Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Ho Chi Minh City?
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 Ho Chi Minh City 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 Ho Chi Minh City and Suzhou can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Ho Chi Minh City or Suzhou?
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam. It previously served as the capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). The metropolitan area, including Ho Chi Minh City, Thu Dau Mot, Di An, Bien Hoa, and other surrounding towns, has a population of more than 9 million people and continues to grow.
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 Historical Tours in Vietnam, The Best 10-Day Tours in Vietnam, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.
-
Ho Chi Minh City Prices
Vietnam PricesSuzhou Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHo Chi Minh City $88Suzhou $135
The average daily cost (per person) in Ho Chi Minh City is $88, while the average daily cost in Suzhou is $135. 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 Ho Chi Minh City and Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHo Chi Minh City $48Suzhou $42
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHo Chi Minh City $96Suzhou $84
Compare Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and Suzhou
Looking for a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Ho Chi Minh City Hotel Prices and Suzhou Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ho Chi Minh City $15Suzhou $62
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ho Chi Minh City:
-
Short Taxi Ride$1.35
-
Taxi From Airport$7.70
-
Cyclo Ride (One Hour)$1.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ho Chi Minh City
Also for Ho Chi Minh City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ho Chi Minh: SGN Airport Private Transfer to/from Downtown: $5.00
- Mui Ne Beach: Bus transfer from/to Saigon City: $8.00
- Ho Chi Minh: SGN Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $8.85
- Nha Trang: Bus transfer from/to Saigon City: $11
- Private transfer Tan Son Nhat airport - Hotels in Ho Chi Minh: $12
- Ho Chi Minh City airport transfer: $13
- Ho Chi Minh Airport Arrival Or Departure By Private Car Transfers: $13
- Grand Park Water Park & Rides Ticket with Optional Transfer: $14
- Private Car Transfer: Cam Ranh Airport to Nha Trang City: $14
- Can Tho: Bus transfer directly to/from Saigon City: $14
- Ho Chi Minh Airport Transfer Service: $14
- Ho Chi Minh City Private Airport Transfers: $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:
- Private Suzhou Garden and Water Town Highlight Trip with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $298
- Private Day Tour: Gardens and Old Street in Suzhou with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $277
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport - Suzhou Chauffeur Service,Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
- Shanghai Pudong Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
- Suzhou to Beijing Bullet Train Ticket with Local Private Transfer: $178
- Hangzhou Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Wuzhen Water Town: $144
- Private Transfer from Suzhou to Hangzhou City Area: $137
- Private Transfer to Hangzhou City from Suzhou: $113
- Shanghai Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Tongli Water Town: $90
- Suzhou Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel: $88
- Suzhou Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $88
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Ho Chi Minh City or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Ho Chi Minh City 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 dayHo Chi Minh City $23Suzhou $60
Typical Food Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ho Chi Minh City:
-
Street Food Dinner (for Two)$4.12
-
Pizza$5.00
-
Sweet Rice$1.15
-
Pork Sandwich$0.58
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.53
-
Western Lunch (for Two)$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ho Chi Minh City
For Ho Chi Minh City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour with Local LGBT Student Guide: $1.90
- Ho Chi Minh City Local Street Food Tour With Local Students: $7.93
- Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour & Hidden Local Gems Sightseeing: $9.91
- Mekong With Cai Be Less Tourist - Cooking Class: $14
- Express Cooking Experience: $15
- Vietnamese Spring Roll Cooking Class: $16
- HCMC: Saigon Food Tour & Chinatown & Local Market on Scooter: $17
- Ho Chi Minh City Cyclo Ride with Lunch or Dinner Experience: $18
- Ho Chi Minh City Michelin & Street Food Tour by Motorbike or Car: $18
- Saigon Scooter Adventure - City Sights & Street Food Tour: $21
- Saigon Sightseeing & Street Food Tour By scooter with Student: $23
- HCMC: Saigon Food Tour & Local Markets on Scooter/Walking: $23
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.Ho Chi Minh City $19Suzhou $10
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
For Ho Chi Minh City, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Massage$5.39
Tours and Activities in Ho Chi Minh City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ho Chi Minh City.
- Chinatown Hidden Treasures – Ho Chi Minh City Free Walking Tour: $0.62
- Ghosts & Legends of Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City Night Walking Tour: $0.62
- Ho Chi Minh City private walking tours with young local volunteers: $1.82
- Hidden Jungle War Experience – The Untold Side of Saigon: $1.82
- Classic Mekong Delta My Tho Ben Tre Tour with Vinh Trang Pagoda: $1.90
- Tan Lap Floating Village Authentic Mekong Delta Nature Tour: $1.90
- Ho Chi Minh City Flexible Private Tour with Spa, City Highlights: $1.90
- Ho Chi Minh City Highlights Hidden Gems Tour By Heritage Vespa: $1.90
- Vung Tau Beach and Coastal Landmarks Full Day Tour With Students: $1.90
- Private Long Tan Battlefield, Nui Dat Base and Vung Tau Day Tour: $1.90
- Budget-Friendly Guided Walking Tour: $1.91
- Ho Chi Minh Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.57
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
- 8-Hour Private Suzhou City Amazing Day Tour in Your Way: $130
- Essential Suzhou City Sightseeing Private Day Tour: $296
- Full-Day Suzhou Gardens Private Tour with Local Guide: $298
- Full-day Private Tour of Top Suzhou Gardens: $261
- Nanjing Self-Guided Tour from Suzhou by Private Car with Drop-off Option: $137
- Private Custom Tour: 2-Day Suzhou City Highlights Tour: $296
- Private Customized Suzhou Highlights Tour including Zhouzhuang Water Village: $209
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayHo Chi Minh City $7.69Suzhou $6.93
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Ho Chi Minh City:
-
Beer$0.38
Sample the Local Flavors in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ho Chi Minh City:
- Rooftops, Hidden Bars & Iconic Pub Crawl: $8.05
- Make Your Own Gin Experience and Saigon Baigur Distillery Tour: $36
- Make-Your-Own Gin Experience & Saigon Baigur Distillery Tour: $36
- Saigon After Dark: Pub Crawl & Party Adventure: $69
- Bike And Craft Beer Brewery Mekong Delta Cycling Tour: $152
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ho Chi Minh City and Suzhou, we can see that Suzhou is more expensive. And not only is Ho Chi Minh City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ho Chi Minh City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ho Chi Minh City 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 Ho Chi Minh City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ho Chi Minh City Expensive? and Is Suzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ho Chi Minh City or Suzhou?
Ho Chi Minh City has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Suzhou. When comparing the sizes of Ho Chi Minh City 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.