Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Seoul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Seoul or Harbin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Seoul and Harbin can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Seoul or Harbin?
Seoul
With a population of more than 11 million, Seoul is easily the largest city in South Korea. It is also the financial, political, and cultural capital of the country and has much to offer open minded travelers. It is often overlooked by travelers who instead head to Tokyo or Shanghai, but Seoul has a wide range of cultural experiences, food options, and historical sights. Seoul is a city of contrasts with ancient traditions, flashy technology, religious temples and a modern youth culture. It is also more affordable than many of the other Asian metropolis' to which it is often compared. If you're looking for an interesting and different experience that is a little off the tourist trail, Seoul can definitely offer that opportunity.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea, 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 daySeoul $107Harbin $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Seoul is $107, 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 Seoul and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSeoul $54Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSeoul $108Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Seoul and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Seoul 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: Seoul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Seoul $15Harbin $1.49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
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Subway Card$3.62
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Short Taxi Ride$5.07
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Metro Ride$0.98
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Seoul City Pass Plus$7.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Private Transfer l Airport to/from Seoul: $100
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport: $99
- Seoul to Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) Departure Private Transfer: $47
- Seoul to Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) - Departure Private Transfer: $47
- Seoul Incheon International Airport to from Incheon Private Transfer: $85
- Seoul Airport: Private Departure Transfer from Seoul City Center: $87
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Incheon Airport 1-12 pax: $204
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Incheon Airport (1-5 pax): $98
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Gimpo Airport (1-12 pax): $167
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport to Seoul City (1-5 pax): $80
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport to Seoul City (1-12 pax): $167
- Private Airport Transfer : Incheon airport to/from Seoul(~7 pax): $99
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
- Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- 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
- Harbin City Car Transfer Service with Driver: $168
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $168
- Shared Transfer Service to Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Snow Festival: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Seoul or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Seoul 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 daySeoul $30Harbin $14
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.34
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Waffle$0.72
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Dippin' Dots$1.45
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Chicken Fried Rice$3.98
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Chicken Stick$1.45
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.38
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Lunch Buffet$4.34
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Donut$0.72
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Mushroom Burger$3.76
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.39
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Udon & Sushi$5.07
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Fresh Burger$3.48
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Soba Noodles Lunch$3.26
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.62
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Fried Rice$3.98
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Vietnamese Dinner$6.88
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.88
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Donut$1.81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Gyeongbokgung Palace : Tour, dinner and coffee: $36
- Seoul Mangwon Market Social Night Food Tour: $44
- Grandma's Home Cooking Class at Korean House l Seoul: $45
- Namdaemun Market: the Largest Traditional Market Food Tour: $46
- Namdaemun Market Street Food Tour: $47
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $53
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $54
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $57
- Sunset Walking Tour in Naksan Park with Dinner: $59
- Night Market Food Tour: $70
- Energizing Korean Cooking Class in a Local Home in Seoul: $71
- Night Market Food Tour: $72
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.Seoul $26Harbin $52
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
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Palace Tickets$5.79
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Movie Ticket$5.79
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Kimchi Museum$2.17
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- Full Day Tour Jeonju Hanok Village, Wansan Park and Gakwonsa: $72
- Private Tour Nami Island with Petite France 'and/or' The Garden of Morning Calm: $98
- (Private tour) Nami Island + Railbike + Garden of morning calm: $220
- 2-Hour Makgeolli Tasting Experience in Seoul: $37
- 2-Hour Private Kayaking and Paddleboarding Experience in Hanriver: $30
- 3 Hour Walking Tour in Songpa Seoul: $49
- 3-Hour Self-guided Sokcho Tour with Private Transportation: $33
- 365-day DMZ Special Tour including Monday & National Holiday: $55
- ARMY must visit BTS tour in Seoul: $55
- Activity - Mt. Bukhan Hiking Guided Tour: $150
- Afternoon Half Day Seoul City Tour, visit Queen's dorm: $67
- All in One Full Day Tour 2 (Palace & Korean Folk Village): $125
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
- 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
- Small Group Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $198
- Harbin Ice Festival New Year Eve Countdown Group Tour on December 31: $200
- Harbin City Private Day Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $200
- Small Group Tour to Harbin Siberian Park Tiger: $200
- Private Harbin Ice Festival Night Tour: $209
- Songhua River Boat Tour and Food Experience in Harbin: $230
- Full Day Private Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow Festival: $250
- 2-Day Harbin City Private Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $280
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySeoul $12Harbin $7.83
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Chunpoong Makgeolli Brewery Tour: $10
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $21
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $25
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - story of 3 pigs: $42
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - Story of Three Pigs: $42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Seoul and Harbin, we can see that Seoul 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 Seoul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seoul 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 Seoul Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Seoul or Harbin?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Harbin. When comparing the sizes of Seoul 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 Seoul 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 Seoul or Harbin in the Summer?
Both Harbin and Seoul during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Seoul because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Seoul is around the same temperature as Harbin in the summer. The daily temperature in Seoul averages around 26°C (78°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 Seoul. Seoul usually gets more rain in July than Harbin. Seoul gets 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySeoul 26°C (78°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Harbin in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Seoul and Harbin. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Seoul this time of year.
In the autumn, Seoul is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Seoul in October average around 15°C (59°F), and Harbin averages at about 7°C (44°F).
In October, Seoul usually receives more rain than Harbin. Seoul gets 49 mm (1.9 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 OctoberSeoul 15°C (59°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Harbin in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Seoul as well as Harbin. Many travelers come to Seoul for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Harbin can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Seoul. In January, Seoul is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Seoul average around -3°C (27°F), and Harbin fluctuates around -18°C (-0°F).
Seoul usually gets more rain in January than Harbin. Seoul gets 23 mm (0.9 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 JanuarySeoul -3°C (27°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Harbin in the Spring?
Both Harbin and Seoul are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Seoul in the spring for the activities around the city.
Seoul is much warmer than Harbin in the spring. The daily temperature in Seoul averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Harbin fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
In April, Seoul usually receives more rain than Harbin. Seoul gets 94 mm (3.7 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 AprilSeoul 13°C (55°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Seoul
| Seoul | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 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.