Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Nanjing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nanjing or Suzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nanjing or Suzhou? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Nanjing or Suzhou?
Nanjing
Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu Province on the central eastern coast of China, just north of Shanghai. This historically and culturally rich city lies at the lower end of the Yangtze river, resulting in lush and scenic landscapes. Nanjing is well-known for having many popular historical sites, some of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
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 Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNanjing $96Suzhou $102
The average daily cost (per person) in Nanjing is $96, while the average daily cost in Suzhou is $102. 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 Nanjing and Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNanjing $46Suzhou $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNanjing $92Suzhou $76
Compare Hotels in Nanjing and Suzhou
Looking for a hotel in Nanjing 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.Nanjing $38Suzhou $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
- [Airport transfer] Nanjing Lukou International Airport ⇔ Nanjing city transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $27
- Private Arrival Transfer to Nanjing City from Railway Station : $32
- Private Transfer between Nanjing Olympic Stadium and City Hotel: $33
- Private Transfer to Nanjing Railway Station from City Hotels: $33
- Nanjing Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Hotels: $35
- Nanjing Airport (NKG) to Nanjing - Arrival Private Transfer : $36
- Nanjing to Nanjing Airport (NKG) - Departure Private Transfer : $36
- Tangshan Hot Spring Resorts Private Transfer from Nanjing Railway Station: $44
- Nanjing Railway Station Private Transfer to Lukou International Airport: $45
- Nanjing Lukou International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Center: $45
- Private Departure Transfer from Nanjing City Center to Lukou Int'l Airport: $45
- Private NKG Airport Transfer from Nanjing Railway Station: $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:
- Hangzhou Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Wuzhen Water Town : $143
- Private Departure Transfer to Shanghai Airport from Suzhou City Hotel: $68
- Private Departure Transfer to Suzhou Train Station from City Hotel: $44
- Private Round Trip Transfer from Suzhou to Luzhi Water Town: $64
- Private Round-Trip Transfer between Zhouzhuang Water Town and Suzhou City: $58
- 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 Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Tongli Water Town : $90
- Shanghai Pudong Airport - Suzhou Chauffeur Service,Shanghai Airport Transfer: $280
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $87
- Suzhou Private Arrival Transfer:Railway Station to City Hotel: $27
- Suzhou Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Railway Station: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Nanjing or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Nanjing 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 dayNanjing $28Suzhou $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nanjing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.
- 3-Hour Nanjing Authentic Local Food Tour by Public Transportation: $93
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Night Tour with Dinner Option : $112
- Nanjing City Private Night Tour with Qinghuai River Cruise and Dinner Option: $114
- Nanjing Tangshan Mountain Hot Spring Experience and Hot Pot Dinner: $175
- Private Amazing Nanjing Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $181
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
- Zhouzhuang Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Lunch or Dinner Option: $154
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nanjing $9.28Suzhou $9.34
Tours and Activities in Nanjing
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour : $63
- Nanjing Self-Guided Day Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $70
- Nanjing Private English Tour Guide Service: $75
- Private Amazing Nanjing City Day Tour in Your Way: $75
- Nanjing Professional English Tour Guide Service: $91
- Yangzhou Self-Guided Tour from Nanjing with Private Car and Driver Service : $94
- Zhenjiang Self-Guided Tour from Nanjing with Private Car and Driver service : $101
- 4-Hour Nanjing City Private Tailor-Made Tour in Your Way : $109
- Half-Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour : $109
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Xiaoling Tomb, Ming City Wall and Memorial Hall : $115
- Nanjing Private Night Tour: Confucian Temple Area, Ming City Wall, Laomendong: $116
- Half-Day Private Customized Nanjing City Tour: $122
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
- 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
- 4-Hour Zhouzhuang Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride: $145
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNanjing $9.48Suzhou $6.41
When comparing the travel costs between Nanjing 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 Nanjing Expensive? and Is Suzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nanjing or Suzhou?
Nanjing has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Suzhou. When comparing the sizes of Nanjing 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 Nanjing 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 Nanjing or Suzhou in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Nanjing and Suzhou.
In July, Nanjing is generally around the same temperature as Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Nanjing average around 28°C (83°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
Suzhou receives a lot of rain in the summer. Nanjing gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Nanjing usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Nanjing gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNanjing 28°C (83°F)Suzhou 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Nanjing or Suzhou in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Nanjing as well as Suzhou.
Nanjing is around the same temperature as Suzhou in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nanjing averages around 17°C (63°F) in October, and Suzhou fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
Nanjing usually gets less rain in October than Suzhou. Nanjing gets 44 mm (1.7 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 OctoberNanjing 17°C (63°F)Suzhou 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Nanjing or Suzhou in the Winter?
Both Suzhou and Nanjing are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
It's quite cold in Suzhou in the winter. The weather in Nanjing can be very cold. In the winter, Nanjing is cooler than Suzhou. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nanjing in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Suzhou averages at about 4°C (39°F).
In January, Nanjing usually receives less rain than Suzhou. Nanjing gets 27 mm (1.1 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 JanuaryNanjing 3°C (37°F)Suzhou 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Nanjing or Suzhou in the Spring?
Both Suzhou and Nanjing during the spring are popular places to visit.
In April, Nanjing is generally around the same temperature as Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Nanjing average around 15°C (60°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
Suzhou gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Nanjing. Nanjing usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Suzhou. Nanjing gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNanjing 15°C (60°F)Suzhou 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Suzhou and Nanjing
| Nanjing | Suzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 21°C (69°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (41°F) | 25 mm (1 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.