Travel Budget for Suzhou Visit Suzhou on a Budget or Travel in Style

Suzhou, Jiangsu, China

Suzhou is an exciting destination known for its beauty, culture, food, and exciting activities. In this travel cost guide, we'll cover everything you need to know to plan your travel budget and have an amazing trip without spending too much. This guide includes average trip costs from previous travelers, typical hotel prices, food and dining costs, entertainment and sightseeing prices, and information about transportation.

How much does it cost to travel to Suzhou?

You should plan to spend around $125 (¥906) per day on your vacation in Suzhou. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $56 (¥405) on meals
  • $57 (¥413) on local transportation
  • $77 (¥556) on hotels

A one week trip to Suzhou for two people costs, on average, $1,748 (¥12,684). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $125
    ¥906
  • One Week Per person
    $874
    ¥6,342
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $1,748
    ¥12,684
  • One Month Per person
    $3,746
    ¥27,180
  • One Week For a couple
    $1,748
    ¥12,684
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $3,496
    ¥25,368
  • One Month For a couple
    $7,492
    ¥54,360
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Suzhou cost?

A one week trip to Suzhou usually costs around $874 (¥6,342) for one person and $1,748 (¥12,684) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Suzhou on average costs around $1,748 (¥12,684) for one person and $3,496 (¥25,368) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Suzhou will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Suzhou on average costs around $3,746 (¥27,180) for one person and $7,492 (¥54,360) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Is Suzhou expensive to visit?

Suzhou is a smaller destination that draws visitors with a range of travel styles, spending habits, and budget preferences. Accommodation options range from budget-friendly hostels to mid-range hotels to high-end luxury properties.

If you're not cautious, Suzhou can become costly, but you can save with strategies like looking for discounts and coupons.

On average, budget travelers spend $55 (¥396) per day, mid-range travelers spend $125 (¥906) per day, and luxury travelers spend around $239 (¥1,732) per day. These costs are calculated from the expenses of previous travelers to Suzhou.

Within Asia, Suzhou is a somewhat more expensive destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Asia for its travel costs. While some cities in the region are more expensive, Suzhou is generally more expensive than most.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Suzhou Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Suzhou?

The average Suzhou trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Suzhou travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers. Also, you can see more details at How much does a trip to Suzhou cost?

Suzhou on a Budget
Category Budget Mid-Range Luxury
Accommodation 1
For 1 person in double occupancy
$17
(¥122)
$38
(¥278)
$73
(¥532)
Local Transportation 1 $25
(¥181)
$57
(¥413)
$109
(¥789)
Food 2 $24
(¥177)
$56
(¥405)
$107
(¥773)
Entertainment 1 $4
(¥30)
$9
(¥68)
$18
(¥129)
Alcohol 2 $1-4
(¥10-30)
$3-10
(¥23-70)
$6-18
(¥44-133)

Realistic Expectations for Your Travel Budget

It's important to have realistic expectations for your travel budget. While many people assume they can travel to Suzhou without spending much money, the reality is that most people are not comfortable traveling on an extremely low "shoestring" budget. Consider what you really enjoy doing when you are on vacation and how you've traveled in the past. Do you prefer resorts, vacation rentals, or hostels? Do you like to experience all of the activities, museums, and sights? Is dining out at delicious restaurants important to you? Your answers to these questions will affect your overall travel budget and itinerary.

The Truth on Budget Travel

Although you may consider yourself a budget traveler, unless you're ready to cut out many creature comforts, you'll likely spend much more than the $55 per day that young budget travelers often get by on.

For backpackers, this tight budget typically involves staying in hostel dorms, eating at the cheapest eateries or fast food joints, using public transportation, and sticking to free attractions.

Thankfully, Suzhou is home to plenty of hostels, including Suzhou Blue Gate Hostel and Suzhou Desti Youth Park Hostel. In these hostels, you can find economical dorm accommodations and a fun social atmosphere, but amenities are typically limited.

Do You Identify as an Average Traveler?

Couples and families traveling for leisure often prefer mid-range hotels, dine at popular eateries, and visit key museums and attractions that require an entry fee. Many visitors to Suzhou are keen to visit the prominent attractions, museums, sights, and landmarks. It's important to remember that most activities will cost you money. Consequently, you should anticipate your daily budget to be closer to $125 per person, per day.

