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 $77, while the average daily cost in Suzhou is $91. 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 $88 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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Chengdu Private Food Tour (With Visit to Kuanzhai Alley and Hotpot Experience):
$32
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Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum and Sanxingdui Museum Private Day Tour with Hotpot Dinner:
$76
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Dim Sum Cooking Class and Wet Market Visit in Shanghai:
$78
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Beijing Hutong Evening Food Tour by Tuk Tuk:
$80
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Chengdu Panda Base Private Day Tour and Sichuan Cooking Class:
$83
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Chongqing Liangjiang Night Cruise Including Authentic Hot Pot Dinner:
$86
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Beijing Food Culture & Cooking Class:
$137
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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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Chengdu Private Food Tour (With Visit to Kuanzhai Alley and Hotpot Experience):
$32
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Suzhou Alleyway Walking Food Tour With Locals:
$49
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Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum and Sanxingdui Museum Private Day Tour with Hotpot Dinner:
$76
-
Dim Sum Cooking Class and Wet Market Visit in Shanghai:
$78
-
Beijing Hutong Evening Food Tour by Tuk Tuk:
$80
-
Chengdu Panda Base Private Day Tour and Sichuan Cooking Class:
$83
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Half-Day Private Customized Suzhou Highlights with Lunch or Dinner Option:
$123
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Beijing Food Culture & Cooking Class:
$137
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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 $51 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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Shared Coach Transfers between Shenzhen Bay Port and Hong Kong (Trans-island):
$6.45
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Shared Coach Transfers between Panyu and Hong Kong by Eternal East Bus:
$11
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Shared Coach Transfers Between Hong Kong and Zhaoqing by EE Bus:
$12
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Shared Shenzhen Airport (SZX) Coach Transfers for Hong Kong (Trans-Island):
$12
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Shared Coach Transfers between Foshan and Hong Kong by Eternal East Bus:
$13
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Shared Coach Transfers between Hong Kong and Huadu by Eternal East Bus:
$13
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Shared Coach Transfers Between Guangzhou and Hong Kong:
$14
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Shared Coach Transfers between Foshan and Hong Kong:
$14
-
Shared Coach Transfers between Shunde and Hong Kong:
$14
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Private airport transfer to or from Chongqing International Airport max 5:
$14
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Shared Coach Transfers Between Heyuan and Hong Kong by EE Bus:
$15
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Shared Hong Kong International Airport Transfers (HKG) for Shenzhen:
$15
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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Airport Transfers (SHA/PVG) for Shanghai (Multiple Car Models):
$38
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Badaling Great Wall in Beijing Private Transfer:
$43
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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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Longji Rice Terraced Fields and Minority Villages Tour with Transfer from Guilin or Yangshuo:
$108
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Luxury Private Shanghai Pudong International Airport Transfers (PVG) for Downtown Shanghai:
$118
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Luxury private Baiyun International Airport Transfers (CAN) for Guangzhou :
$74
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Luxury private Bao'an International Airport Transfers (SZX) for Downtown Shenzhen:
$67
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Luxury private Beijing Capital International Airport Transfers (PEK) for Downtown Beijing:
$74
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 $8.39 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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Hupao Park Ticket in Hangzhou (For Mainland China ID Holders):
$2.35
-
China Red Sandalwood Museum Ticket in Beijing :
$2.79
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Simatai Great Wall Admission with Cable Car Ticket in Beijing:
$3.09
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Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket Chengdu - ID Card Direct Entry:
$4.19
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Evergreen Resort Ticket in Shenzhen:
$6.19
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Jinxi Ancient Town Attractions Combo Ticket:
$6.99
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Gulangyu Seashell Museum Ticket:
$7.45
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Ferry Round Trip Ticket between Xiamen City and Gulangyu Sanqiutian Pier:
$8.55
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Ferry Round Trip Ticket between Xiamen City and Gulangyu Neicuoao Pier:
$8.55
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Wuyishan Xiamei Ancient Village Admission Ticket:
$8.55
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Beijing Palace Museum Ticket (The Forbidden City):
$9.29
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Guangdong First Peak Ticket:
$9.29
Tours and Activities in Suzhou
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Suzhou are as follows:
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Hupao Park Ticket in Hangzhou (For Mainland China ID Holders):
$2.35
-
China Red Sandalwood Museum Ticket in Beijing :
$2.79
-
Simatai Great Wall Admission with Cable Car Ticket in Beijing:
$3.09
-
Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket Chengdu - ID Card Direct Entry:
$4.19
-
Evergreen Resort Ticket in Shenzhen:
$6.19
-
Jinxi Ancient Town Attractions Combo Ticket:
$6.99
-
Gulangyu Seashell Museum Ticket:
$7.45
-
Ferry Round Trip Ticket between Xiamen City and Gulangyu Sanqiutian Pier:
$8.55
-
Wuyishan Xiamei Ancient Village Admission Ticket:
$8.55
-
Ferry Round Trip Ticket between Xiamen City and Gulangyu Neicuoao Pier:
$8.55
-
Beijing Palace Museum Ticket (The Forbidden City):
$9.29
-
Guangdong First Peak Ticket:
$9.29
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Chongqing may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $6.21 per day on alcoholic beverages.
The average person spends about $5.75 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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