Which place is cheaper, Milan or Xi'an?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Xi'an or Milan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Xi'an and Milan 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: Xi'an or Milan?
Xi'an
Xi'an is an ancient city in the Shaanxi Province in China. Today it is most notable as the location of the Terracotta Warriors, but for visitors who choose to linger, there is so much more to see and do in the area. The city itself is more than 3,000 years old and for about one thousand years, through 13 dynasties and 73 emperors, it was the capital. Because of its rich history there are many historical ruins and a strong culture in the city. Today the city is a pleasant place to visit, although much of it's influence and power has dwindled. The city has both cosmopolitan and modern areas as well as historic and culturally rich areas. The neighborhoods are diverse and by exploring the city in depth you can learn a little more about what China really has to offer.
Milan
Milan, known to most of the world as the capital of fashion and style, is also the heart of Italian industry and economics. Between the stock exchange, cathedrals and boutiques, this metropolis is a city-lover's dream come true. It is an escape from the stresses of the real world, and provides a playground for all the world's most lavish luxuries.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayXi'an $94Milan $178
The average daily cost (per person) in Xi'an is $94, while the average daily cost in Milan is $178. 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 Xi'an and Milan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personXi'an $60Milan $103
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomXi'an $120Milan $206
Compare Hotels in Xi'an and Milan
Looking for a hotel in Xi'an or Milan? 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: Milan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Xi'an $12Milan $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xi'an
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Xi'an:
- Xi'an Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 40 pax: $300
- Private Round-trip Airport Transfer to Terracotta Army & City Wall with A Guide: $259
- 2-Day Customized Private Tour With Transfer in Historical Xi'an: $231
- Xian Terracotta Warriors and City Wall Tour with Airport Transfer: $224
- Mt. Hua Entrance Ticket w/ Shuttle Bus&Cable Car&Private Transfer: $224
- Xi'an Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 15 pax: $200
- Full-Day Layover Private Tour: Essence of Xi'an With Airport Transfer: $197
- Xian Private Day Tour with Airport Transfer: Terracotta Warriors and City Wall: $186
- Xian Terracotta Warriors Tour with Airport Transfer: $176
- One Day Private Xian Tour to Terracotta Warriors with Airport Transfers: $170
- Terracotta Warriors Museum Tour with Airport Pickup or Drop-off Transfer: $162
- Xi'an Layover: Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum With Airport Transfer: $162
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Milan
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Milan:
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Train to Airport$7.50
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Malpensa Airport Train (for Two)$24
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Taxi From Airport$96
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Public Transit Day Pass$4.82
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Short Taxi Ride$7.64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Milan
Also for Milan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Milan to Bergamo Airport (BGY) - Departure Private Transfer : $46
- Milan to Como hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $107
- Airport Transfer: Malpensa Airport MXP to Milan by Luxury Van: $148
- Arrival Private Transfer Luxury Car LIN airport to Milan: $102
- Arrival Private Transfer Luxury Van LIN airport to Milan: $82
- Arrival Private Transfer: Malpensa Airport MXP to Milan in Luxury Van: $148
- Arrival Private Transfer: Milan MXP Airport to Milan City by Luxury Car: $205
- Arrival Private Transfer: Toulouse Airport TLS to Toulouse in Luxury Van: $92
- BELLAGIO:TRANSFER FROM/TO MILAN MALPENSA AIRPORT TO LEZZENO: $376
- BERGAMO ORIO AL SERIO - MILANO airport transfer: $192
- BERGAMO ORIO AL SERIO - Milano airport transfer with private Luxury Van: $186
- Basel : Private Transfer to/from Milan Malpensa Airport: $1,022
Is it cheaper to fly into Xi'an or Milan?
Prices for flights to both Milan and Xi'an 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 dayXi'an $12Milan $42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Xi'an
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Xi'an.
