A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Amman vs. Xi'an for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Amman or Xi'an?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Amman and Xi'an. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Amman or Xi'an?

Amman

Amman is the largest city in of the Hashemite Kingdom of the country of Jordan. It is also the capital city of Jordan and has a population of over four million people. Many people use Amman as a base for venturing out into the rest of Jordan and other surrounding countries. There are many things to see and do in Amman.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Xi'an or Amman?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Amman is $135, while the average daily cost in Xi'an is $105. 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 Amman and Xi'an in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Amman $49
    Xi'an $61
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Amman $98
    Xi'an $122
Compare Hotels in Amman and Xi'an

Looking for a hotel in Amman or Xi'an? 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.

Hotels in Amman


Hotels in Xian


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: Amman Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Amman $24
    Xi'an $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amman

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amman:


  • Bus Ride (for Two)
    $0.71
  • RIde to Airport
    $28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amman

Also for Amman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from/To King Hussein Border: $45
  • Airport Transfer To The Dead Sea: $51
  • Airport Transfer To and From Amman: $23
  • Airport pickup or drop off transfer from or to Amman city: $63
  • Amman Airport Private Departure Transfer: $27
  • Amman Airport Private Transfer: $34
  • Amman Airport Private Transfer To Amman: $20
  • Amman Airport Private Transfer To Amman: $25
  • Amman Airport Private Transfer To Amman: $40
  • Amman Airport Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations : $40
  • Amman Airport Transfer to/from Multi Destinations: $55
  • Amman Airport Transfer vice versa: $21

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 Xianyang International Airport (XIY) Private Departure Transfer: $40
  • Xian Xianyang Airport (XIY) to Xian City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
  • Xian Xianyang Airport (XIY) to Xian City - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
  • Xian Xianyang Airport (XIY) to Xian - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $57
  • Xian Terracotta Warriors Tour with Airport Transfer: $216
  • Xian Private Day Tour with Airport Transfer: Terracotta Warriors and City Wall: $225
  • Xian City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda Tour With Airport Transfer: $206
  • Xi’an Xianyang International Airport Private Departure Transfer from City Area : $29
  • Xi’an Railway Station Private Departure Transfer from City Area: $29
  • Xi’an Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Area: $34

Is it cheaper to fly into Amman or Xi'an?

Prices for flights to both Xi'an and Amman 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Amman $58
    Xi'an $22
Typical Food Prices in Amman

For Amman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Pastries
    $4.23
  • Tea
    $5.64

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amman

For Amman, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Guided Food Tour in Downtown: $70
  • Women-Led Food Tour Through Amman’s Culinary Scene: $80
  • The Best Culture&Food Tour With Majd The Local Guide: $81
  • Amman Food Tours: 3-Hours Guided Walking Food Tour in Amman: $106
  • Private Panoramic Amman Tour and Local Lunch or Dinner-Wine Taste: $107
  • Traditional Cooking Class in Amman with Return Hotel Transfers: $118
  • Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Arak Experience: $140

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
  • Xi'an: Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show with Dinner Option: $40
  • Xi’an: Market Tour and Cooking Class with Local Family: $59
  • Xi'an Muslim Quarter Walking Food Tour: $61
  • Xian: Morning Food Tour of the Muslim Quarter: $67
  • Private Old Xi'an Authentic Local Beer Dinner Tour: $68
  • Authentic Old Xi'an Back Alley Food Tour: $69
  • Xi'an Evening Food Tour by TukTuk: $69

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Amman $32
    Xi'an $36

Tours and Activities in Amman

For Amman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Discover the hidden gems of Amman's Rainbow street on a self-guided audio tour: $5.00
  • Amman Shopping Private Tour: $20
  • Amman Private City Tour: $20
  • Tree of Al Buqayawiyya and Seven Sleepers Cave Private Tour : $30
  • Full Day Madaba Mount Nebo Baptism and Dead Sea Private Tour: $35
  • Private Sightseeing City Tour: $38
  • Amman Heritage Walk: A Private City Center Tour: $40
  • Sightseeing Tour in Heart of Amman downtown: $40
  • Private Walking Tour in Madaba with Local Guide: $41
  • Amman Heritage Tour: Street Food, Local Culture & Art: $44
  • Amman Private City Tour From Airport: $45
  • Madaba Mount Nebo and Baptism Private Guided Tour: $45

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 The Terracotta Warriors Museum: $88
  • #1 Bestselling Private Terracotta Army Tours + Customized Xian Tours: $91
  • 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 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
  • 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
  • 2 Days Xian Small Group Tour: Terracotta Army and City Sightseeing: $226

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Amman $14
    Xi'an $7.34

Sample the Local Flavors in Amman

Also in Amman, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Private Wine Tasting Tour in Amman and Boulevard Walking Tour: $93
  • Full Day Tour of Ajloun Castle with Cable Car and Wine Tasting : $127

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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amman and Xi'an, we can see that Amman is more expensive. And not only is Xi'an much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amman is in Middle East and Xi'an is in Asia, 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 Amman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amman 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 Amman Expensive? and Is Xi'an Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Amman or Xi'an?

Xi'an has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Amman. When comparing the sizes of Amman and Xi'an, 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.