Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Qingdao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Qingdao or Suzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Qingdao 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: Qingdao or Suzhou?
Qingdao
Qingdao, China, located in the Shandong Province, is a very large city right on the Yellow Sea coast. The city, whose name means "The Green Island" due to it's gorgeous landscapes and interesting geography, was named China's most livable city in 2012. The city is rich in history, having almost become a German territory in 1897 and being occupied by the Japanese during WWI. Evidence of these occupiers is present in much of the architecture around the city, which includes a few Catholic and Protestant churches.
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 Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Budget Tours to China, and The Best Tours for Seniors to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQingdao $58Suzhou $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Qingdao is $58, 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 Qingdao and Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQingdao $26Suzhou $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQingdao $52Suzhou $76
Compare Hotels in Qingdao and Suzhou
Looking for a hotel in Qingdao 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.Qingdao $12Suzhou $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Qingdao
Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Qingdao Railway Station : $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Depature Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Arrival Transfer to City Hotel: $36
- Qingdao Cruise Port Departure Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Northern Railway Station Arrival Private One-Way Transfer: $42
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $83
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao Airport (TAO) to central Qingdao: $83
- Qingdao Liuting Airport Transfer Service by Minivan: $86
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 Qingdao or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Qingdao 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 dayQingdao $20Suzhou $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.Qingdao $20Suzhou $9.32
Tours and Activities in Qingdao
For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Qingdao City tour with Lunch and Qingdao beer: $175
- Private Qingdao Historic architectural day tour with Tsingdao beer during Lunch: $190
- Private Qingdao Laoshan half day tour with one bottle of Tsingdao beer as gift: $199
- Qingdao private half day tour with Tsingdao Beer Lunch : $202
- Qingdao Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Laoshan Mountain Sightseeing Tour: $207
- Private Qingdao Essentials Tour: City Highlights and Beer Museum: $216
- Laoshan Mountain Full Day Private Activity Tour: $224
- Qingdao Private Day Tour to Laoshan Mountain with Lunch and Cable Car: $238
- Private Qingdao Laoshan day tour with lunch& round way cable car: $240
- Qingdao Discover Tour to the Mount Laoshan and Tasting Famous Local Beer: $248
- Qingdao Private Tour: City Highlights and Laoshan Mountain with Lunch+Cable Car: $268
- All-Inclusive Private Day Tour: Qingdao Highlights with Lunch: $285
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 dayQingdao $14Suzhou $6.40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Qingdao and Suzhou, we can see that Suzhou is more expensive. And not only is Qingdao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Qingdao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Qingdao 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 Qingdao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Qingdao Expensive? and Is Suzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Qingdao or Suzhou?
Qingdao has a larger population, and is about 22% larger than the population of Suzhou. When comparing the sizes of Qingdao 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 Qingdao or Suzhou?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Qingdao or Suzhou in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Qingdao as well as Suzhou.
In the summer, Qingdao is cooler than Suzhou. Typically, the summer temperatures in Qingdao in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Suzhou averages at about 28°C (83°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Suzhou. In the summer, Qingdao often gets less sunshine than Suzhou. Qingdao gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 232 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Suzhou. Qingdao receives a lot of rain in the summer. Qingdao usually gets more rain in July than Suzhou. Qingdao 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 JulyQingdao 25°C (77°F)Suzhou 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Suzhou in the Autumn?
Both Suzhou and Qingdao are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In October, Qingdao is generally around the same temperature as Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Qingdao average around 17°C (62°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Qingdao. Qingdao usually receives more sunshine than Suzhou during autumn. Qingdao gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 162 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Qingdao usually receives less rain than Suzhou. Qingdao gets 45 mm (1.8 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 OctoberQingdao 17°C (62°F)Suzhou 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Suzhou in the Winter?
Both Suzhou and Qingdao during the winter are popular places to visit.
Suzhou can be very cold during winter. Qingdao can get quite cold in the winter. Qingdao is much colder than Suzhou in the winter. The daily temperature in Qingdao averages around -0°C (32°F) in January, and Suzhou fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
In the winter, Qingdao often gets more sunshine than Suzhou. Qingdao gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 135 hours of full sun.
Qingdao usually gets less rain in January than Suzhou. Qingdao gets 11 mm (0.4 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 JanuaryQingdao -0°C (32°F)Suzhou 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Suzhou in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Qingdao and Suzhou.
In the spring, Qingdao is cooler than Suzhou. Typically, the spring temperatures in Qingdao in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Suzhou averages at about 15°C (58°F).
In Qingdao, it's very sunny this time of the year. Qingdao usually receives more sunshine than Suzhou during spring. Qingdao gets 224 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, Qingdao usually receives less rain than Suzhou. Qingdao gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilQingdao 12°C (53°F)Suzhou 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Suzhou and Qingdao
| Qingdao | Suzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -0°C (32°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (34°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 17°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 10°C (49°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (37°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.