Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Sandakan?
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 Sandakan or Harbin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan 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: Sandakan or Harbin?
Sandakan
Located on the Northeast side of the state of Sabah in Borneo is the city of Sandakan, which is the 2nd largest city in the country. Sandakan was a prosperous port town in the 1800s because of its exports of tobacco, timber, pearls, and ivory. However, this booming town that was formerly the administrative capital in North Borneo was bombed practically out of existence at the end of World War II.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
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Sandakan Prices
Malaysia PricesHarbin Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $81Harbin $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $81, 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 Sandakan and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $23Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $46Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan 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: Sandakan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $37Harbin $1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sandakan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sandakan:
- Private 1Way Transfer to/from Sandakan Airport, City or Sepilok: $38
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 Sandakan or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Sandakan 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 daySandakan $36Harbin $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sandakan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sandakan.
- Mangrove Cruise with Fireflies Tour Including Dinner from Sandakan: $64
- Sandakan : Fireflies and Mangrove Cruise with Dinner: $193
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.Sandakan $8.15Harbin $53
Tours and Activities in Sandakan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
- 2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise: $290
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $112
- Borneo : Orangutan, Proboscis Monkey, and Sun Bear Tour: $338
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $88
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $230
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $260
- Day Trip Sepilok Orang-utan And City Tour (Flight Excluded): $119
- From Sandakan to Kinabatangan River Safari Boat Cruise Day Tour: $163
- From 7 Unmissable Local Stops Private Tour: $75
- Full Day At Sepilok Orangutan, Sun Bear & Sandakan City Tour: $164
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $147
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 daySandakan $7.47Harbin $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 Sandakan and Harbin, we can see that Sandakan 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 Sandakan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sandakan 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 Sandakan Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Harbin?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Sandakan. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan 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 Sandakan or Harbin?
Harbin has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Sandakan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Sandakan or Harbin in the Summer?
Both Harbin and Sandakan during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sandakan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Sandakan is a little warmer than Harbin in the summer. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 27°C (81°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 Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in July than Harbin. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySandakan 27°C (81°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Harbin in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Harbin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round.
In the autumn, Sandakan is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sandakan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Harbin averages at about 7°C (44°F).
Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Harbin. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 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 OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Harbin in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Harbin. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Harbin can be very cold during winter. In January, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 26°C (80°F), and Harbin fluctuates around -18°C (-0°F).
Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sandakan usually gets more rain in January than Harbin. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 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 JanuarySandakan 26°C (80°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Harbin in the Spring?
Both Harbin and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year.
Sandakan is much warmer than Harbin in the spring. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Harbin fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In April, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Harbin. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 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 AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 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.