Which place is cheaper, Brisbane or Xiamen?
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 Xiamen or Brisbane?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Xiamen and Brisbane 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: Xiamen or Brisbane?
Xiamen
Xiamen is a coastal city in the Fujian Province of China and has been a major port city and gateway to China for centuries. This vibrant and modern city was named the most livable city in the world in 2002 and one of the first cities to be named a Special Economic Zone. Xiamen is best known for being home to Gulangyu Island, a beautiful island full of historic colonial buildings and lovely walking paths.
Brisbane
Although Brisbane is often overlooked as a travel destination in Australia, it is the capital of the state of Queensland, and is the third largest city in Australia. It's a very young and vibrant city with an active nightlife and a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It's a modern and economically thriving city and, if you do have time to visit, it actually has a lot to offer travelers. It has some beautiful scenery, a wonderful warm climate all year long, and is actually one of the fastest growing cities in Australia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia.
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Xiamen Prices
China PricesBrisbane Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayXiamen $84Brisbane $154
The average daily cost (per person) in Xiamen is $84, while the average daily cost in Brisbane is $154. 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 Xiamen and Brisbane in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personXiamen $31Brisbane $81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomXiamen $62Brisbane $162
Compare Hotels in Xiamen and Brisbane
Looking for a hotel in Xiamen or Brisbane? 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: Brisbane Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Xiamen $6.08Brisbane $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xiamen
Also for Xiamen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen City and Yongding Hakka Tulou : $115
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Yunshuiyao Village from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng Tulou and Hekeng Hakka Tulou from Xiamen City : $98
- Private Transfer to Hongkeng Tulou and Yunshuiyao Village from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Hongkeng Tulou from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng and HekengHakka Tulou fromXiamen: $90
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen and Anxi : $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster : $89
- Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and HongKeng Hakka Tulou Cluster: $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hui'an county in Quanzhou: $89
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Departure Transfer from City Areas: $33
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Arrival Transfer to City Area: $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Brisbane:
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Airtrain to the City$9.81
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Go Card$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Brisbane
Also for Brisbane, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- UVF Luxury Transfer To Secrets St. Lucia Roundtrip: $100
- Sirromet Winery 3 Course Lunch, Tour, Tastings and Transfers: $134
- Secrets St Lucia Airport Transfer: $58
- Private Transfers From Brisbane to Gold Coast: $133
- Private Transfer: Cruise Port to Brisbane Airport BNE or Brisbane City: $129
- Private Transfer: Brisbane to Airport BNE by Business Car: $106
- Private Transfer: Brisbane Airport BNE to Brisbane in Business Car: $106
- Private Transfer from Brisbane Hotels to Brisbane Cruise Port: $102
- Private Transfer from Brisbane Airports to Surfers Paradise: $107
- Private Transfer from Brisbane Airport to Noosa for 1 to 3 people: $276
- Private Arrival Transfer: Brisbane Airport to Hotel: $54
- Private Airport/Resort Luxury Transfers: $107
Is it cheaper to fly into Xiamen or Brisbane?
Prices for flights to both Brisbane and Xiamen 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 dayXiamen $46Brisbane $54
Typical Food Prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Brisbane:
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Hamburger Lunch$5.23
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Cup of Coffee$1.96
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Chinese Food Lunch$8.18
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Ice cream$3.60
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Japanese Meal$14
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Smoothie$4.25
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Japanese Soup$7.52
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Coffee & Muffin$4.58
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Morning Mint Tea$2.29
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Veggie Burger & Chips$9.16
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Bread$1.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Gold Coast: Glow Worms, Sunset & Stargazing with BBQ dinner: $118
- Vertigo Dinner – Dining on the Edge: $165
- Dinner on the Edge with Vertigo Brisbane: $168
- Local Icons Food Tour: $354
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Xiamen $16Brisbane $24
Tours and Activities in Xiamen
For Xiamen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Fujian Tulou Private Day Tour to World Heritage Site Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster: $178
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Local Food Market Experience: $103
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Shore Excursion Tour in Your Way: $121
- 4-hour Xiamen Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $115
- A Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
- Flexible Private Xiamen Layover Tour from Cruise Port or Airport : $155
- Flexible Private Xiamen Layover Tour with Meal: $176
- Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour with Meal Option: $164
- From 3-Day Tulou and Gulangyu Island Tour: $589
- Fujian Hakka Tulou Private Day Tour of Tianluokeng and Daping Lou: $194
- Hakka Tulou Private Day Tour of Yunshuiyao Ancient Village and Hekeng Tulou : $203
- Half-Day Private Tour to Xiamen Gulangyu Island Highlights: $192
Typical Entertainment Prices in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Concert Tickets$13
Tours and Activities in Brisbane
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Brisbane.
