Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Dali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Dali or Suzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dali and Suzhou can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dali or Suzhou?
Dali
Dali is a city in southern China with a long and glorious history dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Xiaguan neighborhood of the city is the modern industrial center where most public transportation arrives; however, the Old Town of Dali is the place that draws the most visitors. Being one of China's ancient cities, Dali is said to have been a gateway to the Silk Road, and still attracts attention with its traditional architecture, beautiful scenery, ethnic cultures, and nightlife.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.
-
Dali Prices
China PricesSuzhou Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDali $66Suzhou $134
The average daily cost (per person) in Dali is $66, while the average daily cost in Suzhou is $134. 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 Dali and Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDali $18Suzhou $41
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDali $36Suzhou $82
Compare Hotels in Dali and Suzhou
Looking for a hotel in Dali 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dali $9.85Suzhou $61
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dali
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dali:
-
Local Bus$0.44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dali
Also for Dali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dali Airport Chauffeur Service, Private Dali Airport Transfer: $40
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang hotel/airport(LJG): $149
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:
- 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 Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $120
- Suzhou Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $88
- Suzhou Gardens Entry Ticket with Optional Guide&Transfer Services: $8.00
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $87
- 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 Transfer to Hangzhou City from Suzhou: $113
- Private Transfer from Suzhou to Hangzhou City Area: $137
- Private Suzhou Garden and Water Town Highlight Trip with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $298
Is it cheaper to fly into Dali or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Dali 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 dayDali $33Suzhou $60
Typical Food Prices in Dali
For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Lunch$4.73
-
Breakfast$3.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dali
For Dali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cangshan Mountain hike and organic homemade dinner: $36
- Dali Ancient City Authentic Food Tour: $78
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: $58
- Suzhou Alleyway Food Tour: $63
- 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
- Zhouzhuang Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Lunch or Dinner Option: $154
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dali $19Suzhou $9.98
Tours and Activities in Dali
For Dali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Donglianhua (East Lotus) & Hui Muslim Culture Tour: $70
- Dali City Tour with Private Guide: $71
- Yunnan Dali Erhai 3 Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple One Day Tour: $74
- 2 Hour Luxurious Driving Range Experience at Canghai Golf Club: $85
- Jizu Mountain Private Tour: $85
- Ancient City, Three Pagodas, and Longkan (ErHai) Tour: $85
- Zhoucheng Village Tie Dyeing Private Experience: $87
- Jizu Mountain Private Tour: $87
- Dali XIzhou Ancient Town Private Tour: $87
- Zhoucheng Village Tie-Dyeing Experience Private Tour: $89
- Xizhou Ancient Town Private Half-Day Tour: $89
- Shaxi Ancient Town Private Tour: $99
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: $80
- 4-Hour Suzhou Private Flexible Tour with Garden and Boat Ride Option: $125
- 4-Hour Tongli Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride: $128
- 4-Hour Zhouzhuang Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride: $174
- Essential Suzhou City Sightseeing Private Day Tour: $296
- Flexible Suzhou City Highlights Private Day Tour with Authentic Lunch: $167
- Full Day Luzhi Water Town Day Tour From Suzhou: $178
- Full-Day Suzhou Gardens Private Tour with Local Guide: $298
- Morning in Suzhou Classical Gardens and Local Lunch Experience: $120
- Nanjing Self-Guided Tour from Suzhou by Private Car with Drop-off Option: $137
- Private Customized Suzhou Highlights Tour including Zhouzhuang Water Village: $209
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDali $12Suzhou $6.85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dali and Suzhou, we can see that Suzhou is more expensive. And not only is Dali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dali 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 Dali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dali Expensive? and Is Suzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dali or Suzhou?
Suzhou has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Dali. When comparing the sizes of Dali 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.
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.