Which place is cheaper, Sado or Harbin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Harbin or Sado?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Harbin and Sado can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Harbin or Sado?
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.
Sado
Sado Island, Japan is located just off the coast of Niigata and is an old gold mining town that has since developed into a quiet summer holiday destination. The island is home to two mountain ranges, O-Sado in the north and Ko-sado in the south, with the popular Kuninaka plain in between the mountain ranges. With the remoteness of the island, it has become a popular destination for tourists to experience old Japan and get away from the busy mainland.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in China, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.
-
Harbin Prices
China PricesSado Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHarbin $66Sado $82
The average daily cost (per person) in Harbin is $66, while the average daily cost in Sado is $82. 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 Harbin and Sado in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHarbin $21Sado $31
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHarbin $42Sado $62
Compare Hotels in Harbin and Sado
Looking for a hotel in Harbin or Sado? 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: Sado Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Harbin $1.52Sado $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Harbin
Also for Harbin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer, Pick up.: $59
- 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 Catholic Church Car Transfer Service: $80
- 4 Hour Private Transfer to Sun Island Snow Sculptures: $100
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin North Railway Station from Harbin City: $100
- Harbin Ice Festival Tickets and Transfer Service : $148
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $198
- Shared Transfer Service to Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Snow Festival: $250
- Harbin Volga Manor Private Transfer Service with Entry Tickets: $300
Is it cheaper to fly into Harbin or Sado?
Prices for flights to both Sado and Harbin 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 dayHarbin $24Sado $42
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Harbin $53Sado $8.74
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: $51
- Half Day Tour for Harbin Guandong Ancient Lane and Wood Sculpture Museum: $104
- 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
- 1-Day Harbin Private Tour: $168
- Harbin City Guided Tour to Zhongyang Street and Sophia Church: $180
- Private Half Day City Tour including Russian Town and Harbin Ropeway Ride: $198
- Small Group Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $199
- 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
- Private Half Day Tour to Unit 731 Museum and Sites in Harbin: $218
Tours and Activities in Sado
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sado are as follows:
- Sado Island Highlights: 3-Hour Bike Tour: $84
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayHarbin $7.96Sado $69
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Harbin and Sado, we can see that Sado 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 Sado would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sado 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 Harbin Expensive? and Is Sado Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Harbin or Sado?
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 Harbin or Sado in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Harbin as well as Sado. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Sado because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Harbin is generally around the same temperature as Sado. Daily temperatures in Harbin average around 24°C (75°F), and Sado fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).
It's quite rainy in Sado. Harbin receives a lot of rain in the summer. Harbin usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Sado. Harbin gets 153 mm (6 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyHarbin 24°C (75°F)Sado 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Harbin or Sado in the Autumn?
Both Sado and Harbin are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Sado this time of year.
Harbin is much colder than Sado in the autumn. The daily temperature in Harbin averages around 7°C (44°F) in October, and Sado fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. In October, Harbin usually receives less rain than Sado. Harbin gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHarbin 7°C (44°F)Sado 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Harbin or Sado in the Winter?
Both Sado and Harbin during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Sado for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Sado. It's quite cold in Harbin in the winter. In the winter, Harbin is much colder than Sado. Typically, the winter temperatures in Harbin in January average around -18°C (-0°F), and Sado averages at about 3°C (37°F).
Sado gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Harbin usually gets less rain in January than Sado. Harbin gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHarbin -18°C (-0°F)Sado 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Harbin or Sado in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Harbin and Sado.
In April, Harbin is generally cooler than Sado. Daily temperatures in Harbin average around 8°C (46°F), and Sado fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).
Sado receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Harbin usually receives less rain than Sado. Harbin gets 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilHarbin 8°C (46°F)Sado 10°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Sado and Harbin
| Harbin | Sado | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Feb | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Nov | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 159 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | -14°C (7°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 162 mm (6.4 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.