A Travel Price Comparison for China Deqin vs. Harbin for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Deqin or Harbin?

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 Deqin 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.

Where Should I go: Deqin or Harbin?

Deqin

Highly influenced by Tibet, Deqin is both a county and a town located in the Hengduanshan Mountains of China's Yunnan province. Most people visit the area as a home base from which to hike into the surrounding mountains, though the temples and traditional villages also add to the allure of the area.

Harbin

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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, and The Best Budget Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Deqin?

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 Deqin is $80, while the average daily cost in Harbin is $69. 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 Deqin and Harbin in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Deqin $38
    Harbin $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Deqin $76
    Harbin $44
Compare Hotels in Deqin and Harbin

Looking for a hotel in Deqin 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.

Hotels in Deqin


Hotels in Harbin


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Deqin $19
    Harbin $1.60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Harbin

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

  • 4 Hour Private Transfer to Sun Island Snow Sculptures: $100
  • Harbin Airport(HRB) Private Arrival Transfer: Meet&Greet Service: $36
  • Harbin Airport, Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province Transfer Service: $27
  • Harbin City Car Transfer Service with Driver: $198
  • Harbin Ice Festival Tickets and Transfer Service: $148
  • Harbin Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $88
  • Harbin Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station: $55
  • Harbin Sun Island Snow Fair tickets and Transfer Service: $128
  • Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer, Pick up.: $59
  • Harbin Volga Manor Private Transfer Service with Entry Tickets: $300
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin East Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $60
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $55

Is it cheaper to fly into Deqin or Harbin?

Prices for flights to both Harbin and Deqin 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
    Deqin $29
    Harbin $26

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Harbin

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

  • Dinner Show with Costumes and Performances: $29
  • Central Street, Baluoke Village, and Dinner Tour: $90
  • Harbin Cultural Tour at Zhongyang Dajie to Baluoke with Dinner: $150
  • Harbin Private City and Food Tour: $200
  • Private Full Day Tour to Harbin Beifang Forest Zoo and Optional Seafood Dinner: $261

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Deqin $13
    Harbin $56

Tours and Activities in Harbin

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

  • Harbin Ice and Snow World Ticket Booking: $66
  • Admission Ticket to Ice and Snow World: $75
  • Harbin Summer Indoor Ice and Snow World Tour: $136
  • Harbin Ice Lantern Show and Center Street Tour: $150
  • 1-Day Harbin Private Tour: $168
  • Harbin Private Day Tour to Yabuli ski Resort: $170
  • Private Half Day City Tour including Russian Town and Harbin Ropeway Ride: $198
  • Harbin City Walking Sightseeing: $198
  • Small Group Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $199
  • Harbin Ice Festival New Year Eve Countdown Group Tour on December 31: $200
  • Harbin City Private Day Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $200
  • Harbin Private Day Tour to lce and Snow World and Sun Island: $213

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Deqin $12
    Harbin $8.39


When comparing the travel costs between Deqin and Harbin, we can see that Deqin is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Deqin Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.