Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Kunming?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Kunming or Suzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Kunming and Suzhou. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Kunming or Suzhou?
Kunming
Kunming, located in southern China, is the modern capital city of the Yunnan province. It is a transportation hub for visitors entering the region, and good transfer point to just about everywhere else in the province by train or bus. Within the city itself there are many things to see and do with a full range of parks and zoos, museums, temples, theatres, and scenic areas.
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 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, and The Best Historical Tours in China.
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Kunming Prices
China PricesSuzhou Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKunming $89Suzhou $134
The average daily cost (per person) in Kunming is $89, 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 Kunming and Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKunming $35Suzhou $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKunming $70Suzhou $82
Compare Hotels in Kunming and Suzhou
Looking for a hotel in Kunming 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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kunming $14Suzhou $61
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Kunming:
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Taxi Ride$1.63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming
Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! : $36
- Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
- Kunming Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $55
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pick up: $71
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pickup: $83
- Kunming Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $88
- Kunming Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station: $88
- Kunming Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel: $88
- Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
- Private Transfer from Kunming hotel to Guizhou Xingyi hotel: $240
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
- Full-Day Suzhou Gardens Exploration with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $285
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
- Hangzhou Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Wuzhen Water Town: $144
- Private Transfer from Suzhou to Hangzhou City Area: $137
- Suzhou Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $120
- 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: Railway Station to Hotel: $88
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $87
- Suzhou Private Transfer to Tongli Water Town with Shanghai Drop-off Option: $84
- Suzhou Private Transfer to Zhouzhuang Water Town with Shanghai Drop-off Option: $84
Is it cheaper to fly into Kunming or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Kunming 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
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Food Meals for one dayKunming $41Suzhou $60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming
For Kunming, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Discovery more Kunming evening Food Tour with Local Guide: $78
- Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $88
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kunming $19Suzhou $9.98
Tours and Activities in Kunming
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.
- Kunming City & Cultural Walking tour: $26
- Yunnan University & Culture Alley Guided Tour: $26
- Kunming Walking Tour Around Green Lake and University Quarter: $29
- Dynamic Yunnan Cultural Show Ticket in Kunming: $32
- Half Day Private Tour with Customizable Itinerary: $43
- Kunming City Tour with Private Guide: $44
- Stone Forest + Yiliang Roast Duck + Kunming City Private Tour: $60
- Kunming Western Hills Scenic Area Private Tour: $64
- Kunming Western Hills Scenic Area Private Tour (Half Day): $66
- Private Tour with Customizable Itinerary: $66
- Guandu Ancient Town Private Tour (Half-Day): $66
- Old Town Private Tour (Half Day): $66
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKunming $19Suzhou $6.85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kunming and Suzhou, we can see that Suzhou is more expensive. And not only is Kunming much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kunming would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kunming 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 Kunming.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kunming Expensive? and Is Suzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kunming or Suzhou?
Suzhou has a larger population, and is about 31% larger than the population of Kunming. When comparing the sizes of Kunming 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.