A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Suzhou vs. Nelson for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Suzhou or Nelson?

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 Nelson 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 Nelson?

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.

Nelson

Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Nelson or Suzhou?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Suzhou is $127, while the average daily cost in Nelson is $114. 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 Nelson in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Suzhou $39
    Nelson $41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Suzhou $78
    Nelson $82
Compare Hotels in Suzhou and Nelson

Looking for a hotel in Suzhou or Nelson? 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.

Hotels in Suzhou


Hotels in Nelson


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: Nelson Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Suzhou $58
    Nelson $28

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Suzhou or Nelson?

Prices for flights to both Nelson 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Suzhou $57
    Nelson $47

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Suzhou $9.47
    Nelson $23

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 Nelson

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:

  • Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $28
  • Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $55
  • Abel Tasman Vista Cruise: $62
  • Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire Experience: $64
  • Skywire Adventure at Cable Bay, Nelson: $65
  • Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure: $69
  • Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure: $71
  • Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $74
  • Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $74
  • Half Day Guided Mountain Biking Adventure in Nelson: $74
  • Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $77
  • Guided Quad Biking Tour Through Forest and Farmland: $78

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Suzhou $6.50
    Nelson $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:

  • Self-guided E-bike cycle tour with private wine tasting : $116
  • Wine Tour with Tastings and Lunch: $231


When comparing the travel costs between Suzhou and Nelson, 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 Nelson 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 Nelson Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Suzhou or Nelson?

Suzhou has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Nelson. When comparing the sizes of Suzhou and Nelson, 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.