Which place is cheaper, Taupo or Harbin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Harbin or Taupo?
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 Taupo can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Harbin or Taupo?
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.
Taupo
Taupo is a town located in the center of the North Island, situated on the shores of Lake Taupo, which is New Zealand's largest lake. It is also the caldera of the Taupo Volcano. It has a population of 23,700 people and is visited by many people interested in fishing, boating, and other water activities. There are many hiking and biking trails that take you around the water as well.
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 New Zealand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHarbin $54Taupo $111
The average daily cost (per person) in Harbin is $54, while the average daily cost in Taupo is $111. 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 Taupo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHarbin $21Taupo $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHarbin $42Taupo $124
Compare Hotels in Harbin and Taupo
Looking for a hotel in Harbin or Taupo? 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: Taupo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Harbin $1.49Taupo $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 Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer: $40
- Harbin City Car Transfer Service with Driver: $168
- 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 Departure Transfer to Harbin Railway Station from Harbin City Hotel: $50
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin West Railway Station from Harbin City Hotel: $60
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $168
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Harbin or Taupo?
Prices for flights to both Taupo 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 $14Taupo $24
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
- Half-Day Private Harbin Beer Museum and Food Tour Including Harbin Beer1900: $157
- 4-Hour Private Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World with Dinner Options: $261
- Private Full Day Tour to Harbin Beifang Forest Zoo and Optional Seafood Dinner: $261
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Harbin $52Taupo $35
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Half Day Tour for Harbin Guandong Ancient Lane and Wood Sculpture Museum: $104
- 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
- Harbin City Guided Tour to Zhongyang Street and Sophia Church: $180
- Harbin City Walking Sightseeing : $198
- Small Group Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $198
- Small Group Tour to Harbin Siberian Park Tiger: $200
- 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 Harbin Ice Festival Night Tour: $209
Typical Entertainment Prices in Taupo
Here are a few typical costs in Taupo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Bungy Jumping$152
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Jet Boating$56
Tours and Activities in Taupo
Here are a few actual costs in Taupo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 11-Day North Island Revive Small Group Tour: $1,959
- Daily Scenic Maori Rock Carving Cruise Taupo: $30
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - Cabin in the Woods: $23
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Candy Cottage: $22
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Hunting Lodge: $23
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Marvelous Circus: $22
- Great Lake Trail Lake Taupo 2-Day Mountain Biking Tour: $97
- Hukafalls: 30-Minute Jet Boat Experience: $83
- Lake 1.5-Hour Maori Rock Carvings 5:00 PM Cruise: $27
- Lake Maori Rock Carvings 10.30 AM 1.5-Hour Cruise: $29
- Lake Maori Rock Carvings 8.30 AM 1.5-Hour Cruise: $29
- Lake Māori Rock Carvings Scenic Boat Cruise: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHarbin $7.83Taupo $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Taupo
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Taupo from other travelers:
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Wine$5.05
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Harbin and Taupo, we can see that Taupo 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 Taupo 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 Taupo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taupo 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 Taupo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Harbin or Taupo?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of Taupo. When comparing the sizes of Harbin and Taupo, 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.
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.