Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Kyoto?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kyoto or Suzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kyoto and Suzhou can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Kyoto or Suzhou?
Kyoto
Kyoto is a larger city of Japan, though it is very much set in the old ways. With quiet temples, sublime gardens, colorful shrines, and geisha walking amidst a city surrounded by stunning mountains, Kyoto feels like a world of another time and place. True to ancient Japanese tradition, most aspects of daily life are tied closely with the changing of the seasons.
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 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKyoto $96Suzhou $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Kyoto is $96, 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 Kyoto and Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKyoto $63Suzhou $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKyoto $126Suzhou $76
Compare Hotels in Kyoto and Suzhou
Looking for a hotel in Kyoto 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: Kyoto Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kyoto $7.55Suzhou $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kyoto
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kyoto:
- Shared Departure Transfer : Kyoto City to Kansai International Airport: $67
- Private departure transfer from Kyoto city to Kansai International airport: $107
- Osaka (Itami) Airport to/from Kyoto City Private Transfer: $136
- Kansai Airport (KIX): Private One-Way Transfer to/from Kyoto: $207
- Osaka (Itami) Airport ITM Private Transfer to/from Kyoto: $212
- Osaka City to/from Kyoto City Private transfer: $221
- Kansai Intl. Airport KIX Private Transfer to/from Kyoto: $222
- Kansai Int Airport to/from Kyoto City Private Transfer: $264
- Kyoto Early Bird Half Day Private Tour with Transfer: $292
- From Private 1-Way Transfer to Kansai Airport: $316
- One-Way Private Transfer to/from Itami Airport: $316
- Customizable Private Tour with Hotel Transfers: $504
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:
- 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: Suzhou Highlights with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $227
- Private Round Trip Transfer from Suzhou to Luzhi Water Town: $64
- 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
- Shanghai Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Tongli Water Town : $90
- Shanghai Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Zhouzhuang Water Town : $81
- Shanghai Pudong Airport - Suzhou Chauffeur Service,Shanghai Airport Transfer: $280
Is it cheaper to fly into Kyoto or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Kyoto 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 dayKyoto $24Suzhou $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kyoto
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kyoto.
- Private Cooking Class Udon in Kyoto Japan: $40
- Japanese Washoku Bento Cooking Class with Lunch: $41
- Nishiki Market Brunch Walking Food Tour: $45
- Japanese Home Cooking Lesson with Local Hosts in Peaceful Kyoto Suburb Otsu: $49
- Kyoto Nishiki Market & Depachika: 2-hours Food Tour with a Local: $59
- Afternoon Japanese Izakaya Cooking Class: $59
- Morning Japanese Bento Cooking Class: $59
- Japanese Cooking Class: $60
- Japanese Udon and Sushi Cooking Class with Tastings: $62
- Wagashi(Japanese sweets) Cooking :Kyoto near Fushimiinari: $63
- Bento Box Cooking Class: $66
- Izakaya Style Cooking Class: $66
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kyoto $13Suzhou $9.32
Tours and Activities in Kyoto
Here are a few actual costs in Kyoto for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Arashiyama self guided tour app multilingual audio guide: $2.14
- Kyoto Tower Admission Ticket: $6.13
- Audio Guide Tour of Kinkaku-ji & Ryōan-ji Areas ~ Zen Echoe: $6.32
- Audio Guide Tour Sanjusangen-do & Chishaku-in: $6.32
- Audio Guide Tour through Gion: Kiyomizu-dera and Kodai-ji: $6.32
- Audio Guide Tour: Unveiling Kyoto Station Surroundings: $6.32
- Nijo Castle & Kitano Tenmangu Shrine: Auidio Guide Tour: $6.32
- Arashiyama: Self-Guided Audio Tour through History & Nature: $6.32
- Audio guide tour of the Kyoto Imperial Palace & surroundings: $6.32
- Ninnaji Temple Entry Ticket: $6.95
- Kyoto self-guided tour app with multi-language audioguide: $8.56
- Kyoto Gion Night Walking Tour: $9.47
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
- 4-Hour Flexible Suzhou City Highlights Private Tour: $114
- 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
- Nanjing Self-Guided Tour from Suzhou by Private Car with Drop-off Option : $137
- Private Tour of Suzhou Museum, Humble Administrator's Garden and Pingjiang Road: $144
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKyoto $12Suzhou $6.40
Sample the Local Flavors in Kyoto
Also in Kyoto, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Japanese Sake Brewery and Fushimi Inari Sightseeing Tour: $18
- Sake Brewery and Tasting Tour in Fushimi: $80
- Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Sake and Food Pairing: $83
- Rural Brewery Town Walk: Half-Day Private Tour Near Kyoto: $97
- Kyoto Sake Brewery Tour: $153
- Rural Villages & Brewery Town: Private 1-Day Cycling Near Kyoto: $181
- Kyoto Sake Bar and Pub Crawl (Food & Sake Tour): $189
- Kyoto Sake Bar and Pub Crawl (Food & Sake Tour): $195
- Private Guided Local Bar Crawl Experience in Kyoto: $223
- Kyoto Nightlife: Local Bar Crawl Experience: $435
When comparing the travel costs between Kyoto and Suzhou, we can see that Suzhou 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 Kyoto Expensive? and Is Suzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kyoto or Suzhou?
Kyoto has a larger population, and is about 9% larger than the population of Suzhou. When comparing the sizes of Kyoto 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 Kyoto 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 Kyoto or Suzhou in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kyoto and Suzhou. The summer months attract visitors to Kyoto because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Kyoto is generally around the same temperature as Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Kyoto average around 27°C (81°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Suzhou this time of the year. Kyoto usually receives less sunshine than Suzhou during summer. Kyoto gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 232 hours of full sun in the summer.
Suzhou receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kyoto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Kyoto usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Kyoto gets 236 mm (9.3 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKyoto 27°C (81°F)Suzhou 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Kyoto or Suzhou in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kyoto as well as Suzhou. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Kyoto this time of year.
Kyoto is around the same temperature as Suzhou in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kyoto averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Suzhou fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
In the autumn, Kyoto often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Suzhou. Kyoto gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 162 hours of full sun.
Kyoto receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kyoto usually gets more rain in October than Suzhou. Kyoto gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKyoto 18°C (64°F)Suzhou 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Kyoto or Suzhou in the Winter?
Both Suzhou and Kyoto are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Kyoto for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Suzhou can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Kyoto. In the winter, Kyoto is a little warmer than Suzhou. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kyoto in January average around 5°C (40°F), and Suzhou averages at about 4°C (39°F).
Kyoto usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Suzhou during winter. Kyoto gets 140 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 135 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Kyoto usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Kyoto gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKyoto 5°C (40°F)Suzhou 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Kyoto or Suzhou in the Spring?
Both Suzhou and Kyoto during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Kyoto in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Kyoto is generally around the same temperature as Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Kyoto average around 14°C (58°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
In the spring, Kyoto often gets more sunshine than Suzhou. Kyoto gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 153 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 Kyoto. Kyoto usually gets more rain in April than Suzhou. Kyoto gets 153 mm (6 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKyoto 14°C (58°F)Suzhou 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Suzhou and Kyoto
| Kyoto | Suzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (40°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 153 mm (6 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 154 mm (6 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 251 mm (9.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 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.