Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Koh Tarutao?
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 Koh Tarutao or Harbin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Koh Tarutao and Harbin. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Koh Tarutao or Harbin?
Koh Tarutao
While much of Thailand has been built up into a tourist destination of hotels and resorts, there are spots that are still untouched and covered in the beauty of this part of the world. The unspoiled regions of the Ko Tarutao Marine National Park is 51 islands of rainforest ready for visitors. Established in 1974, the park is the second oldest in the country, and was the setting for the 2002 season of the reality television show Survivor. The park includes stunning coral reefs, pristine white beaches and wildlife of all shapes and sizes. Trek through and keep your eyes out for mouse deer, wild pigs, sea otters, tree pythons, sea eagles, hornbills, reef egrets and so much more.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, The Best Cultural Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
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Koh Tarutao Prices
Thailand PricesHarbin Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Tarutao $137Harbin $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Tarutao is $137, while the average daily cost in Harbin is $66. 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 Tarutao and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Tarutao $57Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Tarutao $114Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Koh Tarutao and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Koh Tarutao 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.Koh Tarutao $39Harbin $1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Harbin
Also for Harbin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Transfer Service to Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Snow Festival: $250
- Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $198
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin North Railway Station from Harbin City: $100
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Harbin Volga Manor Private Transfer Service with Entry Tickets: $300
- Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer, Pick up.: $59
- Harbin Ice Festival Tickets and Transfer Service : $148
- Harbin Catholic Church Car Transfer Service: $80
- Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- 4 Hour Private Transfer to Sun Island Snow Sculptures: $100
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Tarutao or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Koh Tarutao 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 dayKoh Tarutao $56Harbin $24
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.Koh Tarutao $17Harbin $53
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Harbin Igloos Hot Pot Private Tour: $300
- Private Night Tour to Harbin Ice Festival: $261
- 1-Day Harbin Private Tour: $168
- 2-Day Harbin City Private Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $280
- All-Inclusive Harbin City History and Local Culture Private Day Tour: $300
- Group Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World plus Sun Island Snow Sculpture Festival: $298
- Half Day Tour for Harbin Guandong Ancient Lane and Wood Sculpture Museum: $104
- Half-Day Private Old Harbin Street Walking Tour with Meal: $300
- Harbin City Guided Tour to Zhongyang Street and Sophia Church: $180
- 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
- Harbin Ice Lantern Show and Center Street Tour: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Tarutao $8.08Harbin $7.96
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 Koh Tarutao and Harbin, we can see that Koh Tarutao 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 Tarutao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Tarutao 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 Tarutao Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Tarutao or Harbin?
Harbin has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Tarutao experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Harbin in the Summer?
Both Harbin and Koh Tarutao are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tarutao throughout the year.
In July, Koh Tarutao is generally a little warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Koh Tarutao average around 27°C (81°F), and Harbin fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Harbin. It's quite rainy in Koh Tarutao. In July, Koh Tarutao usually receives more rain than Harbin. Koh Tarutao gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Tarutao 27°C (81°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Harbin in the Autumn?
Both Harbin and Koh Tarutao during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tarutao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Koh Tarutao is much warmer than Harbin in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Tarutao averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Harbin fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Tarutao. Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in October than Harbin. Koh Tarutao gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year. November to April is the dry season in Koh Tarutao. May and October is the rainy season in Koh Tarutao.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Tarutao 27°C (81°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Harbin in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Tarutao and Harbin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tarutao year-round.
The weather in Harbin can be very cold. In the winter, Koh Tarutao is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Tarutao in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Harbin averages at about -18°C (-0°F).
In January, Koh Tarutao usually receives more rain than Harbin. Koh Tarutao gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Tarutao 27°C (80°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Harbin in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Koh Tarutao as well as Harbin. Koh Tarutao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Koh Tarutao is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Koh Tarutao average around 29°C (85°F), and Harbin fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
Koh Tarutao receives a lot of rain in the spring. Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in April than Harbin. Koh Tarutao gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, November to April in Koh Tarutao is the dry season. May and October in Koh Tarutao is the rainy season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Tarutao 29°C (85°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Koh Tarutao
| Koh Tarutao | 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.