Should you visit Chongqing or Suzhou?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Chongqing and Suzhou. 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. So, let's dig into it.
Chongqing
Chongqing, China is a large city in central China and one of only four cities in the country that are not part of a province. While Chongqing is famous for being an economically important city, brush away its industrial surface and you'll find a naturally beautiful city with plenty of hidden wonders. Although you'll find many expats in the city, English is rarely spoken, meaning knowing some basic Mandarin will come in handy.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Suzhou or Chongqing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Chongqing is $79, while the average daily cost in Suzhou is $93. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Chongqing and Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $90 for a double occupancy room in Chongqing.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Suzhou is $70. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
In Chongqing travelers spend around $22 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
The average traveler spends about $29 per day in Suzhou for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Chongqing $22
Suzhou $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chongqing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chongqing.
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Chongqing Liangjiang Night Cruise Including Authentic Hot Pot Dinner:
$86
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Chongqing City private night tour with Hot Pot dinner:
$148
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Chongqing Port Transfer Service with Half-Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner:
$193
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From Port Transfer with Half Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner:
$197
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250 USD Per Group Private Chongqing Night Tour with Hot-pot Dinner:
$213
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Suzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Suzhou.
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Suzhou Alleyway Walking Food Tour With Locals:
$49
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Half-Day Private Customized Suzhou Highlights with Lunch or Dinner Option:
$123
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Private Suzhou Night Tour:Master of the Nets Garden, Ancient Canal with Dinner:
$145
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Zhouzhuang Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Lunch or Dinner Option:
$154
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $17 per day to get around in Chongqing.
The cost of a taxi ride in Suzhou is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $52 per person, per day, on local transportation in Suzhou.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chongqing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chongqing:
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Private airport transfer to or from Chongqing International Airport max 5:
$14
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Private airport transfer to or from Chongqing International Airport max 5:
$18
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Private Departure Transfer:Hotel to Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport CKG:
$22
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Private Arrival Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport(CKG) to Hotel:
$22
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Private Arrival Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) to Hotel:
$22
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG):
$22
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Private Arrival Transfer:Any Chongqing Railway Station to Hotel:
$24
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Any Railway Station in Chongqing:
$24
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Private Transfer from Chongqing hotel to Chongqing Train Station:
$25
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Dunhuang Railway Station Private Departure Transfer from City Hotels:
$26
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China Private Jiangbei Airport(CKG) transfer to/from Chongqing city:
$36
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chongqing Chaotianmen Cruise Pier:
$39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:
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1-way Transfer Between Suzhou Downtown and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport At Per Vehicle Price:
$75
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1-way Transfer between Suzhou Downtown and Ningbo Downtown Per Vehicle Price:
$244
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Full-Day Suzhou Gardens Exploration with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer:
$227
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Hangzhou Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Wuzhen Water Town:
$138
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Hangzhou Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Xitang Water Town:
$138
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Private Arrival Transfer: Suzhou Train Station to Hotels in Suzhou:
$44
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Private Day Tour: Gardens and Old Street in Suzhou with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer:
$214
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Private Day Tour: Suzhou Highlights with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer:
$227
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Private Departure Transfer:Suzhou Hotel to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA):
$40
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Private Departure Transfer:Suzhou Hotel to Shanghai Pudong Airport(PVG):
$45
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Private Round Trip Transfer from Suzhou to Luzhi Water Town:
$64
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Private Round Trip Transfer to Tianping Mountain from Suzhou:
$45
Is it cheaper to fly into Chongqing or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Chongqing 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.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $12 per person, per day in Chongqing. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Entertainment and activities in Suzhou typically cost an average of $8.51 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Chongqing
Here are a few actual costs in Chongqing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Private Chongqing Day Tour: Panda, E'ling Park, Three Gorges Museum:
$99
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1 Day Private Tour of Chongqing Highlights Including lunch and Optional Photo in Sichuan Opera Costume:
$114
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Chongqing Tour: Ciqikou Old Town, Hongya Dong and People’s Auditorium:
$117
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Private Chongqing Illuminated Night Tour:
$118
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city tour of chongqing:
$120
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Flexible Private Chongqing Layover Tour:
$124
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Private Dazu Day Tour from Chongqing:
$124
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Private Amazing Chongqing City Day Tour in Your Way:
$130
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Chongqing Half Day Morning Private Tour including Eling Park & Chongqing Museum:
$135
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Private Sightseeing Tour of Chongqing City Including Hot Pot Lunch:
$138
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Private Tour:One-day Chongqing Highlights Tour with a Hot Pot Lunch:
$138
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Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise and Illuminated Night Tour:
$148
Tours and Activities in Suzhou
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Suzhou are as follows:
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Suzhou City Walk - Explore Suzhou 3.5h - small group tour:
$33
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Suzhou Half-Day Tour: Boat Ride&Pingjiang Canal Street:
$37
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Independent Tour of Tianping Mountain and Mudu Water Town from Suzhou:
$45
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Zhouzhuang and Tongli Self-Guided Tour from Suzhou with Drop-off Options:
$65
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Suzhou Self-Guided Tour with Private Car and Driver Service:
$65
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4-Hour Suzhou Private Flexible Tour with Garden and Boat Ride Option:
$67
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4-Hour Suzhou City Private Tailor-Made Tour:
$67
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4-Hour Tongli Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride:
$89
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Suzhou Private English Tour Guide /Interpreter Service:
$91
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Wuxi Self-Guided Tour from Suzhou by Private Car:
$97
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Suzhou Private Walking Tour with Panmen Gate, City Moat and Yiyuan Garden:
$101
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Half Day Suzhou Silk Culture Tour:
$109
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Chongqing may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $6.30 per day on alcoholic beverages.
The average person spends about $5.84 on alcoholic beverages in Suzhou per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chongqing and Suzhou, we can see that Suzhou is more expensive. And not only is Chongqing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chongqing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chongqing 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 Chongqing.
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