A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bandung vs. Suzhou for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bandung or Suzhou?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Bandung 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: Bandung or Suzhou?

Bandung

Bandung is the capital city of West Java, and the third largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta and Surabaya. Nicknamed Parijs van Java (Paris of Java) by the Dutch for its resemblance to Paris and European atmosphere back in colonial times, Bandung also earned another nickname as Kota Kembang, literally meaning the Flower City since Bandung used to have a lot of flowers. Nowadays, Bandung has become a very popular weekend escape for Jakartans, who crowd the city on weekends and national holidays. It's known for colonial and art deco architecture, a lively, university-town feel and relatively cool tropical weather. Bandung is also a shopping destination, with fashion outlets clustered along Jalan Setiabudi and Jalan Riau in the Dago district. The city also make a good base for day trips to the surrounding countryside - high volcanic peaks, hot springs, and tea plantations are all within reach.

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 Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.


Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Bandung?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bandung is $40, 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 Bandung and Suzhou in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bandung $21
    Suzhou $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bandung $42
    Suzhou $76
Compare Hotels in Bandung and Suzhou

Looking for a hotel in Bandung 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.

Hotels in Bandung


Hotels in Suzhou


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: Bandung Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bandung $5.76
    Suzhou $57

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bandung

Also for Bandung, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Bandung or Lembang to Bandung Airport BDO Departure Transfer: $27
  • Private Transfer from Villa Istana Bunga to Bandung Airport (BDO): $35
  • Private Transfer from Malabar to Bandung Airport (BDO): $35
  • Private Transfer from Cihanjuang Rahayu to Bandung Airport (BDO): $35
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Kec. Batununggal Kel. Kacapiring 40271: $35
  • Private Transfer from Cikole to Bandung Airport (BDO): $35
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Lembang: $35
  • Private Transfer from Lembang to Bandung Airport (BDO): $35
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Sukabungah: $35
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Sukahaji: $35
  • Private Transfer from Jayagiri to Bandung Airport (BDO): $35
  • Private Transfer from Sukahaji to Bandung Airport (BDO): $35

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
  • 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
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer between Zhouzhuang Water Town and Suzhou City: $58
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer between Tongli Water Town and Suzhou City : $58
  • Private Round Trip Transfer from Suzhou to Luzhi Water Town: $64

Is it cheaper to fly into Bandung or Suzhou?

Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Bandung 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
    Bandung $14
    Suzhou $32

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bandung $5.67
    Suzhou $9.32

Tours and Activities in Bandung

For Bandung, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Private Walking Tour of Bandung with Guide: $33
  • Stone Garden Western Tour From Bandung: $39
  • Kawah Rengganis Private Hiking and Glamping Lakeside Tour from Bandung: $41
  • Private Guided Sightseeing Day Tour of Bandung: $43
  • Private Guided Sightseeing Day Tour of Bandung: $45
  • Kawah Putih Private Tour and Angklung Performance: $45
  • Kawah Putih tour - Day trip Ticket etc all including : $49
  • Bogor ,west Java Tour: $50
  • Bandung:Kawah Putih,Volcano,HotSpring,Mud Bathing,Lake Tour: $50
  • Lembang Tour From Bandung: $51
  • Kawah Putih Tour From Bandung City: $58
  • Tangkuban Parahu Volcano North Bandung Private Tour : $62

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
  • Full Day Luzhi Water Town Day Tour From Suzhou: $178
  • Full- Day Private Suzhou Tour Guide Service: $150
  • Full-day Private Tour of Top Suzhou Gardens: $211

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bandung $3.46
    Suzhou $6.40


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bandung and Suzhou, we can see that Suzhou is more expensive. And not only is Bandung much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bandung would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bandung 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 Suzhou would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Suzhou than you might in Bandung.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bandung Expensive? and Is Suzhou Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bandung or Suzhou?

Bandung has a larger population, and is about 27% larger than the population of Suzhou. When comparing the sizes of Bandung 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.