Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Guilin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Guilin or Harbin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Guilin and Harbin can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Guilin or Harbin?
Guilin
Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuilin $67Harbin $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Guilin is $67, 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 Guilin and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuilin $34Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuilin $68Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Guilin and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Guilin 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guilin $5.77Harbin $1.50
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:
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Taxi$2.76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:
- Transfer from Guilin Liangjiang Airport to Guilin City Center: $41
- Private Transfer: Guilin to/from Zhangjiajie/Fenghuang: $256
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo/Guilin to Sanjiang and stops Longji Rice Terraces: $160
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Longji rice terraces area: $267
- Private Transfer from Guilin hotel to Yangshuo hotel: $37
- Private Transfer from Guilin hotel to Xingping hotel: $64
- Private Guilin Airport Transfer to Yangshuo: $42
- Private Departure Transfer: Downtown Guilin Hotel to Airport (KWL): $25
- Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Guilin Train Stations: $17
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin Train Stations to Yangshuo: $49
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin Train Stations to Downtown Hotel: $17
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin International Airport (KWL) to Downtown Hotel: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Harbin
Also for Harbin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Any Harbin Railway Station : $25
- Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- Harbin Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer: $27
- Harbin City Car Transfer Service with Driver: $168
- Harbin Private Transfer from Harbin Airport (HRB) to central Harbin: $114
- Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service , Harbin Airport Transfer,Pick up: $78
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Harbin Railway Station to City Hotel: $29
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $168
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Shared Night Transfer Service to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Guilin or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Guilin 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 dayGuilin $22Harbin $14
Typical Food Prices in Guilin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:
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Fresh Coconut Drink$1.38
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guilin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.
- Half day Yangshuo Cooking lesson Small Group Tour: $62
- Full-Day Li-River with the 4 Star Luxury Boat VIP Room and Yangshuo Cooking Tour: $286
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Harbin
For Harbin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Harbin Dumpling Cooking Class: $154
- 4-Hour Private Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World with Dinner Options: $261
- Hot Spring Experience with Hot Pot Dinner in Harbin: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guilin $28Harbin $53
Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin
Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Caves$17
Tours and Activities in Guilin
Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Day Self-Guided Guilin Tour with 4 Star Boat, Yangshuo and Longji Terraces : $200
- Full-Day Guilin Li-River Cruise with 4 star boat and Reed Flute Cave Tour: $262
- Full-Day Yangshuo Sunrise and Li-River cruise with the 4 Star Boat Private Tour: $272
- Longji Rice Terraces Day Tour with the Ping'an and Dazhai Village: $209
- 1 Day Guilin to Yangshuo with top scenery & culture private tour : $79
- 1 Day Private Tour: Li River Cruise from Guilin & Yangshuo Biking: $169
- 1 Day Relaxing Li River Cruise With The 4 Star Luxury Boat lower Deck Seating: $225
- 1 Day Yangshuo Countryside Cycling and Yulong bamboo boat Private Tour: $94
- 1 Day Yangshuo Countryside Hiking along the Yulong river Private Tour: $103
- 1 Day Yangshuo private Day Tour with the Scooter: $105
- 1 day Guilin Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Countryside with Scooter Private Tour: $204
- 1 day Li River cruise & Yangshuo countryside private day tour : $120
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Harbin Ice Lantern Show at Zhaolin Park Night Tour with Zhongyang Pedestrian Street: $104
- 1-Day Harbin Private Tour: $130
- 4-Hour Private Tour of the Largest Indoor Ice and Snow Paradise: $136
- Private Half Day City Tour including Russian Town and Harbin Ropeway Ride: $150
- Private Harbin City Day Tour of Russian Historical Sites and Culture: $157
- Small Group Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $198
- Harbin City Private Day Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $200
- Private Harbin Ice Festival Night Tour: $209
- Private Customized Harbin City Day Tour by Public Transportation: $220
- Songhua River Boat Tour and Food Experience in Harbin: $230
- Full Day Private Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow Festival: $250
- Small-Group Tour in Summer: Harbin Sun Island, Indoor Ice and Snow World: $261
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuilin $5.73Harbin $7.85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guilin and Harbin, we can see that Guilin is more expensive. And not only is Harbin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Harbin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Harbin 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 Guilin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guilin than you might in Harbin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guilin Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guilin or Harbin?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Guilin. When comparing the sizes of Guilin 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.
When is the best time to visit Guilin or Harbin?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Guilin or Harbin in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Guilin as well as Harbin.
In the summer, Guilin is a little warmer than Harbin. Typically, the summer temperatures in Guilin in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Harbin averages at about 24°C (75°F).
It's quite rainy in Harbin. Guilin receives a lot of rain in the summer. Guilin usually gets more rain in July than Harbin. Guilin gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGuilin 30°C (86°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Harbin in the Autumn?
Both Harbin and Guilin are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In October, Guilin is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Guilin average around 23°C (73°F), and Harbin fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
In October, Guilin usually receives more rain than Harbin. Guilin gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGuilin 23°C (73°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Harbin in the Winter?
Both Harbin and Guilin during the winter are popular places to visit.
Harbin can get quite cold in the winter. Guilin is much warmer than Harbin in the winter. The daily temperature in Guilin averages around 10°C (49°F) in January, and Harbin fluctuates around -18°C (-0°F).
Guilin usually gets more rain in January than Harbin. Guilin gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGuilin 10°C (49°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Harbin in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Guilin and Harbin.
In the spring, Guilin is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the spring temperatures in Guilin in April average around 20°C (68°F), and Harbin averages at about 8°C (46°F).
Guilin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Guilin usually receives more rain than Harbin. Guilin gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGuilin 20°C (68°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Guilin
| Guilin | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (49°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (68°F) | 263 mm (10.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 334 mm (13.2 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (86°F) | 168 mm (6.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 5 mm (0.2 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.