What Luxury Travel Looks Like

If you're looking for an all encompassing trip with every amenity and a higher level of service, then prepare yourself for a price tag closer to $239 per day. To stay in a nicer hotel, eat at award winning restaurants, splurge on extravagant excursions, and take taxis or private drivers to get around the destination, you'll need to be prepared for a more "luxury" set of prices. Many high-end visitors also prefer unique experiences such as Unveil Suzhou's Essence: Ultimate Private Day Tour - offered by Viator.

Accommodation Budget in Suzhou

In Suzhou, hotel prices can swing drastically. Higher-end hotels offer more luxury, but come at a cost, especially in peak season when prices are higher. Off-season prices are more reasonable, averaging $0, but during peak season they jump to an average of $0. You can find budget options starting at $0 up to luxury rates at $0. Hostels are typically cheaper, especially dorms. Book early and avoid peak season to save money.

Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid in Suzhou for two people for a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $77 (¥556). For one person sharing a room, the average price paid for a hotel room is $38 (¥278) per night. These costs are from the reported spending of actual travelers.

  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $38
    ¥278
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $77
    ¥556

Hotels in Suzhou

Looking for a hotel in Suzhou? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.

Tips to Save Money on Accommodation in Suzhou

If you travel during the low or shoulder season (and avoid ), you'll find lower accommodation prices and less tourist crowds.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Suzhou

Suzhou does not has a good public transit system.

Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, past travelers have spent $57 (¥413) per person, per day, on local transportation in Suzhou. The cost of a taxi ride or rideshare service (Uber/Lyft) in Suzhou is significantly more than public transportation.

  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $57
    ¥413

Some of the standard hotel transfers and transport options include:

  • Shanghai Pudong International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou for $87 details
  • Shanghai Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Tongli Water Town for $90 details
  • Hangzhou Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Wuzhen Water Town for $143 details

Recommended Services


Flights to Suzhou
How much does it cost to go to Suzhou? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Suzhou
The price of renting a car in Suzhou will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.



Food Budget in Suzhou

Cuisine often serves as a primary motivation for travel, so make sure to indulge in the local dishes.

Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While restaurant and meal prices in Suzhou can vary significantly, the average cost of food in Suzhou is $56 (¥405) per day, per person, based on the spending habits of previous travelers.

  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $56
    ¥405

When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Suzhou is around $56 (¥405) per person, with previous travelers spending from $24 to $107. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.

Typical meal prices in Suzhou are as follows:

  • Breakfast: $6 to $17
  • Lunch: $8 to $22
  • Dinner: $17 to $39
  • Coffee: $4
  • Fast Food or Street Food: $8

Known for its vegetable and fish dishes, Suzhou cuisine embodies fresh, subtly sweet flavors and fine presentation. Some common meals consist of freshwater fish, especially eel and carp, which are usually steamed. Traditional dishes include Mandarin Fish, Steamed White Fish, Water Shield with Egg Flakes, Moon Cakes, Fengzhen noodles, Aozao noodles, Semen euryales, Fish Flavor Spring Rolls, Youtunjinjiao (Fried Steamed Bun), Sugar Porridge, and Jiuniang Cake, amongst others. Due to the location on the river delta, the region is also known for its fertile soil which yields rice, wheat, maize and other crops which include soybeans, peanuts, tea, peppermint, spearmint, apples, pears, peaches, loquat, gingko, and herbs. There are a number of traditional restaurants throughout the city that will have a good selection of local fare.

Food & Dining Tips

Many establishments feature breakfast in their pricing, although some tack it on as an added expense. The price and quality can fluctuate depending on the hotel. Being aware of this beforehand helps you gauge if you'll need extra cash. The hotel buffet might be a delicious choice, or you could save some cash by heading to a nearby bakery or cafe.

Pack a water bottle to save on drinks. It's also a way to help protect the environment.

Planning a tour? Be sure to confirm in advance which meals are provided. You could find yourself footing the bill for some meals, which can affect your budget.

Taking a food tour or cooking class is a great way to experience the culture in Suzhou. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. A few of the best culinary activities here include:

  • Suzhou Alleyway Walking Food Tour for $55 details
  • Half-Day Private Customized Suzhou Highlights with Lunch or Dinner Option for $123 details
  • Zhouzhuang Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Lunch or Dinner Option for $154 details

Recommended


Sightseeing and Activities Budget in Suzhou

Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Sightseeing activities, entertainment, and entrance tickets in Suzhou typically cost an average of $9.31 (¥68) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.

