Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Okinawa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Okinawa 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 Okinawa 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: Okinawa or Harbin?
Okinawa
Okinawa is the southernmost prefecture of Japan and includes hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands. The chain of islands is off the southern mainland portion of the country and is made up of 49 inhabited islands and over one hundred uninhabited islands. Naha is Okinawa's capital, which is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island.
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 G Adventures Tours to Japan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOkinawa $104Harbin $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Okinawa is $104, 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 Okinawa and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOkinawa $72Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOkinawa $144Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Okinawa and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Okinawa 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.Okinawa $9.32Harbin $1.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Okinawa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Okinawa:
- Private Transfer from Okinawa Airport (OKA) to Nakagusuku Port: $85
- Private Transfer from Nakagusuku Port to Okinawa Airport (OKA): $85
- Private Transfer from Nakagusuku Port to Okinawa Airport (OKA): $94
- Private Transfer from Nakagusuku Cruise Port to Naha City Hotels : $66
- Private Transfer from Naha City Hotels to Nakagusuku Cruise Port : $59
- Private Transfer from Naha City Hotels to Nakagusuku Cruise Port : $66
- Okinawa Naha Airport (OKA) to Naha hotels - Arrival Transfer: $59
- Okinawa Naha Airport (OKA) to Naha Hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $118
- Naha hotels to Okinawa Naha Airport (ОКА) - Departure Transfer: $59
- Airport Transfer! Naha Airport (OKA) to Center of Naha: $124
- Airport Transfer! Center of Naha to Naha Airport (OKA): $125
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 Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer: $27
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Harbin Railway Station to City Hotel: $29
- Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- Harbin Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer: $40
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin Railway Station from Harbin City Hotel: $50
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin West Railway Station from Harbin City Hotel: $60
- 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 Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service , Harbin Airport Transfer,Pick up: $78
- Shared Night Transfer Service to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Okinawa or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Okinawa 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 dayOkinawa $23Harbin $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
- 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
- Private Full Day Tour to Harbin Beifang Forest Zoo and Optional Seafood Dinner: $261
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Okinawa $14Harbin $52
Tours and Activities in Okinawa
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Okinawa are as follows:
- Okinawa Local Experience and Sunset Cycling Tour: $85
- 2-Hour Private Gorilla Go Kart Experience in Okinawa: $68
- 4 Person Group Tour Kerama Blue Cycling in Aka Island : $118
- American Village &Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium Tour from Naha/Chatan: $78
- Beautiful sunset kayak tour in Okinawa: $36
- City of Romance and Great Figures Haebaru Cycling Tour: $99
- Cycling Experience in the Historic City of Urasoe: $99
- E-Bike Nature Tour in Shuri: $89
- Jungle River Trek: private tour in Yanbaru, north Okinawa: $49
- Karate History Tour in Okinawa: $106
- Kayak & Snorkel: private tour in Yanbaru, north Okinawa: $111
- Kayak Mangroves or Coral Reef: private tour in north Okinawa : $53
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Half Day Tour for Harbin Guandong Ancient Lane and Wood Sculpture Museum: $104
- 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
- Harbin City Guided Tour to Zhongyang Street and Sophia Church: $180
- Harbin City Walking Sightseeing : $198
- Small Group Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $198
- Small Group Tour to Harbin Siberian Park Tiger: $200
- 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 Harbin Ice Festival Night Tour: $209
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOkinawa $14Harbin $7.83
Sample the Local Flavors in Okinawa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Okinawa:
- Naha Local Pub Crawl: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Okinawa and Harbin, we can see that Okinawa 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 Okinawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Okinawa 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 Okinawa Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Okinawa or Harbin?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Okinawa. When comparing the sizes of Okinawa 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 Okinawa 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 Okinawa or Harbin in the Summer?
Both Harbin and Okinawa during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Okinawa for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Okinawa is generally a little warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Okinawa average around 29°C (84°F), 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 Okinawa. Okinawa usually gets more rain in July than Harbin. Okinawa gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyOkinawa 29°C (84°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Okinawa or Harbin in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Okinawa and Harbin. Many visitors come to Okinawa in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Okinawa is much warmer than Harbin in the autumn. The daily temperature in Okinawa averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Harbin fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
Okinawa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Okinawa usually receives more rain than Harbin. Okinawa gets 152 mm (6 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 OctoberOkinawa 25°C (77°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Okinawa or Harbin in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Okinawa as well as Harbin. Most visitors come to Okinawa for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Harbin can be very cold. In the winter, Okinawa is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the winter temperatures in Okinawa in January average around 16°C (61°F), and Harbin averages at about -18°C (-0°F).
Okinawa receives a lot of rain in the winter. Okinawa usually gets more rain in January than Harbin. Okinawa gets 125 mm (4.9 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 JanuaryOkinawa 16°C (61°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Okinawa or Harbin in the Spring?
Both Harbin and Okinawa are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Okinawa because of the beaches and the natural beauty.
In April, Okinawa is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Okinawa average around 22°C (71°F), and Harbin fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
It's quite rainy in Okinawa. In April, Okinawa usually receives more rain than Harbin. Okinawa gets 164 mm (6.5 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 AprilOkinawa 22°C (71°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Okinawa
| Okinawa | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (61°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (65°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (71°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 24°C (76°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 22°C (71°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (65°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.