Student Budget Breakdown: 3-Day Trip to Xi'an
Student-friendly travel guide to Xi'an
Xi'an is a student-friendly travel destination with discounted attraction tickets, affordable food, and convenient public transport. Here's our real spending breakdown for 5 college students on a 3-day, 2-night budget trip to Xi'an.
Transportation Costs
Xi'an Metro covers major attractions; getting a Chang'an Tong transit card is very convenient. Single metro fares range from 2 to 6 yuan, and bus fares from 1 to 2 yuan. To travel from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport to the city center, take the airport shuttle (25 yuan) or Metro Line 14 transferring to Line 2 (approximately 8 yuan). Total transport costs for three days are about 50 yuan per person.
Accommodation
We chose a hostel near the Bell Tower. A bed in a 4-person dorm costs 60 yuan per person per night—clean, hygienic, and with a shared lounge area. Two nights total: 120 yuan per person. If your budget allows, an economy chain hotel double room is about 150-200 yuan per night; splitting the cost makes it very affordable for two people.
Ticket Fee
- Terracotta Warriors: Student ticket ¥60 (Full price ¥120)
- Great Wall: Student ticket 27 (Full price 54)
- Shaanxi History Museum: Free (advance reservation required)
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda: Student Ticket 20 CNY
- Great Tang All Day Mall: Free
The 3-day pass totals approximately 107 CNY per person.
Meals
Xi'an's food is affordable. A full meal costs an average of 20-40 yuan per person. Breakfast (meatball spicy soup + roujiamo) is about 15 yuan, lunch (paomo or biangbiang noodles) is around 25 yuan, and dinner street snacks are approximately 30 yuan. Total food expenses for three days: about 200 yuan per person.
Total Cost
Total cost per person for 3 days and 2 nights is approximately 477 yuan. Explore Xi'an in depth for under 500 yuan! Money-saving tips: use your student ID, stay in hostels, eat at local restaurants, and take public transportation.
