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 $73Harbin $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Surabaya is $73, while the average daily cost in Harbin is $69. 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 $34Harbin $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurabaya $68Harbin $44
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 $2.53Harbin $1.59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surabaya
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Surabaya:
- Private Transfer from Yogyakarta to Bromo: $234
- Private Transfer from Waru to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $33
- Private Transfer from Tanggulangin to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $52
- Private Transfer from Taman to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $49
- Private Transfer from Surabaya City to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $33
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Tanggulangin: $52
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Tambak Sawah: $34
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Taman: $42
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Surabaya City: $33
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Sidoarjo: $52
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Sepanjang: $33
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Segoro Tambak: $33
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: Meet&Greet Service: $36
- Harbin Airport, Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province Transfer Service: $27
- Harbin Catholic Church Car Transfer Service: $80
- Harbin City Car Transfer Service with Driver: $198
- Harbin Ice Festival Tickets and Transfer Service: $148
- Harbin Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $88
- Harbin Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $88
- Harbin Sun Island Snow Fair tickets and Transfer Service: $128
- 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
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 $35Harbin $26
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
- Central Street, Baluoke Village, and Dinner Tour: $90
- Harbin Cultural Tour at Zhongyang Dajie to Baluoke with Dinner: $150
- 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 $4.35Harbin $56
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: $129
- 1 Day Mount Bromo Sunrise Private Tour from Surabaya: $125
- 1 Day Tour, Wonderful Mount Bromo Sunrise From Surabaya or Malang: $136
- 1 Day Tumpak Sewu Waterfall Private Tour From Surabaya: $80
- 1 days Majapahit temple history tour: $100
- 1Day - Bromo Madakaripura Day Tour: $128
- 2-Day: Mt Bromo & Kawah Ijen Crater Tour from Surabaya & Malang: $238
- 2Days - Bromo Family Tour via Surabaya: $163
- 2Days - Bromo Madakaripura Adventure via Surabaya or Malang: $155
- 2Days - Bromo Sunrise Ijen Tour via Surabaya: $199
- 2Days Bromo-Ijen Private Tour (1N Hotel included): $260
- 3 Days Private Tour in Bromo and Ijen from Surabaya: $290
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: $66
- Admission Ticket to Ice and Snow World: $75
- 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
- Full Day Harbin Private Tour: $160
- 1-Day Harbin Private Tour: $168
- Harbin Private Day Tour to Yabuli ski Resort: $170
- Harbin City Guided Tour to Zhongyang Street and Sophia Church: $180
- Harbin City Walking Sightseeing: $198
- Private Half Day City Tour including Russian Town and Harbin Ropeway Ride: $198
- Small Group Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $199
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurabaya -Harbin $8.33
When comparing the travel costs between Surabaya and Harbin, we can see that Surabaya is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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.