Should you visit Xiamen or Harbin?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Xiamen and Harbin can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Xiamen
Xiamen is a coastal city in the Fujian Province of China and has been a major port city and gateway to China for centuries. This vibrant and modern city was named the most livable city in the world in 2002 and one of the first cities to be named a Special Economic Zone. Xiamen is best known for being home to Gulangyu Island, a beautiful island full of historic colonial buildings and lovely walking paths.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Harbin or Xiamen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Xiamen is $57, while the average daily cost in Harbin is $49. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Xiamen and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $54 for a double occupancy room in Xiamen If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $36 in Harbin For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Xiamen food costs typically run travelers around $24 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
On average, meal and food prices in Harbin cost around $12 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $4.80.
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Food
Meals for one day
Xiamen $24
Harbin $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Harbin
For Harbin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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3-hour Private Food Tour in Harbin:
$100
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Half-Day Private Harbin Beer Museum and Food Tour Including Harbin Beer1900:
$150
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Harbin Dumpling Cooking Class:
$150
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Hot Spring Experience with Hot Pot Dinner in Harbin:
$160
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4-Hour Private Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World with Dinner Options:
$250
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Private Full Day Tour to Harbin Beifang Forest Zoo and Optional Seafood Dinner:
$250
Local Transportation
Xiamen's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $5.35 per person, per day on transportation in Xiamen.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Harbin than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $1.34 on transportation in Harbin on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xiamen
Also for Xiamen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Xiamen Riyuegu Hot Spring Experience with Private Transfer:
$112
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Xiamen Railway Station Private Transfer to Gaoqi Airport:
$19
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Xiamen Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station:
$56
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Xiamen Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$56
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Xiamen Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Railway Station:
$19
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Xiamen Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel:
$89
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Xiamen Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$89
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Xiamen North Railway Station Private Transfer from City Area:
$19
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Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Chauffeur Service ,Xiamen Airport Transfer:
$47
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Tuina Massage Experience in Xiamen including Round Trip Transfer:
$47
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Round Trip Transfer Between the Most Picturesque Chuxi Tulou Cluster and Xiamen:
$106
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Private airport transfer to or from Xiamen International Airport max 5:
$15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Harbin
Also for Harbin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Shared Transfer Service to Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Snow Festival:
$89
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Shared Night Transfer Service to Harbin Ice and Snow World:
$80
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Private Transfer to Yabuli Ski Resort from Harbin City:
$350
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Private Transfer to China's Snow Town from Harbin City:
$400
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Private Round-Trip Transfer:Harbin Taiping International Airport(HRB):
$56
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Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel:
$69
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Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel:
$69
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Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions:
$120
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Private Departure Transfer:Hotel to Harbin Taiping International Airport（HRB）:
$28
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Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Any Harbin Railway Station:
$23
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Private Departure Transfer to Harbin West Railway Station from Harbin City Hotel:
$59
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Private Departure Transfer to Harbin South Railway Station from Harbin City Hotel:
$55
Is it cheaper to fly into Xiamen or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Xiamen 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Xiamen can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $14 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing expenses in Harbin, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $47 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Xiamen
For Xiamen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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1-Day Xiamen City Highlights and Gulangyu Island Private Tour:
$235
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1-day Xiapu Photography Tour: East Route:
$273
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2 Days Leisure Tour to Explore Xiamen City:
$452
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2 Days Xiamen Trip to Tour Around the Must-see Highlights of Xiamen:
$393
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2 Days Xiamen tour to discover highlights of Xiamen and Tianluokeng Tulou:
$459
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2 Days Xiamen tour to discover highlights of Xiamen and explore Hongkeng Tulou:
$457
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2-Day Hakka Tulou Private Tour to Nanjing and Yongding:
$720
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2-Day Leisure Tour to Travel around Xiamen City:
$435
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2-Day Mountain Wuyi Private Flexible Tour from Xiamen by Bullet Train:
$500
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2-Day Private Customized Harbin Tour from Xiamen by Air:
$1,118
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2-Day Private Lijiang Highlights Tour from Xiamen by Plane:
$948
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2-Day Private Sightseeing Tour of Xiamen City Highlights and Toulou Cluster:
$462
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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"Harbin Planning Exhibition Hall" A guide tour.:
$120
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"Visit 5 Museums in Harbin" A guide tour.:
$500
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"Visit 5 universities in Harbin" A guide tour.:
$400
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"Visit Museum of Heilongjiang" - a guide tour.:
$100
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1-Day Harbin Private Tour:
$70
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2 Days Private Tour to Chagan Lake Winter Fishing from Harbin:
$1,500
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2-Day Group City Tour Package with Harbin Ice and Snow Festival:
$399
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2-Day Harbin City Private Tour in Your Way in Winter Season:
$210
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2-Day Harbin City Private Tour with Ice and Snow Festival with Lunch:
$340
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2-Day Leisure Private Tour Combo Package of Harbin Including Lunch:
$627
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2-Day Private Tour to Volcanic Vent in Wudalianchi from Harbin:
$1,000
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2-Day Private Trip to China Snow Town and Yabuli Ski Experience from Harbin:
$1,150
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Xiamen spend on average $15 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Harbin spend on average $7.01 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Xiamen and Harbin, we can see that Xiamen 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 Xiamen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Xiamen than you might in Harbin.
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