  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $9.31
    ¥68

Suzhou is very much known for its gardens, water towns, historic sites, and scenery. Of the gardens, The Humble Administrator's Garden is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and counted among China's famous classical gardens. It is the largest garden in Suzhou and is exemplary of Chinese landscape design with interlacing bridges, pavilions, bonsai, and a teahouse. The Lingering Garden is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as is the Master of the Nets Garden and the Lion Grove Garden. Tiger Hill is also a place of enormous importance historically and culturally, known for the Yunyan Pagoda (also called Huqiu Tower). This thousand-year-old landmark signifies the burial place of a king whose tomb is embedded in the legend of a white tiger who guards it. Hanshan Temple (a.k.a. Cold Mountain Temple) is another beautiful piece of history, though there are many more to be seen, especially on Shantang Street, famous for its old temples, ancestral halls and memorial arches.

Suzhou's water towns are some of the oldest and most charming in the world. Zhouzhuang, located in Kunshan City, is one of the most visited (more below).



In addition to sight-seeing and enjoying the charm of Suzhou, there are also a number of museums that illuminate the rich culture and history of the region. A longstanding history of silk production remains an integral thread in Suzhou's culture. The Suzhou Silk Museum invites guests to watch the artisans hard at work, beginning with harvesting the silk (from silkworm to cocoons), and moving on to preparing the silk and spinning the thread. The Suzhou Museum is another prime example, as well as the city's largest museum. While its design was inspired by the region's Classical Gardens, its galleries host a collection of more than 15,000 pieces, including ancient paintings, calligraphy, porcelain crafts, artifacts, and many other relics.

The streets of Suzhou are also great opportunities to explore a range of culture and history. While some like Shantang and Shiquan Streets are reminiscent of an ancient past and stunning architecture, others like Jinchang District's Shilu Shopping Street provides shopping opportunities with many retail and department stores.

Local tours that last a few hours can be a great way to explore Suzhou. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:

  • Suzhou and Zhouzhuang Water Village Private Day Tour with Lunch for $166 details
  • 4-Hour Flexible Suzhou City Highlights Private Tour for $114 details
  • Zhouzhuang and Tongli Self-Guided Tour from Suzhou with Drop-off Options for $70 details

Recommended Activities


Nightlife Budget in Suzhou

Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $6.39 (¥46) on nightlife and alcoholic beverages in Suzhou per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.

  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $6.39
    ¥46
Nightlife Tips

While nightlife is a key part of many trips, scaling back on drinks can help free up some extra cash in your budget.



Budgeting and Travel Tips for Suzhou

  • During peak season, prices are generally much higher and the destination is more crowded. You can save money and avoid the crowds by visiting during the shoulder seasons or low season instead.
  • Traveling at a more relaxed pace can help you save money, giving you a chance to appreciate the stunning surroundings while you unwind. Packing your days with too many activities often leads to higher expenses. On the other hand, slowing down can lead to lower costs and a more enjoyable experience.

Budgeting Challenges

  • Suzhou has limited options for public transportation. You might want to have a prearranged form of transportation available, such as a tour or private driver. This may cut into your budget elsewhere.
  • Suzhou isn't known for its abundance of hostels, so if you're hoping to crash in a budget-friendly dorm, you might need to rethink your strategy. Consider looking for an affordable hotel or an apartment rental instead.
Traveling in Suzhou
Suzhou Suzhou, China

Suzhou is a city in Jiangsu province famed for its beautiful gardens and traditional waterside architecture, featuring elaborate canals and bridges. Located on the Yangtze Delta, the city consists largely of waterways making Suzhou a kind of 'Venice of the Orient.' It is also a hub for scholars, artists, and skilled craftsmen.



Neighborhoods & Around

Suzhou is divided into districts and satellite cities, with the districts closer to the old town and city center, and the cities lying on the outskirts. The Wujiang District, positioned on the southeastern bank of Taihu Lake, is home to the thousand-year-old water town of Tongli, famous for hundreds of well-preserved gardens, temples and mansions. The Gusu District, closer to the city center, is where a wealth of Suzhou's history might be found from the Silk Museum and Humble Administrator's Garden to the Hanshan Temple and the Lingering Garden. Some districts have theme parks and attractions while others feature architecture and gardens. A few other popular areas include the Wuzhong District known for its scenery, the District of Xiangcheng known for its temple and lotus flowers, the Suzhou New District known for its industrial developments, and Zhangjiagang City known for its international cuisine and nightlife. Suzhou is a bustling city overall, though traces of a very old lifestyle are centered around the canals. Zhouzhuang, a landmark water town that dates back to the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, is one such place where the winding canals are essential to everyday life.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.