Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Pai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pai 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 Pai 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: Pai or Suzhou?
Pai
As the lush green mountains adorn the blue horizon amidst its creamy clouds, Pai, in northern Thailand, works as one of the many hubs for some of the world's most exciting cultural adventures and natural wonders. Within this small town just north of the Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, Pai lays on the Pai River and holds a population of no more than 2,500. Despite its geographical insignificance, this town attracts a wide array of tourists. From breathtaking waterfalls to relaxing hot springs, you will find yourself astonished at how much this little city holds within its borders.
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 G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, 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 dayPai $64Suzhou $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $64, 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 Pai and Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $14Suzhou $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $28Suzhou $76
Compare Hotels in Pai and Suzhou
Looking for a hotel in Pai 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: Pai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $37Suzhou $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pai
Also for Pai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Pa Pae Meditation: Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $70
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to or from Pai(Mae Hong Son): $107
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $132
- Chiang Mai City to/from Pai Hotel: Private Transfer: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $149
- Transfer and Tour to Pai / Chiang Mai: $149
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
- Suzhou Private Transfer to Tongli 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 Zhouzhuang Water Town : $81
- Shanghai Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Tongli Water Town : $90
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport 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 Round Trip Transfer from Suzhou to Luzhi Water Town: $64
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Pai 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 dayPai $21Suzhou $32
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.Pai $40Suzhou $9.32
Tours and Activities in Pai
For Pai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jungle Tipsy Tubing Experience with Shots: $6.76
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: $71
- 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
- All Inclusive Suzhou Highlight Tour with Boat Ride and Lunch: $179
- Essential Suzhou City Sightseeing Private Day Tour: $248
- Flexible Shanghai Private Day Tour from Suzhou by Bullet Train: $208
- Full Day Luzhi Water Town Day Tour From Suzhou: $178
- Full- Day Private Suzhou Tour Guide Service: $150
- Full-day Private Tour of Top Suzhou Gardens: $211
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $13Suzhou $6.40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Suzhou, we can see that Suzhou is more expensive. And not only is Pai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pai 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 Pai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pai Expensive? and Is Suzhou Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Suzhou?
Suzhou has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Pai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Pai or Suzhou in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Pai as well as Suzhou. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Pai is around the same temperature as Suzhou in the summer. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Suzhou fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Suzhou. In the summer, Pai often gets less sunshine than Suzhou. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 232 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Suzhou. Pai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai usually gets more rain in July than Suzhou. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPai 29°C (85°F)Suzhou 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Pai or Suzhou in the Autumn?
Both Suzhou and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year.
In the autumn, Pai is much warmer than Suzhou. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pai in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Suzhou averages at about 19°C (65°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Suzhou during autumn. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 162 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Pai. In October, Pai usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPai 29°C (84°F)Suzhou 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Pai or Suzhou in the Winter?
Both Suzhou and Pai during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Suzhou. In January, Pai is generally much warmer than Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 24°C (74°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
It's quite sunny in Pai. In the winter, Pai often gets more sunshine than Suzhou. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 135 hours of full sun.
Pai usually gets less rain in January than Suzhou. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPai 24°C (74°F)Suzhou 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Pai or Suzhou in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Suzhou. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round.
It's very hot in Pai this time of the year. Pai is much warmer than Suzhou in the spring. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 32°C (89°F) in April, and Suzhou fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Suzhou during spring. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.
Suzhou receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Pai usually receives less rain than Suzhou. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPai 32°C (89°F)Suzhou 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Suzhou and Pai
| Pai | Suzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.