Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Koh Lipe?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Koh Lipe 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 Koh Lipe and Harbin can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Koh Lipe or Harbin?
Koh Lipe
Ko Lipe used to be one of Thailand's most gorgeous hidden treasures. While it's still breathtaking, it's certainly not hidden anymore. With a small community of approximately 700 chow lair, or sea gypsies, this region is doing its best to maintain the beauty of its culture and beaches despite the influx of tourism. The rapid development has seen additions of concrete cafes and travel agencies. There are still rich, cultural gems to find in Ko Lipe - you just have to be willing to wander.
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 Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Lipe $85Harbin $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lipe is $85, 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 Koh Lipe and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Lipe $44Harbin $21
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Lipe $88Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Koh Lipe and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Koh Lipe 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Koh Lipe Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Lipe $18Harbin $1.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lipe
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lipe:
- Private Transfer Pak Bara Pier to Hatyai Airport by Van: $69
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 Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service , Harbin Airport Transfer,Pick up: $78
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- 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
- Shared Transfer Service to Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Snow Festival: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lipe or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Koh Lipe 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 dayKoh Lipe $26Harbin $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Harbin
For Harbin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 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
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Lipe $23Harbin $52
Tours and Activities in Koh Lipe
Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lipe for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Hours Tour Sunset Cruise Around Lipe: $15
- Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) 1 day Experience: $111
- Experience the Koh Lipe Backyard including 5 Mysterious Islands: $21
- Experience the Koh Lipe Frontier in the Eastern Adang Archipelago: $25
- Full-Day Koh Lipe 7 Islands Snorkeling Experience with Lunch: $24
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 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
- Small Group Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $198
- 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
- Small Group Tour to Harbin Siberian Park Tiger: $200
- Private Harbin Ice Festival Night Tour: $209
- Songhua River Boat Tour and Food Experience in Harbin: $230
- Full Day Private Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow Festival: $250
- 2-Day Harbin City Private Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $280
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Lipe $8.18Harbin $7.83
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Lipe and Harbin, we can see that Koh Lipe 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 Koh Lipe would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Lipe 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 Koh Lipe Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Lipe or Harbin?
Harbin has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Lipe experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Harbin in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Koh Lipe as well as Harbin. Koh Lipe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Koh Lipe is a little warmer than Harbin. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Lipe in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Harbin averages at about 24°C (75°F).
It's quite rainy in Harbin. Koh Lipe receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in July than Harbin. Koh Lipe gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Lipe 27°C (81°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Harbin in the Autumn?
Both Harbin and Koh Lipe are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Lipe throughout the year.
In October, Koh Lipe is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 27°C (81°F), and Harbin fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
It's quite rainy in Koh Lipe. In October, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Harbin. Koh Lipe gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Koh Lipe is December to April. The rainy season in Koh Lipe is May to October.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Lipe 27°C (81°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Harbin in the Winter?
Both Harbin and Koh Lipe during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Lipe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Harbin can get quite cold in the winter. Koh Lipe is much warmer than Harbin in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Lipe averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Harbin fluctuates around -18°C (-0°F).
Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in January than Harbin. Koh Lipe gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Lipe 27°C (80°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Harbin in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Lipe and Harbin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Lipe year-round.
In the spring, Koh Lipe is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Lipe in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Harbin averages at about 8°C (46°F).
Koh Lipe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Harbin. Koh Lipe gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the spring. December to April in Koh Lipe is the dry season. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Koh Lipe.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Lipe 29°C (85°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Koh Lipe
| Koh Lipe | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 355 mm (14 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 116 mm (4.6 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.