A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Malang vs. Harbin for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Malang or Harbin?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Malang or Harbin? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Malang or Harbin?

Malang

Malang is a city in East Java, Indonesia. It's a cultured city with several important universities, and is home to a large student population. Prized by the Dutch for its mild highland climate, the city retains much of its colonial architecture. Established by the Dutch in the closing decades of the 18th century, Malang earned its first fortunes from coffee, which flourished on the surrounding hillsides. Today, the city's colonial grandeur is quickly disappearing behind the homogenous facades of more modern developments, but there's still much to admire. The Balai Kota building blends Indonesian and Dutch styles, and grand mansions line the main boulevard, Jalan Besar Ijen. To the east is Mt. Bromo, a volcano with hiking trails. The central area is not too large and quite walkable. And with a number of Hindu temples and sights outside the city, Malang makes an ideal base to explore this intriguing corner of east Java.

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 Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.


Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Malang?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Malang is $68, while the average daily cost in Harbin is $55. 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 Malang and Harbin in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Malang $46
    Harbin $21
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Malang $92
    Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Malang and Harbin

Looking for a hotel in Malang 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.

Hotels in Malang


Hotels in Harbin


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: Malang Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Malang $1.46
    Harbin $1.52

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malang

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Malang:

  • Mount Bromo: Sunrise Guided Tour with Optional Transfer: $149
  • South Beaches Tour with Private Transfer: $118

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 Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer: $27
  • Harbin Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer: $40
  • Harbin Airport, Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province Transfer Service: $27
  • Harbin Catholic Church Car Transfer Service: $80
  • Harbin City Car Transfer Service with Driver: $188
  • Harbin Private Transfer from Harbin Airport (HRB) to central Harbin: $116
  • Harbin Private Transfer from Harbin central to Harbin Taiping Airport (HRB): $116
  • Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service , Harbin Airport Transfer,Pick up: $78
  • 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 East Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Malang or Harbin?

Prices for flights to both Harbin and Malang 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 day
    Malang $18
    Harbin $14

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
  • Harbin Private City and Food Tour: $200
  • Private Full Day Tour to Harbin Beifang Forest Zoo and Optional Seafood Dinner: $261
  • Hot Spring Experience with Hot Pot Dinner in Harbin: $300

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Malang $9.15
    Harbin $53

Tours and Activities in Malang

Here are a few actual costs in Malang for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 1 Day - Amazing Bromo Sunrise tour with 7 spots // 00.30 -13.00: $44
  • 1 Day - Bromo Afternoon Siesta Tour start MALANG or SURABAYA // 11:00 - 18:00: $86
  • 1 Day - Tumpak Sewu, Kapas Biru Waterfall, Goa Tetes cave* Tour // 07:30 - 17:00: $72
  • 1 Day - ULTIMATE TOUR Tumpak Sewu Waterfall and Goa Tetes cave // 07:30 - 17:30: $56
  • 1 Day Mount Bromo Sharing Tour Package from Malang: $34
  • 1 Day Tumpak Sewu Waterfall Tour from Malang: $49
  • 1Day - Bromo Non Sunrise Tour via Malang (to avoid crowd): $75
  • 1Day - Bromo Sunrise Tour via Malang (Sharing or Private Jeep): $48
  • 2 Day Adventure Tumpak Sewu Waterfall & Bromo Sunrise Tour: $3.61
  • 2 Days - Bromo Ijen Bali Ultimate Tour // D1 01.00 - D2 14.00: $179
  • 2-Day Tour: Mount Bromo & Tumpak Sewu Waterfall from Malang: $162
  • 2Days - Bromo Sunrise Ijen Adventure via Malang: $199

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: $120
  • 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
  • Harbin City Guided Tour to Zhongyang Street and Sophia Church: $180
  • Harbin City Walking Sightseeing : $198
  • 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 Ice Festival New Year Eve Countdown Group Tour on December 31: $200
  • Private Harbin Summer Local Experience Evening Tour: $200
  • 3 Hours Harbin Frozen Songhua River Sightseeing: $200
  • Harbin City Private Day Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $200

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Malang -
    Harbin $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 Malang and Harbin, we can see that Malang 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 Malang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Malang 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 Malang Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Malang or Harbin?

Harbin has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Malang. When comparing the sizes of Malang and Harbin, 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.