- Skip the Line: Xi'an Tang Dynasty Show Ticket & Dumpling Dinner or Royal Banquet: $32
- Dinner and Show of Tang Dynasty Palace in Xian: $40
- Private Home Cooking Class:Dumpling Cooking Class Tour in Xi'an: $50
- Xi'an Twilight Sightseeing and Food Tour: $51
- Tang Dynasty Dinner Show: $55
- Xi'an Vegetarian Food Tour: $60
- Xi'an Food Tour by Tuk Tuk: $62
- Private Xi'an Food Tour: $65
- Private Xi’an Night & Food Tour by Tuk Tuk and Public Transportation: $67
- Xi'an Evening Food Tour by TukTuk: $69
- 4 Hours Food Tours in Xi'an: $72
- 3-Hour Biang Biang Noodles Cooking Class in Xi'an: $75
Typical Food Prices in Milan
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Milan:
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Snack at Train Station$9.22
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Restaurant Pizza$7.07
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Casual Cafe Lunch (for Two)$29
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Three Course Dinner (for Two)$69
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Cappuccino$1.75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Milan
For Milan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- PYT Milano Dinner Show with Live Music and DJ Set: $22
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $29
- Milan Gourmet Food Tour and Sightseeing with Local Guide: $38
- Gourmet Street Food Tour with Sightseeing and Tasting: $45
- Eating Milan Street Food Tour with Guided Tasting and Sightseeing: $46
- Tasty Milan Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $46
- Delicious Milan Street Food Tour Tasting and Sightseeing with Local Guide: $46
- Devour Milan Street Food Tour and Sightseeing: $46
- NO DIET CLUB - Best Food Tour in Milan !: $59
- 2-Hour Cooking Course of Delicious Desserts for Families in Milan: $65
- Mamma Mia - Make Your own Italian Pizza: $69
- Local Market and Cooking Class with an Italian Chef: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Xi'an $35Milan $33
Tours and Activities in Xi'an
Here are a few actual costs in Xi'an for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Group Tour to the Terra-cotta Warriors Museum & Lunch : $65
- Private Half Day Tour to See The Big Wild Goose Pagoda&City Wall:: $185
- Xi'an Morning Food & Market Tour by TukTuk: $55
- #1 Bestselling Private Terracotta Army Tours + Customized Xian Tours: $109
- 1 Day Xian City Highlights Private Tour: $148
- 1 Day Xian Group Tour: Terracotta Warriors & City Wall: $138
- 1 day The Terracotta Army+Xi'an City Wall+Yongxing Square Mini Group Tour: $106
- 1 day Xi'an Culture and History Discovery Mini Group tour: $112
- 1 day private tour to Xi'an Terra Cotta Warriors by Metro/Subway: $110
- 1-Day Xi'an City Highlights and Hanyangling Museum Private Tour: $100
- 1-Day Xi'an Terracotta Warriors Museum and Banpo Neolithic Village Museum Tour: $100
- 1-Day Xi'an Terracotta Warriors,Wild Goose Pagoda and Banpo Village Museum Tour: $100
Typical Entertainment Prices in Milan
For Milan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Stairs to Duomo Rooftop$7.50
Tours and Activities in Milan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Milan.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- The City Storytelling Experience: Art, History and Myths Come Together: $3.28
- Milano Walking Tour with Audio and Written Guide by a Local: $4.19
- Self-Guided Audio Tour Exploring Age-Old Plants: $4.63
- Self-Guided Audio Tour Exploring the Famous Five Days: $4.63
- Unique Self-Guided Audio Tour on Alessandro Manzoni: $4.63
- Giuseppe Verdi in Self-Guided Audio Tour: $4.63
- From Italy eSIM Tourist Roaming Data Plan: $4.84
- 3 Hours Private Walking Tour in Milan: $5.48
- Stories of the Fashion Capital: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Milan: $5.49
- The Best of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayXi'an $7.23Milan $26
Typical Alcohol Prices in Milan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Milan:
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Cocktail at a Bar$9.00
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Beer$3.59
Sample the Local Flavors in Milan
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Milan:
- Wine Tasting Experience in the City Centre: $43
- Wine Tasting Experience in Milan city centre: $44
- Milan Wine Tasting Experience: $53
- Italian Wine Tasting in Milan: $54
- Milan Wine Tasting Aperitivo: $56
- Milan Wine Tasting with Italian Sommelier: $86
- Private Food and Wine Tasting Experience in the Center of Milan: $87
- Wine Tasting with an Italian Sommelier: $94
- Best of Guided Tour with Duomo, Food & Wine Tasting: $160
- Food and Wine Tasting enjoying the New Milan: $165
- Brescia & Franciacorta Guided Tour with Wine Tasting: $182
- Brescia and Franciacorta winery area. Cultural and wine tasting small group tour: $185
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Xi'an and Milan, we can see that Milan is more expensive. And not only is Xi'an much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Xi'an is in Asia and Milan is in Europe, 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 Xi'an would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Xi'an 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 Milan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Milan than you might in Xi'an.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Xi'an Expensive? and Is Milan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Xi'an or Milan?
Xi'an has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Milan. When comparing the sizes of Xi'an and Milan, 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.
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.