dalian is also known for their beautiful green spaces and relaxing beaches which juxtapose a lot of the more industrial cities found throughout other areas of northern China.
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 $64Dalian $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Xiamen is $64, while the average daily cost in Dalian 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 Xiamen and Dalian in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personXiamen $31Dalian $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomXiamen $62Dalian $108
Compare Hotels in Xiamen and Dalian
Looking for a hotel in Xiamen or Dalian? 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 $5.99Dalian $41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xiamen
Also for Xiamen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen City and Yongding Hakka Tulou : $115
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen City and Nanjing Tulou : $115
- Round Trip Transfer Between the Most Picturesque Chuxi Tulou Cluster and Xiamen: $106
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng Tulou and Hekeng Hakka Tulou from Xiamen City : $98
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Yunshuiyao Village from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer to Hongkeng Tulou and Yunshuiyao Village from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Hongkeng Tulou from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng Tulou and Yunshuiyao Village from Xiamen City: $93
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hua’an Earth Building: $89
- Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and HongKeng Hakka Tulou Cluster: $89
- Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and Yun Shui Yao Ancient Town: $89
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen and Anxi : $89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dalian
Also for Dalian, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Any Guiyang Railway Station: $38
- Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer: $27
- Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer: $40
- Dalian Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $32
- Dalian Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to City Hotel: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Xiamen or Dalian?
Prices for flights to both Dalian 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 $26Dalian $27
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Xiamen $16Dalian $4.79
Tours and Activities in Xiamen
For Xiamen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Fujian Tulou Private Day Tour to World Heritage Site Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster: $178
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Shore Excursion Tour in Your Way: $121
- 4-hour Xiamen Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $113
- A 2 Days 1 Night Group Tour to Explore Kinmen Island: $216
- A Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
- All Inclusive Xiamen Private Layover Tour to Hakka Tulou Village with Options: $234
- Day Tour to Admire the Panorama of Gulangyu Island and Visit the Precious Birds: $110
- Dongshan Island Highlights Full-Day Private Tour: $232
- Flexible Private Half-Day Tour to Visit the Top Attraction Xiamen Yuanbo Garden: $110
- Flexible Private Xiamen Layover Tour from Cruise Port or Airport : $155
- Flexible Private Xiamen Layover Tour with Meal: $176
- Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour with Meal Option: $109
Tours and Activities in Dalian
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dalian.
- Dalian City Private Day Tour in Your Way: $159
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayXiamen $17Dalian $6.32
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Xiamen and Dalian, we can see that Dalian 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 Dalian would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dalian 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 Dalian Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Xiamen or Dalian?
Dalian has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Xiamen. When comparing the sizes of Xiamen and Dalian, 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 Dalian?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Xiamen or Dalian in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Xiamen and Dalian.
Xiamen is a little warmer than Dalian in the summer. The daily temperature in Xiamen averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Dalian fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
Dalian receives a lot of rain in the summer. Xiamen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Xiamen usually receives less rain than Dalian. Xiamen gets 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 202 mm (8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyXiamen 30°C (86°F)Dalian 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Dalian in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Xiamen as well as Dalian.
In the autumn, Xiamen is much warmer than Dalian. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Xiamen in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Dalian averages at about 15°C (58°F).
Xiamen usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Dalian. Xiamen gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberXiamen 25°C (77°F)Dalian 15°C (58°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Dalian in the Winter?
Both Dalian and Xiamen are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
The weather in Dalian can be very cold. In January, Xiamen is generally much warmer than Dalian. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 14°C (58°F), and Dalian fluctuates around -4°C (25°F).
In January, Xiamen usually receives more rain than Dalian. Xiamen gets 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryXiamen 14°C (58°F)Dalian -4°C (25°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Dalian in the Spring?
Both Dalian and Xiamen during the spring are popular places to visit.
Xiamen is much warmer than Dalian in the spring. The daily temperature in Xiamen averages around 20°C (69°F) in April, and Dalian fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Xiamen. Xiamen usually gets more rain in April than Dalian. Xiamen gets 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilXiamen 20°C (69°F)Dalian 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Dalian and Xiamen
| Xiamen | Dalian | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | -4°C (25°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (69°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 24°C (76°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.7 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 202 mm (8 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 6 mm (0.2 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.