Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Sandakan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sandakan or Suzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan 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: Sandakan or Suzhou?
Sandakan
Located on the Northeast side of the state of Sabah in Borneo is the city of Sandakan, which is the 2nd largest city in the country. Sandakan was a prosperous port town in the 1800s because of its exports of tobacco, timber, pearls, and ivory. However, this booming town that was formerly the administrative capital in North Borneo was bombed practically out of existence at the end of World War II.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, 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 daySandakan $58Suzhou $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan 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 Sandakan and Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $20Suzhou $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $40Suzhou $76
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Suzhou
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan 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: Sandakan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $33Suzhou $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:
- Nanjing Downtown hotels to Lukou Intl Airport (NKG) - Departure Private Transfer: $33
- Private Arrival Transfer: Suzhou Train Station to Hotels in Suzhou: $44
- Private Round-Trip Transfer between Tongli Water Town and Suzhou City : $58
- Private Round-Trip Transfer between Zhouzhuang Water Town and Suzhou City: $58
- Private Round Trip Transfer from Suzhou to Luzhi Water Town: $64
- Shanghai Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Zhouzhuang Water Town : $81
- 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 Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Tongli Water Town : $90
- Hangzhou Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Wuzhen Water Town : $143
- Suzhou to Beijing Bullet Train Ticket with Local Private Transfer : $178
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Sandakan 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 daySandakan $19Suzhou $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sandakan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sandakan.
- Mangrove Cruise with Fireflies Tour Including Dinner from Sandakan: $64
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.Sandakan $7.19Suzhou $9.32
Tours and Activities in Sandakan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
- Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch: $51
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $78
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $105
- Private Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan, Bornean Sun Bear and Rainforest Discovery Center Tour: $125
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $138
- Sepilok Orang Utan & Bornean Sun Bear Centre with Sandakan City Tour with Lunch: $191
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $197
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $241
- 2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise: $290
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
- 4-Hour Suzhou Private Tour: Humble Administrator’s Garden,Tiger Hill and Canal : $134
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $6.59Suzhou $6.40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Suzhou, we can see that Suzhou is more expensive. And not only is Sandakan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sandakan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sandakan 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 Sandakan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sandakan Expensive? and Is Suzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Suzhou?
Suzhou has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Sandakan. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan 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 Sandakan or Suzhou?
Suzhou has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Sandakan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Sandakan or Suzhou in the Summer?
Both Suzhou and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year.
In July, Sandakan is generally around the same temperature as Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 27°C (81°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
It's quite sunny in Suzhou. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Suzhou during summer. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 232 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Suzhou. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In July, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySandakan 27°C (81°F)Suzhou 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Suzhou in the Autumn?
Both Suzhou and Sandakan during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sandakan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Sandakan is a little warmer than Suzhou in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Suzhou fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
In the autumn, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Suzhou. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 162 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in October than Suzhou. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 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 OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Suzhou 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Suzhou in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Suzhou. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round.
It's quite cold in Suzhou in the winter. In the winter, Sandakan is much warmer than Suzhou. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sandakan in January average around 26°C (80°F), and Suzhou averages at about 4°C (39°F).
Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Suzhou during winter. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 135 hours of full sun in the winter.
Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 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 JanuarySandakan 26°C (80°F)Suzhou 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Suzhou in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Suzhou. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 28°C (82°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sandakan this time of the year. In the spring, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Suzhou. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 153 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Suzhou. Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the spring. Sandakan usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Suzhou. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Suzhou 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Suzhou and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Suzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 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.