Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Pattaya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pattaya or Harbin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Pattaya and Harbin can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Pattaya or Harbin?
Pattaya
Go where the locals go. If that is your vacation motto, you will want to take a look at the popular weekend getaway of Pattaya, Thailand. This seaside resort on the Eastern Gulf Coast of Thailand is just outside of Bangkok, and full of resorts, beer bars and beaches.
Hosting more than five million visitors a year, Pattaya is easily accessed from the capital and the airport. Keep in mind, the sex tourism industry is still a large money earner for this city, but efforts by local authorities have created resorts and attractions for families and vacationers from all around the world.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, 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 dayPattaya $66Harbin $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Pattaya is $66, 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 Pattaya and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPattaya $24Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPattaya $48Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Pattaya and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Pattaya 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: Pattaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pattaya $12Harbin $1.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pattaya
Also for Pattaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Pattaya HTL-APT (BKK): $59
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Pattaya HTL-APT (DMK): $67
- Tiffany's Show Pattaya Admission Ticket with Return Transfer (SHA Plus): $61
- Tiffany Show Pattaya with Transfer: $64
- Tiffany Show Pattaya with Transfer: $64
- Tiffany Show Pattaya Admission with Transfer: $42
- The Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya Admission Ticket with Return Transfer: $35
- The Sanctuary of Truth at Pattaya Admission Ticket with Return Transfer: $35
- Teddy Bear Museum in Pattaya with Return Transfer: $22
- Teddy Bear Museum in Pattaya with Return Transfer: $19
- Surat Thani Hotel Transfer: to/from Bangkok Hotel Transfer: $419
- Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum at Pattaya with Return Transfer: $45
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
- Harbin City Car Transfer Service with Driver: $168
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $168
- Shared Night Transfer Service to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $85
- Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service , Harbin Airport Transfer,Pick up: $78
- Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- Harbin Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer: $27
- Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Any Harbin Railway Station : $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Pattaya or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Pattaya 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 dayPattaya $22Harbin $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pattaya
For Pattaya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- All Star Dinner Cruise, Cabaret Show & Beer Buffet: $32
- Pattaya Night Guided Tour with Dinner: $47
- Thai Cooking Class in Pattaya: $67
- Islands Hopping Tour by Catamaran with Dinner Buffet in Chon Buri: $97
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Harbin
For Harbin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pattaya $21Harbin $52
Tours and Activities in Pattaya
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Pattaya.
- Amazing Pattaya Experience Tour to All Famous Points in One Day: $53
- 1 Hour ATV Off Road Adventure In Pattaya: $62
- 2 Islands Full Day Tour Catamaran with Lunch in Pattaya: $103
- 3 Days Thailand Motorcycle Coastal Tour: $1,054
- 5 Days – Motorcycle tour to River Kwai and Khao Yai: $1,757
- A Superstar Model Experience in Pattaya with Photo Expert: $112
- ATV & Buggy Adventures Pattaya - Novice Rider 27km Basic Track: $99
- ATV & Buggy Off-Road Adventures in Pattaya: $97
- Admission Ticket to Ramayana Water Park in Pattaya: $33
- Alcazar Cabaret Show Tickets: $21
- All Star Cabaret Cruise Pattaya with Indian Buffet Lunch: $42
- Amazing Discovery Pattaya Tours with Floating Market & Lunch : $75
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: $130
- 2-Day Harbin City Private Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $280
- 4-Hour Private Tour of the Largest Indoor Ice and Snow Paradise: $136
- From Amazing Day Trip Including tickets: $400
- Full Day Private Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow Festival: $250
- Group Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World plus Sun Island Snow Sculpture Festival: $298
- Harbin City Group Tour including Crossing Songhua River by Ropeway and Ice Swimming Show: $290
- 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
- Private City Tour of Harbin: $360
- Private Half Day City Tour including Russian Town and Harbin Ropeway Ride: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPattaya $8.18Harbin $7.83
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pattaya and Harbin, we can see that Pattaya 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 Pattaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pattaya 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 Pattaya Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pattaya or Harbin?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Pattaya. When comparing the sizes of Pattaya 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 Pattaya or Harbin?
Harbin has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Pattaya experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Pattaya or Harbin in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Pattaya and Harbin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pattaya year-round.
Pattaya is a little warmer than Harbin in the summer. The daily temperature in Pattaya averages around 29°C (84°F) in July, and Harbin fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
Harbin receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Pattaya usually receives less rain than Harbin. Pattaya gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPattaya 29°C (84°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Pattaya or Harbin in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Pattaya as well as Harbin. Pattaya attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Pattaya is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pattaya in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Harbin averages at about 7°C (44°F).
Pattaya receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pattaya usually gets more rain in October than Harbin. Pattaya gets 258 mm (10.2 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to April in Pattaya is the dry season. June to October in Pattaya is the rainy season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPattaya 28°C (82°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Pattaya or Harbin in the Winter?
Both Harbin and Pattaya are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pattaya throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Harbin in the winter. In January, Pattaya is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Pattaya average around 27°C (80°F), and Harbin fluctuates around -18°C (-0°F).
In January, Pattaya usually receives more rain than Harbin. Pattaya gets 23 mm (0.9 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 JanuaryPattaya 27°C (80°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Pattaya or Harbin in the Spring?
Both Harbin and Pattaya during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pattaya because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Pattaya is much warmer than Harbin in the spring. The daily temperature in Pattaya averages around 30°C (86°F) in April, and Harbin fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
Pattaya usually gets more rain in April than Harbin. Pattaya gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year. December to April is the dry season in Pattaya. June to October is the rainy season in Pattaya.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPattaya 30°C (86°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Pattaya
| Pattaya | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 30°C (86°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 30°C (85°F) | 202 mm (7.9 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (85°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 232 mm (9.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 16 mm (0.6 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.