Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Tanah Rata?
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 Tanah Rata or Harbin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tanah Rata 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: Tanah Rata or Harbin?
Tanah Rata
Tanah Rata is one of the main tourist towns in the Cameron Highlands. The Cameron Highlands are in western Malaysia and are a popular retreat for Malaysian residents and international travelers alike. The area's higher elevation offers an often much needed break from the country's oppressive heat. It also has a beautiful setting that is rich in agriculture and has rolling hills that are beautifully covered in tea plantations. Tanah Rata has many of the area's tourist amenities. ATMS, banks, and the area's main hospital are all found in town. For some, the area feels too touristy, but if you linger longer, and explore on your own, you can easily escape the mass tourism and see the area for what it is.
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 Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
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Tanah Rata Prices
Malaysia PricesHarbin Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTanah Rata $192Harbin $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Tanah Rata is $192, 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 Tanah Rata and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTanah Rata $76Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTanah Rata $152Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Tanah Rata and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Tanah Rata 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: Tanah Rata Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tanah Rata $33Harbin $1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tanah Rata
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tanah Rata:
- Shared Transfer : Cameron Highland to Taman Negara via Kuala Tembeling Jetty: $155
- Private Transfer Service Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur: $229
- Departure Transfer from Cameron Highland to KLIA/KLIA2: $169
- Chauffeur: Cameron Highlands to Singapore Van Transfer: $125
- CameronHighland CityHotel to KualaLumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $109
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $110
- Cameron Highlands to Ipoh Hotel Transfer: $65
- Cameron Highlands Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $94
- Cameron Highlands City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $92
- Cameron Highlands City To Kuala Lumpur City Transfer: $94
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Harbin
Also for Harbin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 4 Hour Private Transfer to Sun Island Snow Sculptures: $100
- Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- Harbin Catholic Church Car Transfer Service: $80
- Harbin Ice Festival Tickets and Transfer Service : $148
- Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer, Pick up.: $59
- Harbin Volga Manor Private Transfer Service with Entry Tickets: $300
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin North Railway Station from Harbin City: $100
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $198
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Shared Transfer Service to Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Snow Festival: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Tanah Rata or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Tanah Rata 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 dayTanah Rata $87Harbin $24
Typical Food Prices in Tanah Rata
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tanah Rata:
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Dinner for Two$6.42
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Dessert$0.71
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Lunch$4.52
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Afternoon tea$4.40
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.Tanah Rata $39Harbin $53
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tanah Rata
Here are a few typical costs in Tanah Rata for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Tea Factory Visit$6.42
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Tour of Orang Asli Village$24
Tours and Activities in Tanah Rata
Here are a few actual costs in Tanah Rata for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cameron Highlands Sightseing Tour: $35
- Cameron Highlands City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $110
- Cameron Highlands City to Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $109
- Cameron Highlands Full Day Join in Tour: $49
- Cameron Highlands Full Day Tour: $75
- Cameron Highlands Private Sightseeing Tour : $211
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur International Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $110
- Cameron Highlands: Agro Tour: $61
- Cameron Highlands: Mossy Forest Tour: $30
- Special Cameron Highlands ~ Day tour;Solo;Couple;Group: $292
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTanah Rata $21Harbin $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 Tanah Rata and Harbin, we can see that Tanah Rata 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 Tanah Rata would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tanah Rata 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 Tanah Rata Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tanah Rata or Harbin?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 460 times larger than the population of Tanah Rata. When comparing the sizes of Tanah Rata 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 Tanah Rata or Harbin?
Harbin has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Tanah Rata experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Harbin in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Tanah Rata as well as Harbin. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Tanah Rata is generally a little warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 27°C (81°F), and Harbin fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
It's quite rainy in Harbin. Tanah Rata usually gets less rain in July than Harbin. Tanah Rata gets 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Harbin in the Autumn?
Both Harbin and Tanah Rata are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tanah Rata throughout the year.
Tanah Rata is much warmer than Harbin in the autumn. The daily temperature in Tanah Rata averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Harbin fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. In October, Tanah Rata usually receives more rain than Harbin. Tanah Rata gets 237 mm (9.3 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 OctoberTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Harbin in the Winter?
Both Harbin and Tanah Rata during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Tanah Rata because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Harbin can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Tanah Rata is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tanah Rata in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Harbin averages at about -18°C (-0°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Tanah Rata. Tanah Rata usually gets more rain in January than Harbin. Tanah Rata gets 131 mm (5.2 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 JanuaryTanah Rata 27°C (80°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Harbin in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tanah Rata and Harbin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round.
In April, Tanah Rata is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 28°C (82°F), and Harbin fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
Tanah Rata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Tanah Rata usually receives more rain than Harbin. Tanah Rata gets 167 mm (6.6 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 AprilTanah Rata 28°C (82°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Tanah Rata
| Tanah Rata | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 158 mm (6.2 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.