A Travel Price Comparison for China Guilin vs. Suzhou for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Guilin 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 Guilin and Suzhou can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Guilin or Suzhou?

Guilin

Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.

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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Guilin?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Guilin is $67, while the average daily cost in Suzhou is $102. 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 Guilin and Suzhou in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Guilin $35
    Suzhou $39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guilin $70
    Suzhou $78
Compare Hotels in Guilin and Suzhou

Looking for a hotel in Guilin 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 Guilin


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guilin $5.80
    Suzhou $57
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:


  • Taxi
    $2.78

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:

  • Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Guilin Train Stations: $17
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin Train Stations to Downtown Hotel: $17
  • [Airport Transfer] Haikou Airport ⇔ Haikou City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter> *: $23
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin International Airport (KWL) to Downtown Hotel: $25
  • Private Departure Transfer: Downtown Guilin Hotel to Airport (KWL): $25
  • Private Airport Transfer:Guilin Hotel to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport: $35
  • Private Transfer from Guilin hotel to Yangshuo hotel: $37
  • Guilin Railway stations Transfer Service: $37
  • Transfer from Guilin Liangjiang Airport to Guilin City Center: $41
  • Private Guilin Airport Transfer to Yangshuo: $42
  • One Way Transfer Service between Guilin city and airport: $43
  • Private Airport Transfer: Guilin Liangjiang Airport to Yangshuo Hotel: $45

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:

  • Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $80
  • Full-Day Suzhou Gardens Exploration with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $227
  • Hangzhou Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Wuzhen Water Town : $143
  • Nanjing Downtown hotels to Lukou Intl Airport (NKG) - Departure Private Transfer: $33
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Suzhou Train Station to Hotels in Suzhou: $44
  • Private Day Tour: Gardens and Old Street in Suzhou with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $214
  • Private Departure Transfer to Shanghai Airport from Suzhou City Hotel: $68
  • Private Round Trip Transfer from Suzhou to Luzhi Water Town: $64
  • Private Round Trip Transfer to Tianping Mountain from Suzhou: $51
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer between Tongli Water Town and Suzhou City : $58
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer between Zhouzhuang Water Town and Suzhou City: $58
  • Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240

Is it cheaper to fly into Guilin or Suzhou?

Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Guilin 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
    Guilin $23
    Suzhou $32
Typical Food Prices in Guilin

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:


  • Fresh Coconut Drink
    $1.39

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guilin

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.

  • Half day Yangshuo Cooking lesson Small Group Tour: $62
  • Yangshuo Country Life Experience with Cooking Class like a Local: $108
  • Full-Day Li-River with the 4 Star Luxury Boat VIP Room and Yangshuo Cooking Tour: $286

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guilin $28
    Suzhou $9.38
Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin

Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Entrance to the Caves
    $17

Tours and Activities in Guilin

Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Guilin Yangshuo & Longji Rice Terrace 4 days tour: $21
  • Guilin Four lakes night cruise with the English speaking driver from Guilin hotel: $47
  • Guilin City Center Walking Group Tour at Night for Three Hours: $50
  • Li River Cruise Ticket Booking (Free Ticket Delivery & Seat Reservation): $54
  • Yangshuo Old Town and Li River Cruise from Guilin: $72
  • One Day Private Longshen Rice Terraces Tour Including Lunch: $73
  • Full/Half-Day Yangshuo Xianggong Mountain Sunrise Private Tour: $77
  • 1-Day Longji Terrace Fields-Pingan village Tour with the English Speaking Driver: $79
  • 1-Day Longji Terrace Fields-Dazhai village Tour with the English Speaking Driver: $79
  • Top Guilin Private & Custom Tours : $79
  • Li River 4 Star Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo Day Tour: $84
  • Private Tour: Yao Mountain and Tea Plantation from Guilin: $84

Tours and Activities in Suzhou

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Suzhou are as follows:

  • Suzhou Self-Guided Tour with Private Car and Driver Service : $65
  • Zhouzhuang and Tongli Self-Guided Tour from Suzhou with Drop-off Options : $70
  • 4-Hour Suzhou Private Customized Tour: $71
  • Suzhou Private English Tour Guide Service: $91
  • Suzhou Private Walking Tour with Panmen Gate, City Moat and Yiyuan Garden: $101
  • Wuxi Self-Guided Tour from Suzhou by Private Car : $103
  • 4-Hour Flexible Suzhou City Highlights Private Tour: $114
  • 4-Hour Zhouzhuang Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride: $123
  • 4-Hour Suzhou Private Flexible Tour with Garden and Boat Ride Option: $125
  • Private Suzhou City Amazing Day Tour in Your Way : $127
  • 4-Hour Tongli Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride : $127
  • 4-Hour Suzhou Private Tour: Humble Administrator’s Garden,Tiger Hill and Canal : $134

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guilin $5.76
    Suzhou $6.44


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guilin and Suzhou, we can see that Suzhou is more expensive. And not only is Guilin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Guilin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guilin 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 Guilin.

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


Which is Bigger, Guilin or Suzhou?

Suzhou has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Guilin. When comparing the sizes of Guilin 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.


When is the best time to visit Guilin or Suzhou?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Guilin or Suzhou in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Guilin and Suzhou.

Guilin is around the same temperature as Suzhou in the summer. The daily temperature in Guilin averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Suzhou fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).

Suzhou receives a lot of rain in the summer. Guilin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Guilin usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Guilin gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Guilin 30°C (86°F) 
    Suzhou 28°C (83°F)

Should I visit Guilin or Suzhou in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Guilin as well as Suzhou.

In the autumn, Guilin is a little warmer than Suzhou. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Guilin in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Suzhou averages at about 19°C (65°F).

Guilin usually gets more rain in October than Suzhou. Guilin gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Guilin 23°C (73°F) 
    Suzhou 19°C (65°F)

Should I visit Guilin or Suzhou in the Winter?

Both Suzhou and Guilin are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.

The weather in Suzhou can be very cold. In January, Guilin is generally much warmer than Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Guilin average around 10°C (49°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

In January, Guilin usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Guilin gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Guilin 10°C (49°F) 
    Suzhou 4°C (39°F)

Should I visit Guilin or Suzhou in the Spring?

Both Suzhou and Guilin during the spring are popular places to visit.

Guilin is a little warmer than Suzhou in the spring. The daily temperature in Guilin averages around 20°C (68°F) in April, and Suzhou fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

Suzhou gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Guilin. Guilin usually gets more rain in April than Suzhou. Guilin gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Guilin 20°C (68°F) 
    Suzhou 15°C (58°F)

Typical Weather for Suzhou and Guilin

Guilin Suzhou
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 10°C (49°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 4°C (39°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Feb 11°C (51°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 5°C (41°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Mar 15°C (59°F) 129 mm (5.1 in) 9°C (48°F) 82 mm (3.2 in)
Apr 20°C (68°F) 263 mm (10.3 in) 15°C (58°F) 102 mm (4 in)
May 25°C (77°F) 334 mm (13.2 in) 20°C (67°F) 113 mm (4.5 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 320 mm (12.6 in) 24°C (75°F) 152 mm (6 in)
Jul 30°C (86°F) 206 mm (8.1 in) 28°C (83°F) 128 mm (5 in)
Aug 30°C (86°F) 168 mm (6.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 133 mm (5.2 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 24°C (75°F) 156 mm (6.1 in)
Oct 23°C (73°F) 93 mm (3.7 in) 19°C (65°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Nov 17°C (63°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 13°C (55°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Dec 12°C (53°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 7°C (44°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)