Which place is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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 Koh Pha Ngan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Harbin or Koh Pha Ngan?
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.
Koh Pha Ngan
Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in China, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Harbin Prices
China PricesKoh Pha Ngan Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHarbin $66Koh Pha Ngan $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Harbin is $66, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $61. 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 Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHarbin $21Koh Pha Ngan $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHarbin $42Koh Pha Ngan $54
Compare Hotels in Harbin and Koh Pha Ngan
Looking for a hotel in Harbin or Koh Pha Ngan? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Koh Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Harbin $1.52Koh Pha Ngan $15
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 with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- Harbin Catholic Church Car Transfer Service: $80
- Harbin Ice Festival Tickets and Transfer Service : $148
- 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 West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin North Railway Station from Harbin City: $100
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $198
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Shared Transfer Service to Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Snow Festival: $250
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$9.42
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Ferry Ride$16
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Gas for Scooter$3.45
Is it cheaper to fly into Harbin or Koh Pha Ngan?
Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan 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 $24Koh Pha Ngan $20
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
Typical Food Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:
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Noodle Lunch (for One)$1.26
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Smoothies (for Two)$1.26
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Ice Cream$0.63
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Juice$1.88
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3 Spring Rolls$0.94
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2 Pancakes$1.88
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Harbin $53Koh Pha Ngan $19
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHarbin $7.96Koh Pha Ngan $11
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)$8.16
When comparing the travel costs between Harbin and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Harbin 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 Harbin Expensive? and Is Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Harbin or Koh Pha Ngan?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 270 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Harbin and Koh Pha Ngan, 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 Harbin or Koh Pha Ngan?
Harbin has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Pha Ngan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Harbin or Koh Pha Ngan in the Summer?
Both Koh Pha Ngan and Harbin during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Pha Ngan year-round.
In July, Harbin is generally around the same temperature as Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Harbin average around 24°C (75°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
Koh Pha Ngan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Harbin. Harbin usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Koh Pha Ngan. Harbin gets 153 mm (6 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHarbin 24°C (75°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Harbin or Koh Pha Ngan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Harbin and Koh Pha Ngan. Koh Pha Ngan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Harbin is much colder than Koh Pha Ngan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Harbin averages around 7°C (44°F) in October, and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
Koh Pha Ngan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Harbin usually receives less rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Harbin gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. Also, October and November is the rainy season in Koh Pha Ngan.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHarbin 7°C (44°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Harbin or Koh Pha Ngan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Harbin as well as Koh Pha Ngan. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Pha Ngan throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Harbin. In the winter, Harbin is much colder than Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Harbin in January average around -18°C (-0°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 22°C (72°F).
Harbin usually gets less rain in January than Koh Pha Ngan. Harbin gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHarbin -18°C (-0°F)Koh Pha Ngan 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Harbin or Koh Pha Ngan in the Spring?
Both Koh Pha Ngan and Harbin are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Pha Ngan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Harbin is generally much colder than Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Harbin average around 8°C (46°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
In April, Harbin usually receives less rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Harbin gets 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHarbin 8°C (46°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Pha Ngan and Harbin
| Harbin | Koh Pha Ngan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) |
| Nov | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Dec | -14°C (7°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°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.