Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Chiang Mai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Chiang Mai and Harbin. 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.
Chiang Mai is both the cultural center of northern Thailand and a launching point for trips into the rural areas, small towns, and lush jungles of the country's northern regions. Known for great food, historic temples, arts and crafts, and a lively night market, Chiang Mai is a very popular destination for travelers. In some areas, tourists and ex-pats dominate, but it's quite easy to get away from the tourist scene and into the real culture of Thailand, as Chiang Mai (and the surrounding countryside) is quite large.
Harbin, China is the northernmost major city in the country, with a population of over 10 million. Harbin was founded in 1897 by Russia, which has resulted in a lot of Russian influence throughout the city and many Russian citizens. The city is most famous for their annual International Snow and Ice Festival, a two-month-long festival running from January through February of each year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Mai is $45, while the average daily cost in Harbin is $54. 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 Chiang Mai and Harbin in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai or Harbin? 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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Chiang Mai are as follows:
Also for Chiang Mai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Also for Harbin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Chiang Mai 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Chiang Mai:
For Chiang Mai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Harbin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Chiang Mai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chiang Mai.
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Chiang Mai are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Chiang Mai:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chiang Mai and Harbin, we can see that Harbin is more expensive. And not only is Chiang Mai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chiang Mai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chiang Mai 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 Harbin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Harbin than you might in Chiang Mai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chiang Mai Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Chiang Mai. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Mai and Harbin, 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.
Harbin has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Chiang Mai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Chiang Mai and Harbin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Chiang Mai year-round.
In the summer, Chiang Mai is a little warmer than Harbin. Typically, the summer temperatures in Chiang Mai in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Harbin averages at about 24°C (75°F).
Harbin receives a lot of rain in the summer. Chiang Mai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Chiang Mai usually receives around the same amount of rain as Harbin. Chiang Mai gets 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the summer. Also, June to September is the rainy season in Chiang Mai.
The autumn brings many poeple to Chiang Mai as well as Harbin. Chiang Mai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Chiang Mai is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Chiang Mai average around 29°C (83°F), and Harbin fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
Chiang Mai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Chiang Mai usually gets more rain in October than Harbin. Chiang Mai gets 122 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, November to February in Chiang Mai is the dry season.
Both Harbin and Chiang Mai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Chiang Mai throughout the year.
The weather in Harbin can be very cold. Chiang Mai is much warmer than Harbin in the winter. The daily temperature in Chiang Mai averages around 23°C (74°F) in January, and Harbin fluctuates around -18°C (-0°F).
In January, Chiang Mai usually receives more rain than Harbin. Chiang Mai gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Chiang Mai is November to February.
Both Harbin and Chiang Mai during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Chiang Mai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The heat can be very extreme in Chiang Mai. In the spring, Chiang Mai is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the spring temperatures in Chiang Mai in April average around 31°C (88°F), and Harbin averages at about 8°C (46°F).
Chiang Mai usually gets more rain in April than Harbin. Chiang Mai gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year. June to September is the rainy season in Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai | Harbin | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 23°C (74°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
May | 31°C (87°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
Oct | 29°C (83°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |