Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Surabaya?
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 Surabaya or Harbin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Surabaya 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: Surabaya or Harbin?
Surabaya
Surabaya, also known as the "city of heroes," is the capital of East Java and the second largest city in Indonesia, following Jakarta. While it doesn't highlight as many typical tourist monuments as other cities, Surabaya serves as a takeoff point or a landing base for travelers visiting Mount Bromo and Bali.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Indonesia, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
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Surabaya Prices
Indonesia PricesHarbin Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurabaya $78Harbin $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Surabaya is $78, 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 Surabaya and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurabaya $36Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurabaya $72Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Surabaya and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Surabaya 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: Surabaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surabaya $2.71Harbin $1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surabaya
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Surabaya:
- Private Transfer from Tanggulangin to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $53
- Private Transfer from Taman to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $49
- Private Transfer from Surabaya City to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $34
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Waru: $40
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Tambak Sawah: $35
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Taman: $42
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Sidoarjo: $53
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Sepanjang: $34
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Semampir: $34
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Segoro Tambak: $34
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Sedati: $34
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Samaan: $220
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Harbin
Also for Harbin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 4 Hour Private Transfer to Sun Island Snow Sculptures: $100
- Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- Harbin Catholic Church Car Transfer Service: $80
- Harbin Ice Festival Tickets and Transfer Service : $148
- Harbin Private Transfer from Harbin central to Harbin Taiping Airport (HRB): $126
- Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer, Pick up.: $59
- Harbin Volga Manor Private Transfer Service with Entry Tickets: $300
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin East Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $60
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin North Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $100
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin South Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $80
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin North Railway Station from Harbin City: $100
Is it cheaper to fly into Surabaya or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Surabaya 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 daySurabaya $38Harbin $24
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
- Private Full Day Tour to Harbin Beifang Forest Zoo and Optional Seafood Dinner: $261
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surabaya $4.65Harbin $53
Tours and Activities in Surabaya
Here are a few actual costs in Surabaya for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Bromo Private Day Tour with Madakaripura Waterfall: $131
- 1 Day Tour, Wonderful Mount Bromo Sunrise From Surabaya or Malang: $136
- 1 days Majapahit temple history tour: $100
- 1Day - Bromo Madakaripura Day Tour: $128
- 2Days - Bromo Family Tour via Surabaya: $163
- 2Days - Bromo Madakaripura Adventure via Surabaya or Malang: $155
- 2Days - Bromo Sunrise Ijen Tour via Surabaya: $199
- 3-Day Tour: Mount Bromo & Ijen Crater from Surabaya or Malang: $264
- 3Days - Adventure Bromo Ijen via Surabaya or Malang: $275
- Amazing Bromo Day Tour Depart From Surabaya : $169
- Amazing Bromo Day Tour from Probolinggo: $120
- Amazing Bromo One Day Tour from Surabaya Port: $165
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
- 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 Ice Festival New Year Eve Countdown Group Tour on December 31: $200
- Harbin City Private Day Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $200
- 3 Hours Harbin Frozen Songhua River Sightseeing: $200
- Private Half Day Tour to Unit 731 Museum and Sites in Harbin: $218
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurabaya -Harbin $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 Surabaya and Harbin, we can see that Surabaya 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 Surabaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Surabaya 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 Surabaya Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Harbin?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 36% larger than the population of Surabaya. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya 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.
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.