Should you visit Dalian or Suzhou?
Should I visit Dalian or Suzhou? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Dalian
Dalian, China is a very large peninsula city located in the southernmost part of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The area has a wealth of history, with roots in Russian and Japanese rule, resulting in unique architecture and many universities that attract foreign students and teachers. Dalian is also known for their beautiful green spaces and relaxing beaches which juxtapose a lot of the more industrial cities found throughout other areas of northern China.
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 Dalian?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Dalian is $94, 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 Dalian and Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $98 in Dalian For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
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 Dalian travelers spend around $25 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
Dalian $25
Suzhou $29
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
Dalian's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $37 per person, per day on transportation in Dalian.
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 Dalian
Also for Dalian, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer:
$27
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Dalian Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station:
$30
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Private Departure Transfer:Hotel to Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport(DLC):
$32
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Private Arrival Transfer to Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport from Dalian Downtown:
$36
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Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Any Guiyang Railway Station:
$36
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Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer:
$40
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Dalian Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$56
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Private Round-Trip Transfer:Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport(DLC):
$62
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Dalian Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station:
$89
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Dalian Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$89
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 Ningbo Downtown Per Vehicle Price:
$244
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Private Suzhou Garden and Water Town Highlight Trip with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer:
$240
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Shanghai Pudong Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport Transfer:
$240
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Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport Transfer:
$240
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Full-Day Suzhou Gardens Exploration with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer:
$227
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Private Day Tour: Suzhou Highlights with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer:
$227
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Private Day Tour: Gardens and Old Street in Suzhou with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer:
$214
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Suzhou to Beijing Bullet Train Ticket with Local Private Transfer:
$178
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Round-trip Transfer to Shanghai Disneyland from Suzhou Per Vehicle Price:
$173
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Transfer from Suzhou Downtown to Yangzhou Downtown Per Vehicle Price:
$166
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Transfer from Suzhou Downtown to Shanghai Pudong Airport Per Vehicle Price:
$149
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Hangzhou Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Xitang Water Town:
$138
Is it cheaper to fly into Dalian or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Dalian 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
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Dalian can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $4.36 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
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 Dalian
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dalian.
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Dalian City Highlight Private Day tour:
$73
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Dalian City Private Day Tour in Your Way:
$150
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Flexible Dalian City Highlights Private Day Tour with Lunch:
$188
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Private Dalian Night Tour:
$200
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Private 2 Day Tour of Dalian City:
$250
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All Inclusive Private Lushun(Port Arthur) Full-Day Tour:
$300
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All-Inclusive Private Dalian Port Layover Tour with Lunch:
$300
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All Inclusive 2-Day Private Tour of Beijing City Highlights from Dalian by Air:
$738
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3-Day Private Tibet Tour from Lhasa, Yamdrok Lake and Khampa La Pass:
$925
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4 Days Private History and Culture Tour of Beijing and Xi'an:
$1,088
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All Inclusive 3-Day Private Tour of Xi'an and Beijing from Dalian with Hotel:
$1,278
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7-Day Private China Tour from Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin and Shanghai:
$2,328
Tours and Activities in Suzhou
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Suzhou are as follows:
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1-day private tour to Suzhou (Departure from Shanghai):
$214
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2-Day Customized Suzhou Sightseeing Tour with Tongli Water Town:
$295
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3-Day Private Tibet Tour from Lhasa, Yamdrok Lake and Khampa La Pass:
$925
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4-Hour Flexible Suzhou City Highlights Private Tour:
$114
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4-Hour Suzhou City Private Tailor-Made Tour:
$67
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4-Hour Suzhou Private Flexible Tour with Garden and Boat Ride Option:
$67
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4-Hour Suzhou Private Tour: Humble Administrator’s Garden,Tiger Hill and Canal:
$125
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4-Hour Tongli Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride:
$89
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4-Hour Zhouzhuang Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride:
$115
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6-Day Private China Highlights Tour from Beijing, Xi'an and Guilin:
$2,058
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All Inclusive Suzhou Highlight Tour with Boat Ride and Lunch:
$179
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All Inclusive Suzhou Private City Tour with Garden Exploration:
$118
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Dalian, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $5.76.
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 comparing the travel costs between Dalian and Suzhou, we can see that Dalian 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.
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