Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Melaka?
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 Melaka or Suzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Melaka or Suzhou, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Melaka or Suzhou?
Melaka
Melaka (or Malacca) is a large city on the western coast of Malaysia about half way between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. This historical city grew up as a result of trading in the region due to its position on the namesake Straights of Malacca, a natural waterway formed from the peninsula of Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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 in Malaysia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.
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Melaka Prices
Malaysia PricesSuzhou Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMelaka $34Suzhou $134
The average daily cost (per person) in Melaka is $34, 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 Melaka and Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMelaka $9.83Suzhou $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMelaka $20Suzhou $82
Compare Hotels in Melaka and Suzhou
Looking for a hotel in Melaka 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: Melaka Hotel Prices and Suzhou Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Melaka $2.16Suzhou $61
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:
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Taxi$4.91
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Bus Ride$0.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melaka
Also for Melaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $43
- Malacca Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer: $52
- Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $74
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Van]: $80
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Taman Negara Transfer [Van]: $83
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Ipoh Transfer [Van]: $98
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Seremban city: $117
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Kuala Besut Transfer [Van]: $118
- Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $169
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Singapore Car Transfer: $218
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:
- Private Day Tour: Suzhou Highlights with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $285
- 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 Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station: $88
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $87
- Suzhou Private Transfer to Zhouzhuang Water Town with Shanghai Drop-off Option: $84
- Suzhou Private Transfer to Tongli Water Town with Shanghai Drop-off Option: $84
- Shanghai Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Zhouzhuang Water Town: $81
- Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Melaka or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Melaka 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 dayMelaka $21Suzhou $60
Typical Food Prices in Melaka
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Melaka:
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)$7.37
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Dinner at the Market (for Two)$3.19
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Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)$1.47
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Taiwanese Noodle Soup$1.23
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$7.86
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Melaka Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Rempah Routes Melaka Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Small Group Melaka After Dark Food Tour: $75
- Private Traditional Peranakan & Malay Cooking Class in Melaka: $95
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.Melaka $4.17Suzhou $9.97
Typical Entertainment Prices in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Maritime Museum Entrance$0.74
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Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance$4.91
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$11
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Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance$2.46
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Melaka Zoo Entrance$1.72
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Low Cost Kite$0.74
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Malacca Duck Tour$9.83
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Melaka River Cruise (One Hour)$2.46
Tours and Activities in Melaka
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Melaka.
- Melaka UNESCO City Guided Walking Tour: $5.02
- Malaysia: Melaka Upside Down House Entry Ticket: $7.15
- Essential Self-Guided Tour of it's UNESCO Heritage Centre: $15
- Malaysia: A'famosa Melaka Ticket: $17
- From Kuala Lumpur Full Day A'Famosa Theme Park Experience: $40
- Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
- Malacca Hotels To Kuala Lumpur Hotels En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
- Malacca City Hotels To Kuala Lumpur City Hotels En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
- Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
- Malacca To Kuala Lumpur EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
- Small Group Melaka Flavours Food and Culture Tour: $75
- Private Half-Day Melaka Walking Tour: $82
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 Suzhou Private Tour: Humble Administrator’s Garden,Tiger Hill and Canal: $134
- 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
- Classic Suzhou Tour with Hotel or Railway Station Pickup: $269
- Flexible Shanghai Private Day Tour from Suzhou by Bullet Train: $208
- Full Day Luzhi Water Town Day Tour From Suzhou: $178
- Luzhi Ancient Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Lunch: $179
- Nanjing Self-Guided Tour from Suzhou by Private Car with Drop-off Option: $137
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMelaka $8.52Suzhou $6.84
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Melaka and Suzhou, we can see that Suzhou is more expensive. And not only is Melaka much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Melaka would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Melaka 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 Melaka.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Melaka Expensive? and Is Suzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Melaka or Suzhou?
Suzhou has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Melaka. When comparing the sizes of Melaka 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.