Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Sukhothai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Sukhothai or Harbin?
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 Sukhothai and Harbin can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Sukhothai or Harbin?
Sukhothai
If you are the kind of wandering traveler looking to find calm and inner peace, you will want to add Sukhothai to your list. Also known as "the dawn of happiness," this area is best known for the ruins of the ancient city of Sukhothai – the capital of Thailand during the 13th century. As the first capital of Siam, the area's temples and monuments are restored and ready for visitors from around the world.
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 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
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Sukhothai Prices
Thailand PricesHarbin Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySukhothai $82Harbin $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Sukhothai is $82, 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 Sukhothai and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSukhothai $26Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSukhothai $52Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Sukhothai and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Sukhothai 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: Sukhothai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sukhothai $19Harbin $1.52
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 Sukhothai or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Sukhothai 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 daySukhothai $36Harbin $24
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sukhothai $38Harbin $53
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySukhothai $14Harbin $7.96
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 Sukhothai and Harbin, we can see that Sukhothai 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 Sukhothai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sukhothai 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 Sukhothai Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sukhothai or Harbin?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Sukhothai. When comparing the sizes of Sukhothai 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 Sukhothai or Harbin?
Harbin has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Sukhothai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Sukhothai or Harbin in the Summer?
Both Harbin and Sukhothai are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sukhothai throughout the year.
In the summer, Sukhothai is a little warmer than Harbin. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sukhothai in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Harbin averages at about 24°C (75°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Harbin. It's quite rainy in Sukhothai. In July, Sukhothai usually receives more rain than Harbin. Sukhothai gets 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySukhothai 29°C (84°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Sukhothai or Harbin in the Autumn?
Both Harbin and Sukhothai during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sukhothai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Sukhothai is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Sukhothai average around 28°C (83°F), and Harbin fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sukhothai. Sukhothai usually gets more rain in October than Harbin. Sukhothai gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year. October to April is the dry season in Sukhothai. May to October is the rainy season in Sukhothai.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSukhothai 28°C (83°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Sukhothai or Harbin in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sukhothai and Harbin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sukhothai year-round.
Harbin can get quite cold in the winter. Sukhothai is much warmer than Harbin in the winter. The daily temperature in Sukhothai averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Harbin fluctuates around -18°C (-0°F).
In January, Sukhothai usually receives more rain than Harbin. Sukhothai gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySukhothai 25°C (77°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Sukhothai or Harbin in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Sukhothai as well as Harbin. Sukhothai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
The heat can be very extreme in Sukhothai. In the spring, Sukhothai is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sukhothai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Harbin averages at about 8°C (46°F).
Sukhothai usually gets more rain in April than Harbin. Sukhothai gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, October to April in Sukhothai is the dry season. May to October in Sukhothai is the rainy season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSukhothai 32°C (89°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Sukhothai
| Sukhothai | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 30°C (86°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 31°C (87°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (85°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 241 mm (9.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 6 mm (0.2 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.