Should you visit Taipei or Harbin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Taipei and Harbin. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Taipei or Harbin?
Taipei
Few cities in the world are full of more diverse opportunities than the cultural crosshairs city of Taipei. As the capital of Taiwan, this 300-year-old city is the financial, cultural and governmental center of Taiwan. Located in the northern part of the island between the Yangming Mountains and Central Mountains, this city of 2.6 million people is always ready to welcome more visitors.
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 Cultural Tours in Taiwan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Taiwan, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Taipei?
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 Taipei is $206, 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 Taipei and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Taipei 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:
Taipei Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Taipei
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Taipei:
-
Easycard
$2.15
-
Easycard
$9.92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taipei
Also for Taipei, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Taipei HTL-APT (TSA):
$28
-
Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Taipei APT-HTL (TSA):
$28
-
Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Taipei APT- HTL (TPE):
$41
-
Taoyuan International Airport(TPE)⇄Taoyuan One-way Transfer:
$48
-
Taoyuan Airport (TPE) Private Transfer to Multiple Destinations:
$28
-
Taiwan International Airport Private Transfer:
$90
-
Taoyuan Airport (TPE) Return Bus Transfer:
$9.19
-
Taipei Taoyuan Airport (TPE) to Taian Township -Arrival Transfer:
$192
-
Taipei City to Taoyuan Airport Private Transfer:
$46
-
Taipei City to Keelung Port Private Transfer:
$42
-
Taipei City to Keelung (Taipei) Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer:
$104
-
Taipei Arrival Private Transfer: Taiwan Taoyuan (TPE) to Hotel:
$55
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 Taipei or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Taipei 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
Taipei $29
Harbin $24
Typical Food Prices in Taipei
For Taipei, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
EasyCard
$17
-
Lunch at The Can
$7.28
-
EasyCard
$33
-
Lunch
$3.14
-
Lunch
$1.98
-
Dinner
$6.62
-
Lunch
$3.80
-
Lunch
$4.96
-
Louisa coffee
$3.14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Taipei
For Taipei, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Taipei Food Tour Taiwan Traditional Breakfast and Market and Tea:
$45
-
Food Tours w/ Top 10 Taiwan Food (Breakfast/Dinner):
$45
-
Taipei Food Tour: Night Market & Convenience Store(Food Included):
$45
-
Taipei Walking Food Tour in Ningxia Night Market(10 Foods Incl.):
$45
-
Local Favorites: Taiwan Night Market Food Tour in 2 hours:
$49
-
Street Food & Hidden Eats Night Market Food Tour:
$55
-
Taipei Hidden Eats, Market & Street Food Tour with 8+ Tastings:
$55
-
Xiao long bao, Pork thick soup, Bubble milk tea. (Taiwan Cooking Class)-B :
$65
-
Private Walking Food Tour in Ningxia Night Market(10 Foods Incl.):
$70
-
Xiao Long Bao, Chicken vermicelli with mushroom and sesame oil, Tofu strips salad, Bubble milk tea. Taiwan Traditional Delicacies Experience-A (Taipei Cooking Class):
$77
-
Iconic Food Tour: Local Street Food, Drinks & Sites:
$82
-
Private Street Food Tour of Taipei with a Local Guide:
$84
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 Taipei
For Taipei, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
9 Hour Northeast Coast Bay View Tour in Yilan :
$61
-
Yamingshan Volcano, Beitou Thermal Valley, Danshui Private Tour:
$173
-
2 Days Sun Moon Lake & Lukang Historic Area Tour:
$232
-
2 days Yeliou (or Pingxi sky lantern) & Sun Moon Lake tour (Taichung city end) :
$200
-
2-Hour Private Dadaocheng Walking Tour:
$35
-
2-Hour Private Walking Tour in Beitou, Taiwan:
$55
-
4 Days Private Tour Taipei, Jiufen, Sun Moon Lake & Taichung:
$1,079
-
4 Hour Afternoon Cycling City Tour North with Snack:
$83
-
4-Hour Morning Cycling City Tour (incl. breakfast):
$83
-
5 Hours Sightseeing and Bar Tour in Taipei:
$72
-
8-hour Northern Taiwan Tour with an English-Speaking Licensed Guide & Driver:
$240
-
9 Hour Tamsui Historic Site and Beitou Hot Spring Culture Tour:
$57
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 Taipei
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Taipei:
-
Taipei Nightlife: Taipei Pub Crawls (2 Different Routes):
$27
-
Private Tour to Yilan Kavalan Whisky Distillery:
$145
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 Taipei and Harbin, we can see that Taipei 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 Taipei would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taipei 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 Taipei Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Taipei or Harbin?
Taipei has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Harbin. When comparing the sizes of Taipei 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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