Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Nanjing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nanjing or Harbin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nanjing 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: Nanjing or Harbin?
Nanjing
Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu Province on the central eastern coast of China, just north of Shanghai. This historically and culturally rich city lies at the lower end of the Yangtze river, resulting in lush and scenic landscapes. Nanjing is well-known for having many popular historical sites, some of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
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 Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNanjing $96Harbin $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Nanjing is $96, 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 Nanjing and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNanjing $46Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNanjing $92Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Nanjing and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Nanjing 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.Nanjing $38Harbin $1.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
- Zhenjiang Private Transfer Service from Nanjing City or Lukou Airport : $78
- Yangzhou Private Transfer Service from Nanjing City or Lukou Airport : $80
- Tangshan Hot Spring Spa Resorts Private Transfer from Nanjing City : $44
- Tangshan Hot Spring Resorts Private Transfer from Nanjing Railway Station: $44
- Private Transfer to Yangzhou from Nanjing City Center: $89
- Private Transfer to Yangzhou City from Nanjing Lukou Airport : $109
- Private Transfer to Nanjing Railway Station from Lukou Airport : $45
- Private Transfer to Gaochun City from Nanjing Lukou Airport: $88
- Private Transfer to Gaochun City from Nanjing : $88
- Private Transfer between Nanjing Olympic Stadium and City Hotel: $33
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Zhenjiang from Nanjing: $94
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Yangzhou Attractions from Nanjing: $89
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 Private Transfer from Harbin Airport (HRB) to central Harbin: $114
- Harbin Private Transfer from Harbin central to Harbin Taiping Airport (HRB): $115
- 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 West Railway Station from Harbin City Hotel: $60
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $168
Is it cheaper to fly into Nanjing or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Nanjing 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 dayNanjing $28Harbin $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nanjing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.
- 3-Hour Nanjing Authentic Local Food Tour by Public Transportation: $93
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Night Tour with Dinner Option : $112
- Nanjing Tangshan Mountain Hot Spring Experience and Hot Pot Dinner: $175
- Private Amazing Nanjing Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $181
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
- 4-Hour Private Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World with Dinner Options: $261
- Hot Spring Experience with Hot Pot Dinner in Harbin: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nanjing $9.28Harbin $53
Tours and Activities in Nanjing
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half-Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour : $109
- 2-Day Unlimited Nanjing Private Flexible Tour with Lunch Option : $295
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour with Xiaoling Tomb and Sun Yatsen Mausoleum : $124
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Nanjing Jiming Temple, Ming City Wall, Xuanwu Lake: $147
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Sun Yatsen Mausoleum, Xiaoling Tomb and City Wall: $190
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Xiaoling Tomb, Ming City Wall and Memorial Hall : $115
- All Inclusive Amazing Nanjing City Highlights Private Day Tour: $193
- All Inclusive Nanjing City Private Day Tour with Tailor-Made Highlights: $213
- All-Inclusive Nanjing Purple Mountain Scenic Area Private Day Tour: $187
- All-inclusive Customized Nanjing Layover Tour: $201
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Highlights Day Tour: $164
- Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour : $63
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 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
- Private Half Day Tour Harbin ConfucianTemple and Temple of Bliss (Jile Si): $157
- Private Harbin City Day Tour of Russian Historical Sites and Culture: $157
- Harbin City Guided Tour to Zhongyang Street and Sophia Church: $180
- Small Group Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $198
- Harbin City Private Day Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $200
- Private Harbin Ice Festival Night Tour: $209
- Private Customized Harbin City Day Tour by Public Transportation: $220
- Songhua River Boat Tour and Food Experience in Harbin: $230
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNanjing $9.48Harbin $7.85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nanjing and Harbin, we can see that Nanjing 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 Nanjing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nanjing 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 Nanjing Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nanjing or Harbin?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 5% larger than the population of Nanjing. When comparing the sizes of Nanjing 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.
When is the best time to visit Nanjing or Harbin?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Nanjing or Harbin in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Nanjing as well as Harbin.
Nanjing is a little warmer than Harbin in the summer. The daily temperature in Nanjing averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Harbin fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
It's quite rainy in Harbin. Nanjing receives a lot of rain in the summer. Nanjing usually gets more rain in July than Harbin. Nanjing gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNanjing 28°C (83°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Nanjing or Harbin in the Autumn?
Both Harbin and Nanjing are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In the autumn, Nanjing is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nanjing in October average around 17°C (63°F), and Harbin averages at about 7°C (44°F).
In October, Nanjing usually receives more rain than Harbin. Nanjing gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNanjing 17°C (63°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Nanjing or Harbin in the Winter?
Both Harbin and Nanjing during the winter are popular places to visit.
Harbin can be very cold during winter. Nanjing can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Nanjing is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Nanjing average around 3°C (37°F), and Harbin fluctuates around -18°C (-0°F).
Nanjing usually gets more rain in January than Harbin. Nanjing gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNanjing 3°C (37°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Nanjing or Harbin in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Nanjing and Harbin.
Nanjing is much warmer than Harbin in the spring. The daily temperature in Nanjing averages around 15°C (60°F) in April, and Harbin fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
Nanjing gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Nanjing usually receives more rain than Harbin. Nanjing gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNanjing 15°C (60°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Nanjing
| Nanjing | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 21°C (69°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (41°F) | 25 mm (1 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.