Which place is cheaper, Fraser Island or Harbin?
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 Harbin or Fraser Island?
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 Harbin and Fraser Island can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Harbin or Fraser Island?
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.
Fraser Island
Fraser Island, located off Australia's eastern Queensland coast, is the world's largest sand island. It is best known as a camping and ecotourism destination, with a number of panoramic viewpoints, beaches, lakes, and freshwater pools. Hervey Bay, a beachside city on the nearby mainland, is a primary gateway to the island.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in China, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Australia.
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Harbin Prices
China PricesFraser Island Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHarbin $66Fraser Island $243
The average daily cost (per person) in Harbin is $66, while the average daily cost in Fraser Island is $243. 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 Harbin and Fraser Island in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHarbin $21Fraser Island $102
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHarbin $42Fraser Island $204
Compare Hotels in Harbin and Fraser Island
Looking for a hotel in Harbin or Fraser Island? 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.Harbin $1.52Fraser Island $93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Harbin
Also for Harbin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer, Pick up.: $59
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Harbin Catholic Church Car Transfer Service: $80
- 4 Hour Private Transfer to Sun Island Snow Sculptures: $100
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin North Railway Station from Harbin City: $100
- Harbin Ice Festival Tickets and Transfer Service : $148
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $198
- Shared Transfer Service to Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Snow Festival: $250
- Harbin Volga Manor Private Transfer Service with Entry Tickets: $300
Is it cheaper to fly into Harbin or Fraser Island?
Prices for flights to both Fraser Island and Harbin 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 dayHarbin $24Fraser Island $83
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
- Harbin Cultural Tour at Zhongyang Dajie to Baluoke with Dinner: $80
- Central Street, Baluoke Village, and Dinner Tour: $90
- Harbin Dumpling Cooking Class: $154
- Hot Spring Experience with Hot Pot Dinner in Harbin: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Harbin $53Fraser Island $45
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: $51
- Half Day Tour for Harbin Guandong Ancient Lane and Wood Sculpture Museum: $104
- Harbin Summer Indoor Ice and Snow World Tour: $136
- Harbin Ice Lantern Show and Center Street Tour: $150
- Private Half Day Tour Harbin ConfucianTemple and Temple of Bliss (Jile Si): $157
- 1-Day Harbin Private Tour: $168
- Harbin City Guided Tour to Zhongyang Street and Sophia Church: $180
- Private Half Day City Tour including Russian Town and Harbin Ropeway Ride: $198
- Small Group Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $199
- Harbin City Private Day Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $200
- Harbin Ice Festival New Year Eve Countdown Group Tour on December 31: $200
- Private Half Day Tour to Unit 731 Museum and Sites in Harbin: $218
Tours and Activities in Fraser Island
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Fraser Island are as follows:
- 2 Hours Hervey Bay Funset Cruise: $53
- Fraser Experience Shared Full Day Guided Tour: $208
- Hervey Bay Ultimate Whale Watching Cruise: $80
- Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise: $104
- Hervey Bay to K'gari/Fraser Island 2-Day Tour (Beach House): $369
- Hervey Bay: Best Value Half Day Whale Watching Cruise: $80
- Hervey Bay: Half Day Whale watching & Island Stop Tour: $111
- K'gari (Fraser Island) All Inclusive Day Tour: $174
- K'gari (Fraser Island) Small Group 4WD Adventure - From Noosa: $201
- K'gari (Fraser Island) Small Group Day Tour - From Rainbow Beach: $186
- Remote Fraser Island Experience: $173
- Remote K'gari (Fraser Island) & Whale Experience: $173
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHarbin $7.96Fraser Island $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Harbin
Also in Harbin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Half-Day Private Harbin Beer Museum and Brewery Tour: $250
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Harbin and Fraser Island, we can see that Fraser Island is more expensive. And not only is Harbin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Harbin is in Asia and Fraser Island 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 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 Fraser Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fraser Island 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 Harbin Expensive? and Is Fraser Island Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Harbin or Fraser Island?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Fraser Island is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Harbin has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Harbin or Fraser Island in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Harbin as well as Fraser Island. Also, most visitors come to Fraser Island for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Harbin is around the same temperature as Fraser Island in the summer. The daily temperature in Harbin averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Fraser Island fluctuates around 26°C (78°F)in January.
It's quite rainy in Fraser Island. Harbin receives a lot of rain in the summer. Harbin usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Fraser Islandin January. Harbin gets 153 mm (6 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryHarbin 24°C (75°F)Fraser Island 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Harbin or Fraser Island in the Autumn?
Both Fraser Island and Harbin are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Fraser Island because of the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Harbin is much colder than Fraser Island. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Harbin in October average around 7°C (44°F), and Fraser Island averages at about 22°C (72°F)in April.
In October, Harbin usually receives less rain than Fraser Islandin April. Harbin gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilHarbin 7°C (44°F)Fraser Island 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Harbin or Fraser Island in the Winter?
Both Fraser Island and Harbin during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the cuisine are the main draw to Fraser Island this time of year.
The weather in Harbin can be very cold. In January, Harbin is generally much colder than Fraser Islandin July. Daily temperatures in Harbin average around -18°C (-0°F), and Fraser Island fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Harbin usually gets less rain in January than Fraser Islandin July. Harbin gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyHarbin -18°C (-0°F)Fraser Island 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Harbin or Fraser Island in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Harbin and Fraser Island. Furthermore, many travelers come to Fraser Island for the beaches and the natural beauty.
Harbin is much colder than Fraser Island in the spring. The daily temperature in Harbin averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Fraser Island fluctuates around 21°C (71°F)in October.
In April, Harbin usually receives less rain than Fraser Islandin October. Harbin gets 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 75 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberHarbin 8°C (46°F)Fraser Island 21°C (71°F)
Typical Weather for Fraser Island and Harbin
| Harbin | Fraser Island | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Feb | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |
| Nov | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | -14°C (7°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.