Should you visit Yogyakarta or Harbin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Yogyakarta 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: Yogyakarta or Harbin?
Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta, also called Yogya, Jogja, and Jogjakarta, is Java's hub of culture and art, and is the top-visited destination on the island. While Jakarta is the most populated and industrially-developed city in Indonesia, Yogya has managed to progress without losing its cultural charm, as illustrated in its well-kept traditional Indonesian architecture.
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 Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Eco Tours in Indonesia, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Yogyakarta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Yogyakarta is $64, 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 Yogyakarta and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Yogyakarta 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:
Yogyakarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yogyakarta
Also for Yogyakarta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
YIA Airport Private Transfer:
$12
-
YIA Airport Private Transfer:
$28
-
Private Layover Tour with Airport Transfers:
$94
-
Private Airport Transfer YIA:
$22
-
Kulon Progo Waterfall Tour with Transfers:
$37
-
Jomblang Cave Day Trip with Hotel Transfer:
$30
-
Borobudur ClimbUP Afternoon Guided and transfer:
$26
-
Borobudur 5-hour Tour with Climb-up & Transfers:
$25
-
Airport Transfer with Allowance of Delay & Bags:
$30
-
ATV Riding Adventure with Hotel Transfer:
$62
-
5-Beach Full-Day Tour with Transfers & Entry Fee:
$43
-
3-Hour Bike Tour Through Villages with Transfers:
$38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Harbin
Also for Harbin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Shared Transfer Service to Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Snow Festival:
$250
-
Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel:
$70
-
Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel:
$70
-
Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions:
$198
-
Private Departure Transfer to Harbin North Railway Station from Harbin City:
$100
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel:
$65
-
Harbin Volga Manor Private Transfer Service with Entry Tickets:
$300
-
Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer, Pick up.:
$59
-
Harbin Ice Festival Tickets and Transfer Service :
$148
-
Harbin Catholic Church Car Transfer Service:
$80
-
Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service:
$32
-
4 Hour Private Transfer to Sun Island Snow Sculptures:
$100
Is it cheaper to fly into Yogyakarta or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Yogyakarta 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
-
Food
Meals for one day
Yogyakarta $19
Harbin $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yogyakarta
For Yogyakarta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Ramayana Show with Transfer, Entry Fee & Dinner:
$13
-
Night Walking & Street Food Tour:
$21
-
Guided City Walk and Food Tour:
$23
-
Morning Walk and Food Tour:
$23
-
Kotagede Night Food Tour:
$27
-
Ramayana Ballet Performance with Optional Dinner:
$28
-
Yogyakarta Historical Walking and Food Tour:
$29
-
Yogyakarta Evening Walking and Food Tour:
$30
-
Nighttime Walk and Food Tour:
$32
-
Cooking Class with Market Visit and Hotel Pickup:
$33
-
Prawirotaman Night Food Tour:
$35
-
3-hour Cooking Class with Market Tour:
$35
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
-
Hot Spring Experience with Hot Pot Dinner in Harbin:
$300
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Yogyakarta
For Yogyakarta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Beautiful Sunrise and Exotic Jomblang Cave Tour:
$67
-
"Java's Cultural Heritage: Borobudur and Prambanan Tour":
$16
-
1 Day Yogyakarta tour ( Borobudur temple, Merapi Lava Tour, Prambanan Temple):
$76
-
1 day Yogyakarta Tour Jomblang cave and Pindul Cave tubing:
$72
-
1 day tour borobudur temple,prambanan temple,plaosan temple:
$40
-
1-Day Yogyakarta Javanese Culture - PRIVATE TOUR with GUIDE:
$198
-
1-Day Yogyakarta Merapi Borobudur - PRIVATE Tour with GUIDE:
$183
-
1-Day Yogyakarta Merapi Pengger Heha - PRIVATE Tour with GUIDE:
$140
-
1-Day Yogyakarta Prambanan Breksi Ijo Temple - PRIVATE Tour with Guide:
$184
-
1Day Borobudur (Upper Level) and Prambanan Private Guided Tour:
$149
-
2-Day Borobudur Tour with Merbabu Camping and Hiking:
$332
-
3 Days 2 Nights A Tour of Culture and Nature:
$115
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Harbin Igloos Hot Pot Private Tour:
$300
-
Private Night Tour to Harbin Ice Festival:
$261
-
1-Day Harbin Private Tour:
$168
-
2-Day Harbin City Private Tour in Your Way in Winter Season:
$280
-
All-Inclusive Harbin City History and Local Culture Private Day Tour:
$300
-
Group Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World plus Sun Island Snow Sculpture Festival:
$298
-
Half Day Tour for Harbin Guandong Ancient Lane and Wood Sculpture Museum:
$104
-
Half-Day Private Old Harbin Street Walking Tour with Meal:
$300
-
Harbin City Guided Tour to Zhongyang Street and Sophia Church:
$180
-
Harbin City Private Day Tour in Your Way in Winter Season:
$200
-
Harbin Ice Festival New Year Eve Countdown Group Tour on December 31:
$200
-
Harbin Ice Lantern Show and Center Street Tour:
$150
Alcohol
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 comparing the travel costs between Yogyakarta and Harbin, we can see that Harbin 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 Yogyakarta Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Yogyakarta or Harbin?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Yogyakarta. When comparing the sizes of Yogyakarta 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.
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