Which place is cheaper, Cairns 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 Cairns?
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 Cairns 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 Cairns?
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.
Cairns
Most travelers go to Cairns specifically to visit Great Barrier Reef. The city itself is surprisingly large and cosmopolitan with a population of approximately 140,000. The city's economy is almost exclusively based on tourism, although you will find some jobs centered around agriculture, or more specifically sugar cane, bananas, coffee, tea, wine, and some tropical fruits. The city itself is surrounded by rainforest and makes a great base for exploring Kuranda, with the Barron Gorge National Park and the Daintree offering a quieter tropical getaway than Cairns.
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 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.
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Suzhou Prices
China PricesCairns Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySuzhou $127Cairns $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Suzhou is $127, while the average daily cost in Cairns is $116. 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 Cairns in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSuzhou $39Cairns $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSuzhou $78Cairns $86
Compare Hotels in Suzhou and Cairns
Looking for a hotel in Suzhou or Cairns? 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: Cairns Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Suzhou $58Cairns $12
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
- Suzhou Gardens Entry Ticket with Optional Guide&Transfer Services: $8.00
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $87
- 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 to Tianping Mountain from Suzhou: $51
- Private Round Trip Transfer from Suzhou to Luzhi Water Town: $64
- Private Day Tour: Gardens and Old Street in Suzhou with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $277
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Airport Transfer to/from City and Beaches: $15
- Cairns Airport: Shared Transfer: $15
- Cairns Airport Shared Transfer to Cairns: $15
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Cairns City: $15
- Shuttle Bus Transfer - Kuranda to Cairns City: $20
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Palm Cove: $24
- AIRPORT TRANSFER between Cairns Airport & Port Douglas (6am-5pm): $40
- Cairns airport to cairns city private Transfers ( one way ): $40
- CNS Airport to Cairns City Centre Private Transfer: $47
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Cairns hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
- Cairns hotels to Cairns Airport(CNS) - Departure Private Transfer: $52
- Australian Armour & Artillery Museum with Transfers: $69
Is it cheaper to fly into Suzhou or Cairns?
Prices for flights to both Cairns 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 $57Cairns $49
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 Cairns
For Cairns, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour with optional 3 Course Dinner : $66
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour with optional 2 Course Dinner: $66
- Dinner Cruise Experience: $92
- Cairns Catamaran Harbour and Dinner Cruise: $93
- Night at the Aquarium Guided Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $96
- Aquarium Guided Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner: $118
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour with 3 Course Dinner: $124
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour with 2 Course Dinner: $124
- City Sights Tour with Evening Dinner Cruise: $171
- Small-Group Afternoon Cairns City Tour with Harbour Dinner Cruise: $174
- Paronella Park Rainforest Full-Day Tour with Dinner: $65,930
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Suzhou $9.47Cairns $37
Tours and Activities in Suzhou
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Suzhou are as follows:
- 1 Day Suzhou Private Tour - Create the Tour You Want: $300
- 4-Hour Flexible Suzhou City Highlights Private Tour: $114
- 4-Hour Suzhou Private Customized Tour: $80
- 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 : $128
- 4-Hour Zhouzhuang Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride: $145
- Classic Suzhou Tour with Hotel or Railway Station Pickup: $269
- Essential Suzhou City Sightseeing Private Day Tour: $296
- Flexible Suzhou City Highlights Private Day Tour with Authentic Lunch: $167
- Full Day Luzhi Water Town Day Tour From Suzhou: $178
- Full-Day Suzhou Gardens Private Tour with Local Guide: $298
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairns
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cairns's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Scuba Diving$36
Tours and Activities in Cairns
For Cairns, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line: Cairns Museum Admission Ticket: $10
- Skip the Line: Cairns Museum Single Admission Ticket: $10
- Koalas and Creatures Entry Ticket: $13
- Kuranda Koala Gardens General Entry Ticket: $15
- Kuranda: Riverboat Tour: $20
- Kuranda Koala Gardens and Birdworld Admission Tickets: $26
- Hipster and Street Art Walking Tour: $29
- Tomb of the Pharaohs Entry Ticket: $32
- Cairns Tomb Of The Pharaohs General Admission Ticket: $32
- Cairns Pub & Club Tour: $34
- Cairns Koalas and Creatures Entry Ticket with Koala Photo: $37
- Cairns Aquarium General Admission Ticket: $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySuzhou $6.50Cairns $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairns
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cairns:
- Cairns Party Bus Pub Crawl Night Out Experience: $44
- From Atherton Tablelands Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $168
When comparing the travel costs between Suzhou and Cairns, 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. Even though Suzhou is in Asia and Cairns is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Suzhou Expensive? and Is Cairns Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Suzhou or Cairns?
Suzhou has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Cairns. When comparing the sizes of Suzhou and Cairns, 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 Suzhou or Cairns?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Cairns 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 Cairns in the Summer?
Both Cairns and Suzhou during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Cairns in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Suzhou is generally around the same temperature as Cairnsin January. Daily temperatures in Suzhou average around 28°C (83°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
Cairns gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Suzhou. Suzhou usually gets less rain in July than Cairnsin January. Suzhou gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 429 mm (16.9 in) of rain this time of the year. November to March is the rainy season in Cairns.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySuzhou 28°C (83°F)Cairns 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Suzhou or Cairns in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Suzhou and Cairns. Furthermore, most visitors come to Cairns for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.
Suzhou is cooler than Cairns in the autumn. The daily temperature in Suzhou averages around 19°C (65°F) in October, and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in April.
Cairns receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Suzhou usually receives less rain than Cairnsin April. Suzhou gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 273 mm (10.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn. April to October in Cairns is the dry season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSuzhou 19°C (65°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Suzhou or Cairns in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Suzhou as well as Cairns. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Cairns because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Suzhou can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Suzhou is much colder than Cairns. Typically, the winter temperatures in Suzhou in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Cairns averages at about 23°C (73°F)in July.
Suzhou usually gets more rain in January than Cairnsin July. Suzhou gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySuzhou 4°C (39°F)Cairns 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Suzhou or Cairns in the Spring?
Both Cairns and Suzhou are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the beaches are the main draw to Cairns this time of year.
In April, Suzhou is generally much colder than Cairnsin October. Daily temperatures in Suzhou average around 15°C (58°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
It's quite rainy in Suzhou. In April, Suzhou usually receives more rain than Cairnsin October. Suzhou gets 102 mm (4 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Cairns is April to October. The rainy season in Cairns is November to March.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSuzhou 15°C (58°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Cairns and Suzhou
| Suzhou | Cairns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) |
| May | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 211 mm (8.3 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.