Which place is cheaper, Sydney or Xiamen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Xiamen or Sydney?
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 Sydney 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 Sydney?
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.
Sydney
Sydney, known as the harbour city, is the most famous and frequently visited city in Australia. It is at the economical and cultural heart of the country, and is one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world. It's situated on the water with stunning views of the famous harbour throughout the city. It's most famous landmarks include the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is also very close wonderful beaches, parks, and nature.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best Contiki Tours to Australia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia.
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Xiamen Prices
China PricesSydney Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayXiamen $84Sydney $207
The average daily cost (per person) in Xiamen is $84, while the average daily cost in Sydney is $207. 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 Sydney in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personXiamen $31Sydney $103
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomXiamen $62Sydney $206
Compare Hotels in Xiamen and Sydney
Looking for a hotel in Xiamen or Sydney? 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: Sydney Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Xiamen $6.08Sydney $15
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 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 Xiamen City and Hui'an county in Quanzhou: $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster : $89
- Private Transfer from Xiamen North Railway Station to City Area: $19
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Hongkeng 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 Tianluokeng Tulou and Hekeng Hakka Tulou from Xiamen City : $98
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng and HekengHakka Tulou fromXiamen: $90
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sydney
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Sydney:
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Taxi Ride$13
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Taxi to Airport$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sydney
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sydney:
- Transfer from White Bay Cruise Terminal to Sydney Airport: $27
- Transfer Between Airport & Hotels or Cruise Terminal: $13
- Tandem Skydive with Optional Transfers: $250
- SYD Airport to Sydney City Centre Private Transfer: $37
- Private City, Harbour, and Bondi Tour with Transfer: $274
- Private Airport Transfer with Meet and Greet: $59
- Hunter Valley Sunrise Balloon Flight with Transfer: $362
- Airport Transfer to Sydney CBD (Chauffeur Driven): $132
- Airport Shuttle Transfer to and from CBD Hotels: $40
- Sydney's Best Airport Arrival Transfers - Airport to CBD : $84
- Sydney to Sydney Airport (SYD) - Departure Private Transfer: $70
- Sydney Port Private Arrival Transfer: Cruise Port to City: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Xiamen or Sydney?
Prices for flights to both Sydney 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 $46Sydney $77
Typical Food Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Sydney:
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Tea$2.62
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Lunch Special$9.81
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Food/Drink Coogie Beach$9.81
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Meat Pies$3.27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sydney
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sydney.
- City Highlights Walking Food Tour with Harbor Cruise: $45
- Harbour Dinner Cruise with Buffet: $49
- Roti Making Class with 5-Course Dinner: $49
- Sydney Harbour Discovery Dinner Cruise Scenic Sights and Buffet: $50
- Foraging Food Tour Sydney Native Aussie Food: $53
- Sydney's Little Italy Food Tour: $54
- Twilight Dinner Cruise on Coral Trekker: $59
- Harbor Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $59
- Sydney Harbour Tall Ship Twilight Dinner Cruise: $60
- Fish Market Food Tour: $63
- Taste of Sydney Fish Market Food Tour: $64
- Kids Cooking Classes: $64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Xiamen $16Sydney $31
Tours and Activities in Xiamen
For Xiamen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Sailing & Sea Experience.: $22
- Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple & Luoyang Bridge Tour: $70
- Xiamen Private English Tour Guide Service: $93
- Xiamen Private Half Day Tour of Gulangyu Island and Shuzhuang Garden: $97
- A Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Local Food Market Experience: $103
- 4-hour Xiamen Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $115
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Shore Excursion Tour in Your Way: $121
- Shanghai Metro Tour: $127
- Xiamen Layover Day Tour-Gulangyu,Shuzhuang Garden And Piano Museum: $132
- Xiamen Half-Day Private Tour include Gulang Yu Island and Garden : $135
- Tour Guide and Car: Private Day Tour to Yunshuiyao Ancient Village from Xiamen: $140
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sydney
Here are a few typical costs in Sydney for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Theatre Show$29
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Sydney Tower Visit (for 2)$30