- 2 Hour Sunset Jetski Tour on the Brisbane River: $110
- 2 hour Brisbane Segway Afternoon & Sunset Thrill Tour: $85
- 2.30pm Mid Afternoon Sightseeing Cruise: $35
- 2.5 Hour Sightseeing Tours - Morning & Night: $105
- 4 Hour Jetski Adventure from Brisbane to Moreton Bay Islands: $177
- 6 Hour Welcome to Brisbane Private Sightseeing Private Tour: $724
- 6 Hours Brisbane Private Tour - Popular Sights in One Day: $724
- Adventure Moreton Island Wrecks Adventure Package: $120
- Adventure Theme Scavenger Hunt Experience in Brisbane: $27
- Afternoon Moreton Bay Sailing Tour: $80
- Alice In Puzzleland an Escape Hunt Brisbane Experience: $32
- Alpaca Feeding with Wildlife & Nature Park VIP Private Tour: $959
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayXiamen $17Brisbane $50
Typical Alcohol Prices in Brisbane
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Brisbane:
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Evening at the Bar$9.81
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Sixpack of Beer$9.16
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Guiness Beer$5.56
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Sixpack of Beer$8.50
Sample the Local Flavors in Brisbane
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Brisbane:
- XXXX Brewery Tour: $25
- Hop on Hop off Brewery Adventure : $66
- Island Pub Crawl with Lunch and High Speed Boat Tour in Brisbane : $101
- Afternoon Brisbane Half-Day Brewery Tour: $107
- Hop on Hop off Wine tasting tour to Tamborine Mountain: $110
- Island Pub Crawl with Lunch and High-Speed Boat: $116
- Hinterland Heritage Wine Tour : $134
- Brisbane Brewery Full Day Tour with Lunch: $140
- Gold Coast Full Day Brewery Tour: $140
- Deluxe Wine Tour to Tamborine Mountain, includes two course lunch: $148
- Tamborine Wine & Distillery Tour + 2 Course Lunch: $165
- Mount Tamborine Wine Tasting Tour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast: $168
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Xiamen and Brisbane, we can see that Brisbane is more expensive. And not only is Xiamen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Xiamen is in Asia and Brisbane is in Pacific, 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 Xiamen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Xiamen 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 Brisbane would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brisbane than you might in Xiamen.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Xiamen Expensive? and Is Brisbane Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Xiamen or Brisbane?
Brisbane has a larger population, and is about 66% larger than the population of Xiamen. When comparing the sizes of Xiamen and Brisbane, 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.
When is the best time to visit Xiamen or Brisbane?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Brisbane is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Xiamen has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Xiamen or Brisbane in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Xiamen and Brisbane. Furthermore, most visitors come to Brisbane for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Xiamen is a little warmer than Brisbane in the summer. The daily temperature in Xiamen averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Brisbane fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in January.
Brisbane receives a lot of rain in the summer. Xiamen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Xiamen usually receives less rain than Brisbanein January. Xiamen gets 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Brisbane receives 169 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryXiamen 30°C (86°F)Brisbane 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Brisbane in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Xiamen as well as Brisbane. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Brisbane because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Xiamen is a little warmer than Brisbane. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Xiamen in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Brisbane averages at about 22°C (71°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in Brisbane. Xiamen usually gets less rain in October than Brisbanein April. Xiamen gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Brisbane receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilXiamen 25°C (77°F)Brisbane 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Brisbane in the Winter?
Both Brisbane and Xiamen are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Brisbane this time of year.
In January, Xiamen is generally around the same temperature as Brisbanein July. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 14°C (58°F), and Brisbane fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In January, Xiamen usually receives less rain than Brisbanein July. Xiamen gets 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Brisbane receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyXiamen 14°C (58°F)Brisbane 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Brisbane in the Spring?
Both Brisbane and Xiamen during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Brisbane for the beaches and the activities around the city.
Xiamen is around the same temperature as Brisbane in the spring. The daily temperature in Xiamen averages around 20°C (69°F) in April, and Brisbane fluctuates around 21°C (69°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Xiamen. Xiamen usually gets more rain in April than Brisbanein October. Xiamen gets 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Brisbane receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberXiamen 20°C (69°F)Brisbane 21°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Brisbane and Xiamen
| Xiamen | Brisbane | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (69°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 24°C (76°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
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.