Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Nara?
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 Nara or Harbin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nara 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: Nara or Harbin?
Nara
As Japan's first capital, Nara offers a world of tradition and culture second only to the city of Kyoto. It is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are largely concentrated in the area of Nara Park. Here, it is also common to see many deer wandering freely amongst the temples and shrines.
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 Japan, The Best Cultural Tours in Japan, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
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Nara Prices
Japan PricesHarbin Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNara $111Harbin $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Nara is $111, 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 Nara and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNara $54Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNara $108Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Nara and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Nara 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: Nara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nara $6.04Harbin $1.52
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 Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer, Pick up.: $59
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Harbin Catholic Church Car Transfer Service: $80
- 4 Hour Private Transfer to Sun Island Snow Sculptures: $100
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin North Railway Station from Harbin City: $100
- Harbin Ice Festival Tickets and Transfer Service : $148
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $198
- Shared Transfer Service to Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Snow Festival: $250
- Harbin Volga Manor Private Transfer Service with Entry Tickets: $300
Is it cheaper to fly into Nara or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Nara 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 dayNara $51Harbin $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nara.
- Handmade Soba and Tempura Cooking Class in Nara: $49
- Udon and Tempura Cooking Class in Nara: $52
- Nara Personalized Half Day Food Tour with a Local Guide: $160
- Taste of Nara A Guided Half Day Food Tour Tailored to Your Taste: $160
- Full Day Nara E bike Tour and Osaka History Food Tour: $200
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.Nara $8.09Harbin $53
Tours and Activities in Nara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nara are as follows:
- 2-day Kansai world ExTour I tour around Osaka,Kyoto,Nara,andUji: $221
- All must-sees in 3 hours - Nara Park Classic Tour! From JR Nara!: $45
- First Time Nara Tour UNESCO Sites with Lunch and Deer Feed: $83
- Gripped Sumi Ink Experience at a Historic Workshop in Nara: $23
- Half-Day Private Guided Tour to Nara City: $152
- Japan's Oldest Shrine & Nagashi Somen Walking Tour from Nara: $166
- Kyoto Matcha Green Tea Tour: $221
- Kyoto: Tea Museum and Tsuen Teahouse Guided Tour: $74
- Nara - Craft Beer, Sake & Food Walking Tour: $104
- Nara - Heart of Nature Cross Bike Tour: $290
- Nara - Highlights Bike Tour: $76
- Nara - Private Family Bike Tour: $207
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Harbin Ice and Snow World Ticket Booking: $51
- Half Day Tour for Harbin Guandong Ancient Lane and Wood Sculpture Museum: $104
- 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
- 1-Day Harbin Private Tour: $168
- Harbin City Guided Tour to Zhongyang Street and Sophia Church: $180
- 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 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 Half Day Tour to Unit 731 Museum and Sites in Harbin: $218
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNara $12Harbin $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 Nara and Harbin, we can see that Nara 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 Nara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nara 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 Nara Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nara or Harbin?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Nara. When comparing the sizes of Nara 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 Nara 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 Nara or Harbin in the Summer?
Both Harbin and Nara during the summer are popular places to visit. The hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Nara this time of year.
Nara is a little warmer than Harbin in the summer. The daily temperature in Nara averages around 27°C (80°F) in July, and Harbin fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
Harbin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Nara. Nara usually gets more rain in July than Harbin. Nara gets 186 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNara 27°C (80°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Nara or Harbin in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Nara and Harbin. Many travelers come to Nara for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Nara is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nara in October average around 17°C (63°F), and Harbin averages at about 7°C (44°F).
Nara gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Nara usually receives more rain than Harbin. Nara gets 110 mm (4.3 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 OctoberNara 17°C (63°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Nara or Harbin in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Nara as well as Harbin. Many visitors come to Nara in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Harbin can be very cold during winter. Nara can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Nara is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Nara average around 4°C (40°F), and Harbin fluctuates around -18°C (-0°F).
Nara usually gets more rain in January than Harbin. Nara gets 49 mm (1.9 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 JanuaryNara 4°C (40°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Nara or Harbin in the Spring?
Both Harbin and Nara are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Nara for the natural beauty during these months.
Nara is much warmer than Harbin in the spring. The daily temperature in Nara averages around 14°C (57°F) in April, and Harbin fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
It's quite rainy in Nara. In April, Nara usually receives more rain than Harbin. Nara gets 127 mm (5 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 AprilNara 14°C (57°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Nara
| Nara | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (40°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 60 mm (2.3 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 19°C (65°F) | 128 mm (5.1 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 214 mm (8.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (74°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (53°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 41 mm (1.6 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.