Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Ubud?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ubud or Harbin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Ubud and Harbin. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Ubud or Harbin?
Ubud
Made popular by the film Eat Pray Love, Ubud is located in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia. Beautiful Hindu temples and iconic rice fields are the sight to see in this popular cultural, artistic and religious hub on the island.
Though Ubud is hot and humid during the day, it is still cooler than coastal areas. Still, temperatures linger between mid-70's and low 90's year-round, so it is likely you'll experience warm weather, regardless of when you visit.
Ubud's wet season is from November to June, which makes it an unpopular time for travelers. January and February are when Ubud experiences the heaviest rainfall, so it may be wise to avoid visiting at this time, especially since weather will limit activities, bring out insects, and cause landslides and possible flooding.
Dry season runs from July through October, which is high season for travel. Even during dry season, Ubud is extremely humid, so pack lightweight clothing that breathes and lots of sunblock.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Indonesia, The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, 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 dayUbud $150Harbin $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Ubud is $150, 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 Ubud and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUbud $133Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUbud $266Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Ubud and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Ubud 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: Ubud Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ubud $1.82Harbin $1.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ubud
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ubud:
- Whitewater Rafting Ayung River with Return Transfer In Ubud Bali: $55
- White Water Rafting Ubud Bali With Hotel Transfer: $24
- White Water Rafting Adventure with Lunch and Return Transfer Including: $36
- Waterbom Bali Tickets with Private Transfers: $70
- Waterbom Bali Day Pass With Hotel Transfer: $55
- Warm Stone Massage For 2 hours Including Transfers: $70
- Vip Airport Transfer : $32
- Quad Bike ATV Guided Tour with Transfer: $38
- 1 Hour Beach Horse Riding with Transfer: $61
- Ubud to Bali (DPS) Airport Private Transfer: $20
- Ubud Transfers: Best Ubud Ground Transport: $35
- Ubud Transfer Service: $32
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 Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service , Harbin Airport Transfer,Pick up: $78
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- 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
- Shared Transfer Service to Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Snow Festival: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Ubud or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Ubud 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 dayUbud $12Harbin $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ubud
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ubud.
- Canggu: Drag Show with Dinner: $10
- Jimbaran Bay Sunset Dinner with Discount Voucher and Return Transport : $12
- Munduk authentic cooking class & banyumala waterfall: $19
- Uluwatu Sunset & Romantic Dinner: $20
- Balinese Traditional Cooking Classes with Market Tour: $22
- Balinese Traditional Cooking Class with Market Tour: $22
- Ubud Cooking : All Inclusive Cooking Class: $23
- Balinese Cooking Class and Market Tour with Transfers: $23
- Cooking Class with Transfers and Optional Market Visit: $23
- Balinese Cooking Class with Hotel Transfers: $26
- Best of Ubud with Cooking Class Experience: $26
- Jimbaran Beach Candle Light Dinner : $26
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.Ubud $10Harbin $52
Tours and Activities in Ubud
Here are a few actual costs in Ubud for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 DAY Valley Trekking at Hidden Canyon Bejiguwang + Sightseeing/Private Tour 8 Hours/English/Japanese Driver Included: $37
- All Inclusive Tour in Nusa Lembongan Islands : $145
- BALI INSTAGRAM TOUR Private Tour with Wifi onboard: $87
- Bali : Best Private Day Tour with Private Driver : $26
- Bali : Customized Tour Sekumpul Waterfalls & Handara gate Heaven: $36
- Bali : Mount Batur Sunrise Jeep 4WD Experience: $38
- Bali PrivateTanahlot Sunset Tour: $110
- Bali Royal palaces (observe tour): $88
- Barong Dance and Waterfall tour in Bali: $35
- Best Ubud Tours -All inclusive with private driver: $35
- Best of Ubud Tours with Jungle Swing ( All Inclusive ): $83
- Gate Of Heaven Lempuyang Temple Tours with Blue Lagoon Snorkeling: $35
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 dayUbud $6.88Harbin $7.83
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ubud and Harbin, we can see that Ubud 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 Ubud would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ubud 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 Ubud Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ubud or Harbin?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Ubud. When comparing the sizes of Ubud 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.