Which place is cheaper, Nanjing or Xiamen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Xiamen or Nanjing?
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 Nanjing 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 Nanjing?
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.
Nanjing
Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu Province on the central eastern coast of China, just north of Shanghai. This historically and culturally rich city lies at the lower end of the Yangtze river, resulting in lush and scenic landscapes. Nanjing is well-known for having many popular historical sites, some of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
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 $64Nanjing $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Xiamen is $64, while the average daily cost in Nanjing is $96. 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 Nanjing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personXiamen $31Nanjing $46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomXiamen $62Nanjing $92
Compare Hotels in Xiamen and Nanjing
Looking for a hotel in Xiamen or Nanjing? 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 $5.99Nanjing $38
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 Between Xiamen City and HongKeng Hakka Tulou Cluster: $89
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen and Anxi : $89
- Private Transfer between Riyue Gu Hotspring Resort and Xiamen City : $32
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hua’an Earth Building: $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster : $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Village: $115
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Hongkeng Tulou 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
- Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Private Transfer to Local Railway Station : $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
- Zhenjiang Private Transfer Service from Nanjing City or Lukou Airport : $78
- Yangzhou Private Transfer Service from Nanjing City or Lukou Airport : $80
- Tangshan Hot Spring Resorts Private Transfer from Nanjing Railway Station: $44
- Private Transfer to Yangzhou City from Nanjing Lukou Airport : $109
- Private Transfer to Nanjing Railway Station from Lukou Airport : $45
- Private Transfer to Gaochun City from Nanjing Lukou Airport: $88
- Private Transfer to Gaochun City from Nanjing : $88
- Private Transfer between Nanjing Olympic Stadium and City Hotel: $33
- Private Transfer between Nanjing Jinniuhu Wild Animal Park and City Hotels: $62
- Private Transfer Between Tangshan Hot Spring Resort and Nanjing Lukou Airport: $49
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Zhenjiang from Nanjing: $94
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Yangzhou Attractions from Nanjing: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Xiamen or Nanjing?
Prices for flights to both Nanjing 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 $26Nanjing $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nanjing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.
- 3-Hour Nanjing Authentic Local Food Tour by Public Transportation: $93
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Night Tour with Dinner Option : $112
- Nanjing City Private Night Tour with Qinghuai River Cruise and Dinner Option: $114
- Nanjing Tangshan Mountain Hot Spring Experience and Hot Pot Dinner: $175
- Private Amazing Nanjing Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $181
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Xiamen $16Nanjing $9.28
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
- 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
Tours and Activities in Nanjing
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half-Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour : $109
- 2-Day Unlimited Nanjing Private Flexible Tour with Lunch Option : $295
- 4-Hour Nanjing City Private Tailor-Made Tour in Your Way : $109
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Xiaoling Tomb, Ming City Wall and Memorial Hall : $115
- All Inclusive Amazing Nanjing City Highlights Private Day Tour: $193
- All Inclusive Nanjing City Private Day Tour with Tailor-Made Highlights: $213
- All-inclusive Customized Nanjing Layover Tour: $201
- Beijing Great Wall Tour from Nanjing by Bullet Train with Private Car Service: $282
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Highlights Day Tour: $164
- Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour : $63
- Flexible Zhenjiang Private Day Tour from Nanjing: $197
- Half Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour with Night River Cruise: $165
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayXiamen $17Nanjing $9.48
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Xiamen and Nanjing, we can see that Nanjing 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 Nanjing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nanjing 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 Nanjing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Xiamen or Nanjing?
Nanjing has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Xiamen. When comparing the sizes of Xiamen and Nanjing, 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 Nanjing?
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 Nanjing in the Summer?
Both Nanjing and Xiamen during the summer are popular places to visit.
In July, Xiamen is generally around the same temperature as Nanjing. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 30°C (86°F), and Nanjing fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
Nanjing 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 Nanjing. Xiamen gets 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyXiamen 30°C (86°F)Nanjing 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Nanjing in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Xiamen and Nanjing.
Xiamen is a little warmer than Nanjing in the autumn. The daily temperature in Xiamen averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Nanjing fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
In October, Xiamen usually receives less rain than Nanjing. Xiamen gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberXiamen 25°C (77°F)Nanjing 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Nanjing in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Xiamen as well as Nanjing.
The weather in Nanjing can be very cold. In the winter, Xiamen is much warmer than Nanjing. Typically, the winter temperatures in Xiamen in January average around 14°C (58°F), and Nanjing averages at about 3°C (37°F).
Xiamen usually gets more rain in January than Nanjing. Xiamen gets 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryXiamen 14°C (58°F)Nanjing 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Nanjing in the Spring?
Both Nanjing and Xiamen are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In April, Xiamen is generally a little warmer than Nanjing. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 20°C (69°F), and Nanjing fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Nanjing. It's quite rainy in Xiamen. In April, Xiamen usually receives more rain than Nanjing. Xiamen gets 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilXiamen 20°C (69°F)Nanjing 15°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Nanjing and Xiamen
| Xiamen | Nanjing | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (69°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| May | 24°C (76°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 25 mm (1 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.