Xian on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Xi'an is great for budget travellers, with cheap food, metro and hostels inside the walls. A realistic daily minimum is about ¥315 (roughly €40) per person sharing a room.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | ¥120 | ¥250 | ¥650 |
| Food & drink | ¥80 | ¥180 | ¥400 |
| Sights & tickets | ¥100 | ¥170 | ¥300 |
| Local transport | ¥15 | ¥50 | ¥150 |
| Per person, per day | ¥315 | ¥650 | ¥1,500 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Xian day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Shaanxi History Museum main galleries (book a free slot)
- Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi'an Museum (reservation needed)
- The Bell Tower and Drum Tower area lit up at night
- The Muslim Quarter's streets and night market atmosphere
- The fountain show on the North Square of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
- Datang Everbright City's illuminated avenue
Cheap eats
- Lamb skewers, ¥3-5 each
- Yangrou paomo (lamb soup with torn bread), roughly ¥25-40
- Roujiamo (Chinese 'burger' of stewed meat in flatbread), roughly ¥10-18
- Biangbiang noodles, roughly ¥15-25
- Persimmon cakes, a few yuan each
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels near the Bell Tower, inside the walls and close to the Muslim Quarter and metro lines 2 and 6, about ¥150-280 for a double, with dorm beds cheaper.
Getting around cheaply
The metro (¥2-6) reaches most sights; line 9 heads east towards Huaqing and the Terracotta Army. The official tourist bus from the railway station is the cheapest way to the warriors. From Xianyang airport, the airport metro line or shuttle bus takes about 1 hour.
A sample budget day
- Morning: City Wall from the South Gate (about ¥54) with a bike (about ¥45)
- Lunch: roujiamo and noodles, about ¥30
- Afternoon: Great Mosque (about ¥25) and the Muslim Quarter
- Evening: skewers and yangrou paomo, about ¥50; Bell Tower at night (free)
- Total: about ¥315 including a shared hostel room
More ways to save
- Bring your passport for museum reservations and ticket purchases.
- Download offline maps and a translation app before arriving.
- Visit the Terracotta Army before 9:00 to avoid tour groups.
- Use metro day tickets or contactless mobile payment for frequent trips.
- Eat where locals queue in the Muslim Quarter for the best value.
- Travel in April-May or September-October, avoiding Golden Week.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Common questions
Can you visit Xi'an on a budget?
Yes. Hostels inside the walls, street food and the metro keep costs to about ¥315 per person a day.
What is free in Xi'an?
The Shaanxi History Museum (with reservation), Small Wild Goose Pagoda, the Bell and Drum Tower area at night and Datang Everbright City.
How do I get to the Terracotta Army cheaply?
By the official tourist bus from the railway station's east square or by metro line 9 and a short bus.