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Blue Mountain Tour/Featherdale Park (for 2)$125
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Powerhouse Museum$9.85
Tours and Activities in Sydney
Here are a few actual costs in Sydney for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Sunrise Serenity Kayak Tour of Sydney Harbour: $104
- #1 Blue Mountains Tour Scenic World Waterfalls Wildlife Park: $188
- 1 Day Thredbo Snow Adventure: $113
- 1 Day Thredbo Snow Tour From Sydney: $117
- 1/2 day Sydney Sightseeing and Bondi Beach Tour: $45
- 14-Day Sydney to Cairns, Fraser, Whitsundays Comfort Tour: $5,597
- 2 Hours Running Tour in Sydney: $99
- 3 Hours Elvis Tribute Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $53
- 30 Minute Shared Sydney Harbour Scenic Helicopter Tour: $237
- 45-Minute Sydney Harbour Adventure Jet Boat Ride: $66
- 45-Minute Vivid Sydney Scenic Jet Boat Cruise Tour: $40
- Afternoon Discovery Cruise on Coral Trekker: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayXiamen $17Sydney $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Sydney:
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Wine$10
Sample the Local Flavors in Sydney
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sydney:
- Wollongong Bar Crawl Go Out with a Gong: $15
- Big Night Out Pub Crawl with Local Party Hosts: $32
- Private Wine Tasting at The Rocks: $46
- Sydney Cellar Door - Old Vine Expressions Wine Tasting: $47
- Marrickville Brewery Tour: $78
- Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour: $103
- From: Sydney - Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Guided Day Tour: $111
- Brewery, Winery, and Distillery Tasting Tour: $112
- Meet the Makers Sydney Native Food & Distillery Tour: $132
- From Full-Day Hunter Valley Wine Tour & Lunch: $144
- From Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Day Tour: $145
- From Hunter Valley Multi-Brewery Tour with Lunch: $148
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Xiamen and Sydney, we can see that Sydney 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 Sydney 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 Sydney would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sydney 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 Sydney Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Xiamen or Sydney?
Sydney has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Xiamen. When comparing the sizes of Xiamen and Sydney, 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 Sydney?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Sydney 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 Sydney in the Summer?
Both Sydney and Xiamen during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Sydney because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Xiamen is a little warmer than Sydney in the summer. The daily temperature in Xiamen averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Sydney fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in January.
Sydney gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Xiamen. Xiamen usually gets more rain in July than Sydneyin January. Xiamen gets 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Sydney receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryXiamen 30°C (86°F)Sydney 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Sydney in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Xiamen and Sydney. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Sydney this time of year.
In the autumn, Xiamen is a little warmer than Sydney. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Xiamen in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Sydney averages at about 19°C (65°F)in April.
Sydney receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Xiamen usually receives less rain than Sydneyin April. Xiamen gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Sydney receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilXiamen 25°C (77°F)Sydney 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Sydney in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Xiamen as well as Sydney. Additionally, many travelers come to Sydney for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Xiamen is generally a little warmer than Sydneyin July. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 14°C (58°F), and Sydney fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
Xiamen usually gets less rain in January than Sydneyin July. Xiamen gets 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Sydney receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyXiamen 14°C (58°F)Sydney 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Sydney in the Spring?
Both Sydney and Xiamen are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Sydney in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
Xiamen is a little warmer than Sydney in the spring. The daily temperature in Xiamen averages around 20°C (69°F) in April, and Sydney fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in October.
It's quite rainy in Xiamen. In April, Xiamen usually receives more rain than Sydneyin October. Xiamen gets 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Sydney receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberXiamen 20°C (69°F)Sydney 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Sydney and Xiamen
| Xiamen | Sydney | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (69°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 24°C (76°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 81 mm (3.2 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.