Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Shijiazhuang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Shijiazhuang 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 Shijiazhuang 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: Shijiazhuang or Harbin?
Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang is the capital city of Hebei Province in China. It is a fairly young city, acting as the regional transport hub and economic center, though there are a few sights worth seeing. The city is also the largest pharmaceutical hub in China, as well as an important center for textile, IT, manufacturing, and chemical industries.
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 Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShijiazhuang $77Harbin $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Shijiazhuang is $77, 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 Shijiazhuang and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShijiazhuang $44Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShijiazhuang $88Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Shijiazhuang and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Shijiazhuang 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.Shijiazhuang $27Harbin $1.50
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 (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- Harbin Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer: $27
- Harbin City Car Transfer Service with Driver: $168
- Harbin Private Transfer from Harbin Airport (HRB) to central Harbin: $114
- Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service , Harbin Airport Transfer,Pick up: $78
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Harbin Railway Station to City Hotel: $29
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $168
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Shared Night Transfer Service to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Shijiazhuang or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Shijiazhuang 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 dayShijiazhuang $18Harbin $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
- 4-Hour Private Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World with Dinner Options: $261
- Hot Spring Experience with Hot Pot Dinner in Harbin: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shijiazhuang $4.35Harbin $53
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 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
- Private Harbin City Day Tour of Russian Historical Sites and Culture: $157
- Small Group Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $198
- Harbin City Private Day Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $200
- Private Harbin Ice Festival Night Tour: $209
- Private Customized Harbin City Day Tour by Public Transportation: $220
- Songhua River Boat Tour and Food Experience in Harbin: $230
- Full Day Private Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow Festival: $250
- Small-Group Tour in Summer: Harbin Sun Island, Indoor Ice and Snow World: $261
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayShijiazhuang $5.14Harbin $7.85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shijiazhuang and Harbin, we can see that Shijiazhuang 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 Shijiazhuang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shijiazhuang 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 Shijiazhuang Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Shijiazhuang or Harbin?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 62% larger than the population of Shijiazhuang. When comparing the sizes of Shijiazhuang 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 Shijiazhuang 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 Shijiazhuang or Harbin in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Shijiazhuang as well as Harbin.
Shijiazhuang is a little warmer than Harbin in the summer. The daily temperature in Shijiazhuang averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Harbin fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
It's quite rainy in Harbin. Shijiazhuang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Shijiazhuang usually gets less rain in July than Harbin. Shijiazhuang gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyShijiazhuang 27°C (81°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Shijiazhuang or Harbin in the Autumn?
Both Harbin and Shijiazhuang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In the autumn, Shijiazhuang is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Shijiazhuang in October average around 15°C (59°F), and Harbin averages at about 7°C (44°F).
In October, Shijiazhuang usually receives more rain than Harbin. Shijiazhuang gets 29 mm (1.1 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 OctoberShijiazhuang 15°C (59°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Shijiazhuang or Harbin in the Winter?
Both Harbin and Shijiazhuang during the winter are popular places to visit.
It's quite cold in Harbin in the winter. The weather in Shijiazhuang can be very cold. In January, Shijiazhuang is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Shijiazhuang average around -2°C (29°F), and Harbin fluctuates around -18°C (-0°F).
Shijiazhuang usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Harbin. Shijiazhuang gets 3 mm (0.1 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 JanuaryShijiazhuang -2°C (29°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Shijiazhuang or Harbin in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Shijiazhuang and Harbin.
Shijiazhuang is much warmer than Harbin in the spring. The daily temperature in Shijiazhuang averages around 15°C (60°F) in April, and Harbin fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
In April, Shijiazhuang usually receives more rain than Harbin. Shijiazhuang gets 23 mm (0.9 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 AprilShijiazhuang 15°C (60°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Shijiazhuang
| Shijiazhuang | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (33°F) | 9 mm (0.3 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 21°C (71°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 1°C (33°F) | 4 mm (0.2 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.