Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Yichang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Yichang or Harbin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Yichang or Harbin, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Yichang or Harbin?
Yichang
Yichang, China is an ancient city situated on the northern bank of the Yangtze River in central China. The city is located just below the famed Three Gorges Dam and is a popular ending point for many Yangtze River cruises. Yichang offers beautiful natural scenery and ancient relics from the Three Kingdom Period.
Yichang experiences cool, rainy, winters and hot, humid, summers. Temperatures tend to stay in the 40's Fahrenheit during winter and the 80's in the summer. Spring, Summer, and Autumn are fantastic times to visit, although if you prefer to beat the heat, stay away during late summer!
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayYichang $58Harbin $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Yichang is $58, 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 Yichang and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personYichang $24Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomYichang $48Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Yichang and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Yichang 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.Yichang $14Harbin $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 Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer: $27
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Harbin Railway Station to City Hotel: $29
- Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin West Railway Station from Harbin City Hotel: $60
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Harbin Private Transfer from Harbin central to Harbin Taiping Airport (HRB): $114
- Harbin City Car Transfer Service with Driver: $168
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $168
Is it cheaper to fly into Yichang or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Yichang 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 dayYichang $22Harbin $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Harbin
For Harbin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 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.Yichang $18Harbin $53
Tours and Activities in Yichang
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yichang are as follows:
- From Yichang to Chongqing: 5-Day Cruise with Meals: $762
- Private Day Tour in Yichang to Sanyou Cave and Sanxia Waterfall : $239
- Private Tour: Essence of Yichang Day Tour: $165
- Yichang Tourist Center to Yichang Sanxia Airport (YIH): $53
- Yichang hotel/Sanxia Tourist Center/Maoping pier to Zhangjiajie: $290
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Half Day Tour for Harbin Guandong Ancient Lane and Wood Sculpture Museum: $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 Half Day Tour to Unit 731 Museum in Harbin: $209
- Full Day Private Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow Festival: $250
- Small Group Tour to Harbin Volga Manor with Entrance Fee and Lunch: $261
- 2-Day Harbin City Private Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $280
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayYichang $14Harbin $7.85
When comparing the travel costs between Yichang and Harbin, we can see that Yichang 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 Yichang Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Yichang or Harbin?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Yichang. When comparing the sizes of Yichang 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 Yichang 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 Yichang or Harbin in the Summer?
Both Harbin and Yichang during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Yichang is a little warmer than Harbin. Typically, the summer temperatures in Yichang in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Harbin averages at about 24°C (75°F).
Harbin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Yichang. Yichang usually gets more rain in July than Harbin. Yichang gets 229 mm (9 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyYichang 29°C (85°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Yichang or Harbin in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Yichang and Harbin.
In October, Yichang is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Yichang average around 20°C (67°F), and Harbin fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
In October, Yichang usually receives more rain than Harbin. Yichang gets 87 mm (3.4 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 OctoberYichang 20°C (67°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Yichang or Harbin in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Yichang as well as Harbin.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Harbin. Yichang is much warmer than Harbin in the winter. The daily temperature in Yichang averages around 6°C (43°F) in January, and Harbin fluctuates around -18°C (-0°F).
Yichang usually gets more rain in January than Harbin. Yichang gets 20 mm (0.8 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 JanuaryYichang 6°C (43°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Yichang or Harbin in the Spring?
Both Harbin and Yichang are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Yichang is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the spring temperatures in Yichang in April average around 18°C (65°F), and Harbin averages at about 8°C (46°F).
In April, Yichang usually receives more rain than Harbin. Yichang gets 95 mm (3.7 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 AprilYichang 18°C (65°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Yichang
| Yichang | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 8°C (46°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 18°C (65°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (80°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 229 mm (9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (67°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 8°C (47°F) | 22 mm (0.9 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.