Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Kanazawa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa and Suzhou can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Kanazawa or Suzhou?
Kanazawa
An important city of the Edo-period, Kanazawa is a well preserved city from a time when samurai, merchants, geisha, and lords made up the core of its culture. Though it is often overlooked by foreigners, the city is a gem of Japanese tourism with a number of preserved historic districts, temples, regional handicrafts, art museums, and some of the best food to be had in Japan.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Japan, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanazawa $103Suzhou $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanazawa is $103, while the average daily cost in Suzhou is $101. 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 Kanazawa and Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanazawa $64Suzhou $38
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanazawa $128Suzhou $76
Compare Hotels in Kanazawa and Suzhou
Looking for a hotel in Kanazawa 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: Kanazawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kanazawa $9.32Suzhou $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanazawa
Also for Kanazawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kanazawa City to/from Wakura City Private transfer: $247
- Noto Airport to/from Kanazawa City Private Transfer: $308
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:
- Shanghai Pudong Airport - Suzhou Chauffeur Service,Shanghai Airport Transfer: $280
- Private Suzhou Garden and Water Town Highlight Trip with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $240
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport - Suzhou Chauffeur Service,Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
- Shanghai Pudong Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
- Private Day Tour: Suzhou Highlights with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $227
- Full-Day Suzhou Gardens Exploration with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $227
- Suzhou to Beijing Bullet Train Ticket with Local Private Transfer : $178
- Hangzhou Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Wuzhen Water Town : $143
- 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanazawa or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Kanazawa 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 dayKanazawa $32Suzhou $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kanazawa
For Kanazawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sneaking into a Cooking Class for Japanese: $57
- Private Japanese Cooking Classes in Kanazawa: $76
- Private Japanese Cooking Classes in Kanazawa: $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 With Locals: $55
- 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
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanazawa $9.74Suzhou $9.32
Tours and Activities in Kanazawa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kanazawa.
- Selfie Experience in Kanazawa - Monochrome Plan: $13
- Selfie Experience in Kanazawa - Moon Plan: $13
- Selfie Experience in Kanazawa - Color Plan: $19
- Traditional Kimono Rental Experience at WARGO: $25
- Kenrokuen Tea Ceremony Experience: $30
- Traditional Kimono Rental Experience at WARGO: $37
- Kanazawa Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $55
- Kanazawa Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $55
- Guided Night Tour to Feel the Samurai Culture in Kanazawa: $56
- [Day trip bus tour from Kanazawa Station] Weekend only! World Heritage Shirakawago Day Bus Tour: $66
- [One-day bus tour departing from Kanazawa Station] Shirakawa-go and Gokayama - Two World Heritage Villages Enjoyable Bus Tour: $76
- “Be a Local” Kanazawa Izakaya Hop Tour: $78
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: $71
- 4-Hour Suzhou Private Flexible Tour with Garden and Boat Ride Option: $125
- 4-Hour Suzhou Private Tour: Humble Administrator’s Garden,Tiger Hill and Canal : $134
- 4-Hour Tongli Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride : $127
- 4-Hour Zhouzhuang Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride: $145
- All Inclusive Suzhou Highlight Tour with Boat Ride and Lunch: $179
- Essential Suzhou City Sightseeing Private Day Tour: $248
- Flexible Shanghai Private Day Tour from Suzhou by Bullet Train: $208
- Flexible Suzhou City Highlights Private Day Tour with Authentic Lunch: $153
- Full Day Luzhi Water Town Day Tour From Suzhou: $178
- Full- Day Private Suzhou Tour Guide Service: $150
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanazawa $12Suzhou $6.40
When comparing the travel costs between Kanazawa and Suzhou, we can see that Kanazawa 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kanazawa Expensive? and Is Suzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanazawa or Suzhou?
Suzhou has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kanazawa. When comparing the sizes of Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa or Suzhou?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Kanazawa or Suzhou in the Summer?
Both Suzhou and Kanazawa during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Kanazawa for the family-friendly experiences.
Kanazawa is cooler than Suzhou in the summer. The daily temperature in Kanazawa averages around 26°C (78°F) in July, and Suzhou fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
In Suzhou, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Kanazawa often gets less sunshine than Suzhou. Kanazawa gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 232 hours of full sun.
Suzhou gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kanazawa. Kanazawa usually gets more rain in July than Suzhou. Kanazawa gets 251 mm (9.9 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyKanazawa 26°C (78°F)Suzhou 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Kanazawa or Suzhou in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kanazawa and Suzhou. Many visitors come to Kanazawa in the autumn for the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Kanazawa is cooler than Suzhou. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kanazawa in October average around 17°C (62°F), and Suzhou averages at about 19°C (65°F).
Kanazawa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Suzhou during autumn. Kanazawa gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 162 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Kanazawa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kanazawa usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Kanazawa gets 203 mm (8 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKanazawa 17°C (62°F)Suzhou 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Kanazawa or Suzhou in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kanazawa as well as Suzhou. Most visitors come to Kanazawa for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Suzhou can be very cold. Kanazawa can be very cold during winter. In January, Kanazawa is generally cooler than Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Kanazawa average around 3°C (38°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
In the winter, Kanazawa often gets less sunshine than Suzhou. Kanazawa gets 67 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 135 hours of full sun.
Kanazawa receives a lot of rain in the winter. Kanazawa usually gets more rain in January than Suzhou. Kanazawa gets 294 mm (11.6 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKanazawa 3°C (38°F)Suzhou 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Kanazawa or Suzhou in the Spring?
Both Suzhou and Kanazawa are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Kanazawa is cooler than Suzhou in the spring. The daily temperature in Kanazawa averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Suzhou fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
Kanazawa usually receives more sunshine than Suzhou during spring. Kanazawa gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Suzhou. It's quite rainy in Kanazawa. In April, Kanazawa usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Kanazawa gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilKanazawa 12°C (54°F)Suzhou 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Suzhou and Kanazawa
| Kanazawa | Suzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (38°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 202 mm (8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 251 mm (9.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 248 mm (9.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 203 mm (8 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 6°C (43°F) | 306 mm (12 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
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.