Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Ao Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ao Nang or Suzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Suzhou? 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: Ao Nang or Suzhou?
Ao Nang
If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.
Suzhou
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAo Nang $107Suzhou $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $107, while the average daily cost in Suzhou is $101. 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 Ao Nang and Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAo Nang $52Suzhou $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAo Nang $104Suzhou $76
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Suzhou
Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or Suzhou? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ao Nang $56Suzhou $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $18
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Station, Krabi: $18
- Krabi Airport Private One-Way SUV Transfer: $22
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Statation: $22
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $22
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $23
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Phuket: $31
- Krabi:Speedboat Transfer to Phi Phi Islands: $41
- Phuket: Speedboat Transfer to Ao Nang or Railay via Ko Yao: $41
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Krabi to Phuket: $105
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:
- Suzhou to Beijing Bullet Train Ticket with Local Private Transfer : $178
- Suzhou Private Transfer to Zhouzhuang Water Town with Shanghai Drop-off Option: $84
- Suzhou Private Transfer to Tongli Water Town with Shanghai Drop-off Option: $84
- Suzhou Private Arrival Transfer:Railway Station to City Hotel: $27
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $87
- Shanghai Pudong Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
- Shanghai Pudong Airport - Suzhou Chauffeur Service,Shanghai Airport Transfer: $280
- Shanghai Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Zhouzhuang Water Town : $81
- Shanghai Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Tongli Water Town : $90
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport - Suzhou Chauffeur Service,Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
- Private Transfer to Hangzhou City from Suzhou: $113
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Ao Nang 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 dayAo Nang $24Suzhou $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Krabi: Ya's Cookery Late Afternoon Thai Cooking Class: $39
- Krabi : Authentic Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour: $40
- Krabi: Morning/Afternoon Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $46
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi: $50
- Krabi 7 Island Sunset by Luxury Vintage Boat With BBQ Dinner: $127
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Suzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Suzhou.
- Suzhou Alleyway Walking Food Tour With Locals: $55
- Half-Day Private Customized Suzhou Highlights with Lunch or Dinner Option: $123
- Private Suzhou Night Tour:Master of the Nets Garden, Ancient Canal with Dinner: $145
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ao Nang $11Suzhou $9.32
Tours and Activities in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Krabi: South Kayak Klong Root Kayaking Tour: $16
- Krabi ATV adventure drive 30mins: $22
- Krabi kayaking and swimming clongrood Tour: $22
- Krabi 4 Island One Day Tour by Speed boat or Longtail boat: $24
- ATV adventure 30 mins drive: $27
- Krabi: Bioluminescent Plankton, Snorkeling & Sunset Tour: $27
- Kayak Tour in Krabi Mangrove Forest with Lunch: $27
- Krabi: ATV adventure and extreme: $31
- Kayaking klongroot and atv adventure: $32
- From Hong Islands Day Tour by Boat with Lunch: $32
- Krabi: Tiger Cave, Hot Springs and Emerald Pool Jungle Tour: $35
- Krabi: Railay Beach Bioluminescent Plankton Ferry Cruise: $35
Tours and Activities in Suzhou
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Suzhou are as follows:
- 4-Hour Flexible Suzhou City Highlights Private Tour: $114
- 4-Hour Suzhou Private Customized Tour: $71
- 4-Hour Suzhou Private Flexible Tour with Garden and Boat Ride Option: $125
- 4-Hour Suzhou Private Tour: Humble Administrator’s Garden,Tiger Hill and Canal : $134
- 4-Hour Tongli Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride : $127
- 4-Hour Zhouzhuang Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride: $145
- All Inclusive Suzhou Highlight Tour with Boat Ride and Lunch: $179
- Essential Suzhou City Sightseeing Private Day Tour: $248
- Flexible Shanghai Private Day Tour from Suzhou by Bullet Train: $208
- Flexible Suzhou City Highlights Private Day Tour with Authentic Lunch: $153
- Full Day Luzhi Water Town Day Tour From Suzhou: $178
- Full- Day Private Suzhou Tour Guide Service: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAo Nang $15Suzhou $6.40
When comparing the travel costs between Ao Nang and Suzhou, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ao Nang Expensive? and Is Suzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Suzhou?
Suzhou has a larger population, and is about 170 times larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Suzhou, 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 Ao Nang or Suzhou?
Suzhou has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ao Nang experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Ao Nang or Suzhou in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Ao Nang as well as Suzhou. Ao Nang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Suzhou. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ao Nang in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Suzhou averages at about 28°C (83°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Suzhou. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ao Nang this time of the year. In the summer, Ao Nang often gets less sunshine than Suzhou. Ao Nang gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 232 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Suzhou. Ao Nang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Ao Nang usually gets more rain in July than Suzhou. Ao Nang gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year. August to October in Ao Nang is the rainy season.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAo Nang 28°C (82°F)Suzhou 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Ao Nang or Suzhou in the Autumn?
Both Suzhou and Ao Nang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ao Nang throughout the year.
In October, Ao Nang is generally a little warmer than Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Ao Nang average around 27°C (81°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
Ao Nang usually receives more sunshine than Suzhou during autumn. Ao Nang gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 162 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Ao Nang. In October, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Ao Nang gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Ao Nang is December to March. The rainy season in Ao Nang is August to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAo Nang 27°C (81°F)Suzhou 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Ao Nang or Suzhou in the Winter?
Both Suzhou and Ao Nang during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ao Nang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Suzhou in the winter. Ao Nang is much warmer than Suzhou in the winter. The daily temperature in Ao Nang averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Suzhou fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
It's quite sunny in Ao Nang. In the winter, Ao Nang often gets more sunshine than Suzhou. Ao Nang gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 135 hours of full sun.
Ao Nang usually gets less rain in January than Suzhou. Ao Nang gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Ao Nang.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAo Nang 28°C (82°F)Suzhou 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Ao Nang or Suzhou in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ao Nang and Suzhou. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ao Nang year-round.
In the spring, Ao Nang is much warmer than Suzhou. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ao Nang in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Suzhou averages at about 15°C (58°F).
In Ao Nang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ao Nang usually receives more sunshine than Suzhou during spring. Ao Nang gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.
Suzhou receives a lot of rain in the spring. Ao Nang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Ao Nang gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAo Nang 29°C (84°F)Suzhou 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Suzhou and Ao Nang
| Ao Nang | Suzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 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.