Which place is cheaper, Noosa Heads or Xiamen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Xiamen or Noosa Heads?
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 Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads?
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.
Noosa Heads
A town and suburb located on Queensland, Australia's Sunshine Coast, Noosa is best known as a destination of pleasant weather, beautiful beachside scenery, shopping, dining, and outdoor adventure. Some of the top attractions of the area include Noosa National Park and Sunshine Beach.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, and The Best Contiki Tours to Australia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayXiamen $64Noosa Heads $110
The average daily cost (per person) in Xiamen is $64, while the average daily cost in Noosa Heads is $110. 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 Noosa Heads in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personXiamen $30Noosa Heads $58
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomXiamen $60Noosa Heads $116
Compare Hotels in Xiamen and Noosa Heads
Looking for a hotel in Xiamen or Noosa Heads? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Noosa Heads Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Xiamen $5.98Noosa Heads $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xiamen
Also for Xiamen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Village: $115
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng Tulou and Hekeng Hakka Tulou from Xiamen City : $98
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Hongkeng Tulou from Xiamen City: $98
- 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
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hua’an Earth Building: $89
- Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Chauffeur Service ,Xiamen Airport Transfer: $47
- Private Transfer between Riyue Gu Hotspring Resort and Xiamen City : $32
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Arrival Transfer to City Area: $30
- Xiamen North Railway Station Private Transfer from City Area: $19
- Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Private Transfer to Local Railway Station : $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Noosa Heads
Also for Noosa Heads, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sunshine Coast and Noosa Eumundi Markets Bus Transfer: $32
- Sunshine Coast Airport Departure Transfer from Hotels: $18
- Private Transfers from Sunshine Coast Airport to Noosa (8pax): $129
- Private Transfers from Sunshine Coast Airport to Noosa (6pax): $116
- Private Transfers from Sunshine Coast Airport to Noosa (4pax): $99
- Private Transfer from Sunshine Coast Airport to Hotels 11 pax: $218
- Private Transfer from Noosa to Sunshine Coast Airport up to 3 pax: $102
- Private Morning Transfer From Noosa to Rainbow Beach: $89
- Premium Airport/ Cruise Terminal Transfers: $234
- Eumundi Markets Bus Transfer from Noosa, Noosaville & Mooloolaba: $32
- Brisbane Airport Departure shuttle Transfer from Sunshine Coast Hotels/addresses: $55
- Australia Zoo Transfer from Noosa, Coolum, Marcoola & Twin Waters: $79
Is it cheaper to fly into Xiamen or Noosa Heads?
Prices for flights to both Noosa Heads 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 dayXiamen $26Noosa Heads $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Noosa Heads
For Noosa Heads, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Classes on Witta Maleny Sunshine Coast: $119
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Xiamen $16Noosa Heads $40
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
- Xiamen Private One Day Tailor Made Tour with Gulangyu and City Highlights : $176
- 1-Day Xiamen City Highlights and Gulangyu Island Private Tour: $244
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Shore Excursion Tour in Your Way: $121
- 4-hour Xiamen Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $113
- A Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
- 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 with Meal: $176
- Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour to Experience Xiamen Botanical Garden: $105
- Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour with Meal Option: $109
Typical Entertainment Prices in Noosa Heads
For Noosa Heads, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Surf Lesson$42
-
Sea Kayak Tour (for 2)$84
-
Sunset Cruise (for 2)$13
Tours and Activities in Noosa Heads
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Noosa Heads.
- 1 Hour Self Guided Water Bike Tour of the Noosa River: $33
- 2 Hours Sunset Experience on Noosa River: $21
- Aquaduck Sunshine Coast - 1hr Mooloolaba Amphibious Tour: $33
- Australia Zoo, Glass House Mountains Tour Combo: $184
- Brisbane Airport and Cruise Terminal to Sunshine Coast 11 pax: $261
- Bushtucker Cruise: $50
- Epic Kayak With Dolphins & Wildlife - 4WD Beach Adventure Noosa: $106
- Everglades Explorer - Noosa Everglades Tour: $98
- Fliteboard eFoil Experience for Two People in Noosaville: $297
- Glass House Mountains Tour with Lunch, Lookouts, and Nature Walks: $171
- Maleny Botanic Gardens Bird Aviary Experience Ticket: $28
- Mooloolaba Whale Watching Cruise: $56
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayXiamen $17Noosa Heads $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Noosa Heads
Also in Noosa Heads, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Eumundi Market and Distillery Experience Market Days Wednesday & Saturday: $92
- Sunshine Coast Brewery Tour with Lunch: $162
- Hinterland Cheese & Wine Tasting Tour - with 2 course lunch included: $165
- Sunshine Coast & Noosa Scenic Food & Wine Tour Inc. Lunch: $182
- Noosa Hinterland Tour with Gourmet Lunch, Wine Tasting & Everglades Lake: $191
- Noosa Hinterland Drinks Tour- visit 2 distilleries, a winery and a brewery : $195
- Noosa Hinterland Drinks Private Tour with Gin, Beer, Mead & Wine Tastings: $277
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Xiamen and Noosa Heads, we can see that Noosa Heads is more expensive. And not only is Xiamen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Xiamen is in Asia and Noosa Heads is in Pacific, 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 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 Noosa Heads would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Xiamen or Noosa Heads?
Xiamen has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Noosa Heads. When comparing the sizes of Xiamen and Noosa Heads, 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 Noosa Heads?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Noosa Heads is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Xiamen has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Xiamen or Noosa Heads in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Xiamen and Noosa Heads. Also, the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Noosa Heads this time of year.
In July, Xiamen is generally much warmer than Noosa Headsin January. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 30°C (86°F), and Noosa Heads fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).
Noosa Heads receives a lot of rain in the summer. Xiamen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Xiamen usually receives more rain than Noosa Headsin January. Xiamen gets 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryXiamen 30°C (86°F)Noosa Heads 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Noosa Heads in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Xiamen as well as Noosa Heads. Also, many travelers come to Noosa Heads for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
Xiamen is much warmer than Noosa Heads in the autumn. The daily temperature in Xiamen averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Noosa Heads fluctuates around 14°C (58°F)in April.
Xiamen usually gets less rain in October than Noosa Headsin April. Xiamen gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilXiamen 25°C (77°F)Noosa Heads 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Noosa Heads in the Winter?
Both Noosa Heads and Xiamen are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Noosa Heads in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Xiamen is much warmer than Noosa Heads. Typically, the winter temperatures in Xiamen in January average around 14°C (58°F), and Noosa Heads averages at about 7°C (44°F)in July.
In January, Xiamen usually receives less rain than Noosa Headsin July. Xiamen gets 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 57 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyXiamen 14°C (58°F)Noosa Heads 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Noosa Heads in the Spring?
Both Noosa Heads and Xiamen during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Noosa Heads for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Xiamen is generally a little warmer than Noosa Headsin October. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 20°C (69°F), and Noosa Heads fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Xiamen. Xiamen usually gets more rain in April than Noosa Headsin October. Xiamen gets 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberXiamen 20°C (69°F)Noosa Heads 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Noosa Heads and Xiamen
| Xiamen | Noosa Heads | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (69°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 24°C (76°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 117 mm (4.6 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.