Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie or Xi'an?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Xi'an or Zhangjiajie?
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 Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie?
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.
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayXi'an $96Zhangjiajie $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Xi'an is $96, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $64. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personXi'an $61Zhangjiajie $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomXi'an $122Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Xi'an and Zhangjiajie
Looking for a hotel in Xi'an or Zhangjiajie? 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.Xi'an $12Zhangjiajie $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xi'an
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Xi'an:
- 2-Day Customized Private Tour With Transfer in Historical Xi'an: $231
- Essential Xian Tour with Airport Train Station or Hotel Transfer: $197
- Xian Private Day Tour with Airport Transfer: Terracotta Warriors and City Wall: $186
- Xian City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda Tour With Airport Transfer: $176
- Xian Terracotta Warriors Tour with Airport Transfer: $176
- Terracotta Warriors Tour with Airport Train Station or Hotel Transfer: $170
- Private Guided Transfer to Terracotta Warriors, City Wall, Small Wild Pagoda: $169
- Terracotta Warriors Museum Tour with Airport Pickup or Drop-off Transfer: $162
- Xi'an Layover: City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda With Airport Transfer: $153
- One Day Private Xian Tour to Terracotta Warriors with Airport Transfers: $149
- Xi'an Private Round Trip Transfer to Mount Huashan: $115
- Mt. Huashan Private Roundtrip Transfer with Driver's Tickets Help: $113
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $63
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Aizhai bridge area: $187
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
- Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213
- Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Xi'an or Zhangjiajie?
Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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 $13Zhangjiajie $21
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
- Private Old Xi'an Authentic Local Beer Dinner Tour: $68
- Xi'an Evening Food Tour by TukTuk: $69
- 4 Hours Food Tours in Xi'an: $72
- Authentic Muslim Alley Food Tour in Xi'an: $75
- Xi'an Tang Dynasty Show and Dumpling Dinner with Hotel Transfer: $76
- Half-day Xi'an Steamed Buns(Baozi) Cooking Class with Market Visit: $78
- Xi'an Authentic Food Tour with Local Beverages: $80
- 4-Hour Xi'an Experience: Shadow Puppet and Dumplings Lunch or Dinner: $82
- Private Xi'an HaiDiLao Hot Pot Local Food Tour: $86
- Tang Dynasty Dance Show and Dumpling Dinner: $87
- One Day Yuanjiacun Village Food Tour: $102
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Full-Day Private Discovery Tour to Tianmen Mountain National Park with Dinner: $184
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Xi'an $36Zhangjiajie $23
Tours and Activities in Xi'an
Here are a few actual costs in Xi'an for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- All Inclusive Terracotta Army Group Tour: $110
- Group Tour to the Terra-cotta Warriors Museum & Lunch : $65
- Private Half Day Tour to See The Big Wild Goose Pagoda&City Wall:: $185
- #1 Bestselling Private Terracotta Army Tours + Customized Xian Tours: $82
- 1-Day Xi'an City Highlights and Hanyangling Museum Private Tour: $100
- 2 Days Beijing Xian Tour by Bullet Train with Hotel: $287
- 2 Days Xian Small Group Tour: Terracotta Army and City Sightseeing: $226
- 2 Days Xian Small Group Tour: Terracotta Army, Hanyangling Museum, and Xian City: $228
- 2-Day Classic Xi'an Tour Combo Package: Terracotta Warriors and Downtown Sightseeing: $239
- 2-Day Highlights Xi'an Private Tour Combo Package: Terracotta Warriors and City Sightseeing: $240
- 2-Day Xi'an Private Tour Package: $269
- 2Day Panoramic Historical Tour: Xi'an Terracotta Army & Mausoleum: $235
Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- Virtual Guided Tour: Visit China's Landscapes with Hollywood Movies: $16
- Baofeng Lake Admission Ticket in Zhangjiajie (with Boat Ride): $37
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge Ticket: $57
- Join-in Tour: Tianmen Mountain and Sky Walk in a Day from Zhangjiajie: $118
- Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain With the Skywalk: $121
- Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain: $125
- Full-Day Private Tour of Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) National Forest Park: $130
- Private Day Tour of Baofeng Lake and Yellow Dragon Cave: $140
- 1 Day Private Expedition Tour to Binlang Valley: $142
- 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour: $146
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge and Baofeng Lake Private Day Tour: $147
- 2 Day Zhangjiajie Mt. Avatar Tianzi Yuanjiajie Grand Canyon Tour: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayXi'an $7.37Zhangjiajie $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Xi'an and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Xi'an is more expensive. And not only is Zhangjiajie much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zhangjiajie would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zhangjiajie 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 Xi'an would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Xi'an than you might in Zhangjiajie.
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 Zhangjiajie Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Xi'an or Zhangjiajie?
Xi'an has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Xi'an and Zhangjiajie, 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.