Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Lijiang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lijiang 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 Lijiang and Suzhou can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Lijiang or Suzhou?
Lijiang
Lijiang is a city in Southwestern China with a history of rule under the Mu family during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It played a key role along the Ancient Southern Silk Road, which started from Burma, crossed Lijiang, Shangri-La County, Tibet, journeyed through Iran, the Fertile Crescent, and ultimately to the Mediterranean Sea. The area was once a center for trade, politics, culture, and education, which is still evident in the rich culture seen today. Lijiang has also been the home of centuries to the Naxi people who still inhabit the area.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLijiang $41Suzhou $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Lijiang is $41, 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 Lijiang and Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLijiang $15Suzhou $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLijiang $30Suzhou $76
Compare Hotels in Lijiang and Suzhou
Looking for a hotel in Lijiang 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.Lijiang $5.56Suzhou $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lijiang
Also for Lijiang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lijiang Sanyi International Airport Chauffeur Service,Lijiang Airport Transfer: $57
- Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Shangri-la(Diqing) hotel: $149
- Private Transfer from Lijiang to Shangri-La and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $159
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang and Stops at Shaxi: $161
- Private Transfer from Lijiang to Dali and Stops at Shaxi: $161
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:
- Suzhou to Beijing Bullet Train Ticket with Local Private Transfer : $178
- Suzhou Private Transfer to Zhouzhuang Water Town with Shanghai Drop-off Option: $84
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $87
- Shanghai Pudong Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
- Shanghai Pudong Airport - Suzhou Chauffeur Service,Shanghai Airport Transfer: $280
- Shanghai Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Tongli Water Town : $90
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport - Suzhou Chauffeur Service,Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
- Private Transfer to Hangzhou City from Suzhou: $113
- Private Suzhou Garden and Water Town Highlight Trip with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $240
- Private Round-Trip Transfer between Zhouzhuang Water Town and Suzhou City: $58
- Private Round-Trip Transfer between Tongli Water Town and Suzhou City : $58
- Private Day Tour: Gardens and Old Street in Suzhou with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $214
Is it cheaper to fly into Lijiang or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Lijiang 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 dayLijiang $17Suzhou $32
Typical Food Prices in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$4.13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit: $59
- Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit: $65
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: $55
- Private Suzhou Night Tour:Master of the Nets Garden, Ancient Canal with Dinner: $145
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lijiang $19Suzhou $9.29
Tours and Activities in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Land of wilderness （Howl's Moving Castle ）Ticket: $26
- Via Ferrata with Zipline Experience in Lijiang: $42
- Private Half-Day Tour: Old Town of Lijiang and Black Dragon Pond Park: $98
- Private Tour: Jade Dragon Village and Baisha Village via Bicycle: $158
- One day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Tour in From Lijiang: $160
- Biking tour&guide visit Lijiang baisha village market park: $160
- 1 Day Private Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang or Dali: $165
- 1 Day Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour from Lijiang or Shangri-La: $170
- Beautiful Country road Biking tour to Xinhua village Heqing start from Lijiang: $173
- Private trekking tour to Wenhai lake from Lijiang half day service: $175
- Lijiang Sanyi airport (LJG) Pick up and Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour : $186
- Private Jade Dragon Snow Mountains and Naxi Village Tour: $187
Tours and Activities in Suzhou
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Suzhou are as follows:
- Private Shanghai City Tour from Suzhou by Bullet Train with Drop off Option: $232
- 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 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
- Classic Suzhou Tour with Hotel or Railway Station Pickup: $213
- Full Day Private Tour Incredible Suzhou Highlight: $169
- Full- Day Private Suzhou Tour Guide Service: $150
- Nanjing Self-Guided Tour from Suzhou by Private Car with Drop-off Option : $137
- Private Customized Suzhou Highlights Tour with Tongli Water Town and Tuisi Garden: $178
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLijiang $7.83Suzhou $6.37
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lijiang and Suzhou, we can see that Suzhou is more expensive. And not only is Lijiang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lijiang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lijiang 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 Lijiang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lijiang Expensive? and Is Suzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lijiang or Suzhou?
Suzhou has a larger population, and is about 18% larger than the population of Lijiang. When comparing the sizes of Lijiang 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.