Which place is cheaper, Airlie Beach or Suzhou?
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 Suzhou or Airlie Beach?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Suzhou and Airlie Beach can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Suzhou or Airlie Beach?
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.
Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach, in Queensland, offers the closest port to the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef. It's a small town of only 25,000 and has grown out of the area's popularity as a tourist destination. It's main industry remains tourism and, as such, there are many venues set up to accommodate travelers hoping to make trips to the Whitsunday Islands and the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The town has the feel of a vacation destination. While in the past Airlie Beach appealed specifically to the backpacker crowd, it's popularity has spread and now there are facilities catering to all travel types. The area has become more commercialized and there are plenty of large resorts to choose from. Even so, you'll still find no shortage of affordable accommodation around town.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Australia.
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Suzhou Prices
China PricesAirlie Beach Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySuzhou $127Airlie Beach $165
The average daily cost (per person) in Suzhou is $127, while the average daily cost in Airlie Beach is $165. 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 Suzhou and Airlie Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSuzhou $39Airlie Beach $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSuzhou $78Airlie Beach $118
Compare Hotels in Suzhou and Airlie Beach
Looking for a hotel in Suzhou or Airlie Beach? 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: Airlie Beach Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Suzhou $58Airlie Beach $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:
- Suzhou Gardens Entry Ticket with Optional Guide&Transfer Services: $8.00
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Tianping Mountain from Suzhou: $51
- Private Round-Trip Transfer between Zhouzhuang Water Town and Suzhou City: $58
- Private Round Trip Transfer from Suzhou to Luzhi Water Town: $64
- Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $80
- 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 : $144
- Suzhou to Beijing Bullet Train Ticket with Local Private Transfer : $178
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Airlie Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Airlie Beach:
- Whitsundays: Airport Transfer to/from Airlie Beach: $16
- One Way Airport Transfer: Proserpine-Airlie Beach (or vice versa): $17
- Transfer from Whitsunday Coast Airport: $17
- Established Return Airport Transfer Proserpine to Airlie Beach: $28
- Airport Transfer to Shute Harbour / Renta Yacht / Freedom Shores: $32
- Private Transfer to/from Shute Harbour: $134
- Private Transfer to/from Whitsunday Coast Airport: $148
Is it cheaper to fly into Suzhou or Airlie Beach?
Prices for flights to both Airlie Beach and Suzhou 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 daySuzhou $57Airlie Beach $55
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: $55
- 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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Airlie Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Airlie Beach.
- 3-Hour Sunset Segway Tour with Dinner: $82
- Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner: $83
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Suzhou $9.47Airlie Beach $161
Tours and Activities in Suzhou
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Suzhou are as follows:
- Tiger Hill Ticket Booking: $14
- Lingering Garden Ticket Booking: $15
- Humble Administrator's Garden Ticket Booking: $18
- Huqiu Adult Tickets without Time Slots: $20
- Suzhou:Humble Administrator's Garden Ticket for Adult: $22
- Suzhou Brunch Guided Walking Tour: $55
- Suzhou Self-Guided Tour with Private Car and Driver Service : $65
- Zen Culture and Garden Tour: $68
- Zhouzhuang and Tongli Self-Guided Tour from Suzhou with Drop-off Options : $72
- 4-Hour Suzhou Private Customized Tour: $80
- Shantang Street Shared Suzhou Walking Tour: $80
- Suzhou Private English Tour Guide Service: $91
Tours and Activities in Airlie Beach
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Airlie Beach are as follows:
- Private Airlie Beach Tuk-Tuk Tours: $20
- 2-Hour Sunset Cruise with Sparkling Wine: $45
- Roundtrip Tour to Cedar Creek.: $45
- Sundowner Sunset Cruise Airlie Beach: $46
- Whisper Cruises - One-Hour Turtle Spotting Bay Cruise: $46
- Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise : $46
- Airlie Beach Trike Tours: $50
- Whitsundays Sunset Sailing Cruise: $57
- Glass-Bottom Boat Tour: $59
- Airlie Beach Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $59
- #1 Sightseeing Explorer 3hr tour.: $62
- Half Day Turtle Tour Sea Kayaking Adventure: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySuzhou $6.50Airlie Beach $9.06
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Suzhou and Airlie Beach, we can see that Airlie Beach is more expensive. And not only is Suzhou much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Suzhou is in Asia and Airlie Beach is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Suzhou would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Suzhou 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 Airlie Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Airlie Beach than you might in Suzhou.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Suzhou Expensive? and Is Airlie Beach Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Suzhou or Airlie Beach?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Airlie Beach is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Suzhou has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Suzhou or Airlie Beach in the Summer?
Both Airlie Beach and Suzhou are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Airlie Beach for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Suzhou is around the same temperature as Airlie Beach in the summer. The daily temperature in Suzhou averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Airlie Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Suzhou. Suzhou usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during summer. Suzhou gets 232 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. It's quite rainy in Suzhou. In July, Suzhou usually receives less rain than Airlie Beachin January. Suzhou gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySuzhou 28°C (83°F)Airlie Beach 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Suzhou or Airlie Beach in the Autumn?
Both Airlie Beach and Suzhou during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Airlie Beach in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Suzhou is cooler than Airlie Beach. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Suzhou in October average around 19°C (65°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 23°C (73°F)in April.
In Airlie Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Suzhou often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin April. Suzhou gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 207 hours of full sun.
Airlie Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Suzhou usually gets less rain in October than Airlie Beachin April. Suzhou gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSuzhou 19°C (65°F)Airlie Beach 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Suzhou or Airlie Beach in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Suzhou and Airlie Beach. Also, most visitors come to Airlie Beach for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.
Suzhou can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Suzhou is generally much colder than Airlie Beachin July. Daily temperatures in Suzhou average around 4°C (39°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Airlie Beach this time of the year. Suzhou usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during winter. Suzhou gets 135 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Suzhou usually receives around the same amount of rain as Airlie Beachin July. Suzhou gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySuzhou 4°C (39°F)Airlie Beach 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Suzhou or Airlie Beach in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Suzhou as well as Airlie Beach. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Airlie Beach because of the beaches and the natural beauty.
Suzhou is much colder than Airlie Beach in the spring. The daily temperature in Suzhou averages around 15°C (58°F) in April, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. In the spring, Suzhou often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin October. Suzhou gets 153 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 298 hours of full sun.
Suzhou receives a lot of rain in the spring. Suzhou usually gets more rain in April than Airlie Beachin October. Suzhou gets 102 mm (4 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSuzhou 15°C (58°F)Airlie Beach 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Airlie Beach and Suzhou
| Suzhou | Airlie Beach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 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.