Which place is cheaper, Philadelphia or Xi'an?
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 Xi'an or Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia?
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.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.
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 Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.
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Xi'an Prices
China PricesPhiladelphia Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayXi'an $105Philadelphia $224
The average daily cost (per person) in Xi'an is $105, while the average daily cost in Philadelphia is $224. 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 Philadelphia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personXi'an $61Philadelphia $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomXi'an $122Philadelphia $238
Compare Hotels in Xi'an and Philadelphia
Looking for a hotel in Xi'an or Philadelphia? 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: Philadelphia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Xi'an $12Philadelphia $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xi'an
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Xi'an:
- seat in coach Terracotta army within 3rd ring transfers W lunch: $70
- Xian: Terracotta Army Ticket （Guided & Transfer Tour Option）: $97
- Xian to Xian Xianyang Airport (XIY) - Departure Private Transfer: $29
- Xian Xianyang International Airport (XIY) Private Departure Transfer: $40
- Xian Xianyang International Airport (XIY) Private Arrival Transfer: $40
- Xian Xianyang Airport (XIY) to Xian City - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
- Xian Xianyang Airport (XIY) to Xian - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $58
- Xian Xianyang Airport (XIY) to Xian - Arrival Private Transfer: $29
- Xian Terracotta Warriors and City Wall Tour with Airport Transfer: $254
- Xian Terracotta Warriors Tour with Airport Transfer: $216
- Xian Terracotta Warriors Museum Tour with Airport Transfer: $214
- Xian Private Day Tour with Airport Transfer: Terracotta Warriors and City Wall: $225
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia - Arrival Private Transfer: $109
- Philadelphia City to Baltimore City - Private Car Transfer: $210
- Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadephia Airport PHL by SUV: $146
- Private Transfer Philadephia to Philadelphia Airport PHL by Sedan: $94
- Private Transfer: Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia in Business Car: $104
- Private Transfer: Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia in Luxury SUV: $115
- Private transfer from PHL to Philadelphia Downtown: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Xi'an or Philadelphia?
Prices for flights to both Philadelphia 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 $22Philadelphia $84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Xi'an
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Xi'an.
- Xi’an：City Wall Multi-Entry or Night Food Tour with Show: $21
- Xi'An: Tang Dynasty Show Ticket w/ Transfer or Dinner: $33
- Top 3 Xian Sites to Terracotta Army & Dinner Show w/ Options: $35
- Xi'an Tang Dynasty Show Ticket Optional Dumplings or Royal Dinner: $37
- Skip the Line: Xi'an Tang Dynasty Show Ticket & Dumpling Dinner or Royal Banquet: $37
- Xian Tang Dynasty Show -Optional Dumpling Dinner or Royal Banquet: $38
- Xi'an: Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show with Dinner Option: $40
- Xi'an Homemade Food Cooking Dumplings / BIANGBIANGNoodles: $58
- Xi’an: Market Tour and Cooking Class with Local Family: $59
- Xi'an Vegetarian Food Tour: $60
- Xi'an Muslim Quarter Walking Food Tour: $61
- Private Xi'an Food Tour: $65
Typical Food Prices in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for 3)$27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Nibble Food Tour: $58
- Philadelphia Italian Market Public Food Tour: $59
- Center City Philadelphia Food Tour with Reading Market : $59
- Flavors of Philly Food Tour: $65
- Behind The Scenes Food Tour: South Philly & Italian Market: $95
- Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour: $105
- City Cruises Signature Dinner Cruise with Buffet: $123
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Xi'an $36Philadelphia $28
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 The Terracotta Warriors Museum: $88
- 1 Day Beijing to Xi'an Terracotta Warriors Tour by Air: $779
- 1 Day Private Tour to Terracotta Army & Huaqing Pool, No Shopping: $129
- 1 Day Xian Group Tour: Terracotta Warriors & City Wall: $138
- 1 day Adventure Tour of Mount Hua in Xi'an: $85
- 1 day Xi'an Culture and History Discovery Mini Group tour: $112
- 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
- 2 Day Private Terracotta Warriors and Mount Huashan Tour: $265
- 2 Days Beijing Xian Private Tour by Bullet Trains with Hotel: $287
- 2 Days Xian Customized Tour for Terracotta Warriors and More: $235
Typical Entertainment Prices in Philadelphia
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Big Bus Tour (family of 3)$99
Tours and Activities in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Philadelphia Haunted Ghost Smartphone Guided Audio Walking Tour: $7.75
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Philadelphia by Operation City Quest: $10
- The Road to Revolution: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Philadelphia: $12
- Philadelphia Architecture: Discover Every American Style on a GPS Audio Tour: $12
- Philadelphia 76ers Basketball Game Ticket at Wells Fargo Center: $12
- University of Pennsylvania Scavenger Hunt Experience: $15
- Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Philadelphia with Holly Jolly: $20
- The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia: $24
- The Ghosts of Philadelphia Tour: $25
- Museum of the American Revolution Admission Ticket with Audio Guided Option: $27
- Revolution and the Founders: History Tour of Philadelphia: $29
- 90 Minute History Walking Tour of Old City Philadelphia: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayXi'an $7.34Philadelphia $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Xi'an
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Xi'an:
- Xi'an Bar Crawl: Drink, Gaming, Snacks & Meet with Locals: $29
Sample the Local Flavors in Philadelphia
Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Philly Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $36
- Liberty History Tour Pub Crawl: $45
- Philadelphia Prohibition Pub Crawl: $50
- Philly Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Xi'an and Philadelphia, we can see that Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia is in North America, 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 Philadelphia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Xi'an or Philadelphia?
Xi'an has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Philadelphia. When comparing the sizes of Xi'an and Philadelphia, 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.