Is Xian expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Xi'an is good value: cheaper than Beijing or Shanghai, with excellent street food and inexpensive metro fares. A budget traveller can manage on about ¥315 (roughly €40) per person a day sharing a room, mid-range about ¥650 and comfort about ¥1,500. Entry tickets, especially for the Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace, are the largest daytime costs.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| 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.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Lamb skewer in the Muslim Quarter | ¥3-5 each |
| Metro fare | about ¥2-6 |
| Didi or taxi across town | about ¥15-30 |
| Terracotta Army (high season) | about ¥120 |
| Huaqing Palace | about ¥120 |
| City Wall at the South Gate | about ¥54 |
| Bike rental on the City Wall, 3 hours | about ¥45 |
| Great Mosque | about ¥25 |
| Mid-range double inside the walls | ¥350-650 a night |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Sightseeing tickets are the main cost: the Terracotta Army, Huaqing Palace, the City Wall and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda complex together cost over ¥300. Hotels inside the walls are reasonably priced at ¥350-650. Food is cheap, especially in the Muslim Quarter, and the metro keeps transport costs very low.
When it is cheaper
Hotel prices are lower from November to March, except Chinese New Year, often roughly 20-30% below spring and autumn peaks. Golden Week (1-7 October) and Chinese New Year are the most expensive and crowded.
How to spend less
- Take the metro and public tourist bus to the Terracotta Army instead of a private tour.
- Reserve the free Shaanxi History Museum slot several days ahead with your passport.
- Eat in the Muslim Quarter: skewers, persimmon cakes and yangrou paomo are cheap and filling.
- Visit the free Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Xi'an Museum (with reservation) instead of paid sites.
- Rent a bike on the City Wall rather than walking the full 13.7 km loop.
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your foreign card for easy, fee-free small payments.
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Common questions
Is Xi'an expensive?
No. Budget travellers spend about ¥315 (roughly €40) a day and mid-range about ¥650; tickets are the main cost.
How much is the Terracotta Army ticket?
About ¥120 in high season, including the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang.
How much does food cost in the Muslim Quarter?
Lamb skewers cost ¥3-5 each and a bowl of yangrou paomo roughly ¥25-40.