Which place is cheaper, New York City 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 New York City?
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 New York City 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 New York City?
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.
New York City
The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.
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 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.
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Suzhou Prices
China PricesNew York City Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySuzhou $134New York City $363
The average daily cost (per person) in Suzhou is $134, while the average daily cost in New York City is $363. 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 New York City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSuzhou $41New York City $175
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSuzhou $82New York City $350
Compare Hotels in Suzhou and New York City
Looking for a hotel in Suzhou or New York City? 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: Suzhou Hotel Prices and New York City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Suzhou $61New York City $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:
- 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 Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $88
- Suzhou Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel: $88
- Suzhou Gardens Entry Ticket with Optional Guide&Transfer Services: $8.00
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $87
- Shanghai Pudong Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
- 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 International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $80
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport - Suzhou Chauffeur Service,Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New York City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
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Subway$4.50
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Taxi Ride$8.00
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Subway$2.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City
Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Manhattan to LGA One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $25
- JFK to Manhattan: One Way Shared Arrival Transfer: $28
- Manhattan to JFK One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $28
- Manhattan to Newark Airport: Shared Departure Transfer: $30
- Shared transfer Newark Airport to Manhattan: $30
- Private Transfer from Manhattan to NYC Airports (JFK/EWR/LGA): $37
- Private Departure Transfer Brooklyn to NYC Airports (JFK) (LGA) (EWR): $41
- Private Transfer from Cape Liberty Cruise Port to New York City: $44
- Private Transfer from New York Airport (LGA) to Manhattan Port: $44
- Private Transfer from Newark Airport (EWR) to Cape Liberty Port: $44
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Cape Cruise Port - Arrival Transfer: $44
- Cape Cruise Port to J.F. Kennedy Airport (JFK)-Departure Transfer: $44
Is it cheaper to fly into Suzhou or New York City?
Prices for flights to both New York City 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 $60New York City $87
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: $58
- 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
Typical Food Prices in New York City
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Gelato$7.50
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Snacks for Two at Yankees Game$34
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Coffee$6.53
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Smoothie$6.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City
For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Lower East Side Food Tour: $34
- New York Union Square Sweetest Food Tour: Choose Your Own Donuts: $35
- The Greenwich Village Food Tour: $39
- Private Pizza Experience (5 tastings) in Manhattan: $45
- Brooklyn's must-try Pizza Crawl experience (5 top rated slices!): $46
- Lower East Side Food Tour: Iconic Eats & NYC History Walking Tour: $51
- Homemade Pizza Party: $63
- New York City's Best Pizza tour - You be the judge!: $65
- East Village Food Tour | Tasty Tours NYC: $68
- Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO Food Tour: Local Eats & Iconic Views: $70
- New York Union Square Food Tour: Delicious Donuts & Sweet Treats: $70
- East Village Food Tour: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Suzhou $10New York City $180
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: $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: $174
- 8-Hour Private Suzhou City Amazing Day Tour in Your Way: $130
- All Inclusive Suzhou Sightseeing Day Tour: $175
- Essential Suzhou City Sightseeing Private Day Tour: $296
- Full Day Private Tour Incredible Suzhou Highlight: $259
- Full-Day Suzhou Gardens Private Tour with Local Guide: $298
- Full-day Private Tour of Top Suzhou Gardens: $261
Typical Entertainment Prices in New York City
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Comedy Show Tickets$56
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City Map$8.00
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Broadway Musical$111
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Broadway Show Program$10
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Magazine$6.99
Tours and Activities in New York City
For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- New York's Hidden Gems: Self-Guided City Tour: $3.52
- New York Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $4.98
- Central Park Stolen Archives: NY Exploration Game and Tour: $4.98
- The Battery: A Self-Guided Audio Tour from Bowling Green Park to Stone St: $5.00
- Broadway: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the World's Iconic Theatre District: $5.00
- A New York Date Night Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- New York: Central Park Walking Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- New York City Self Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
- New York Celebrity Chef Self Guided Tour and Exploration Game: $6.34
- New York West Village Audio Tour: $6.58
- New York City Greenwich Village Haunted Self Guided Walking Tour: $6.95
- NYC Superhero Academy: Self-Guided Comic Adventure: $7.04
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySuzhou $6.87New York City $29
Sample the Local Flavors in New York City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
- Brooklyn Distillery Tour: $22
- NYC Bar Crawl: Games, Live Music & Underground Nightlife: $28
- New York Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- NYC Pub Crawl Tour: $30
- Top Shelf Distillery Tour: $33
- NYC Pub Crawl & Rooftop Clubbing Experience: $34
- Cheers to Chinatown Tour and Bar Crawl: $40
- NYC Pub Crawl: Midtown/Times Square VIP Access & Prof Photos: $45
- Brooklyn Literary Pub Crawl: $49
- Best of NYC Drag - Drag Bar Crawl with Drink: $49
- Greenwich Village Literary Pub Crawl: $49
- Greenwich Village Piano Bar Crawl: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Suzhou and New York City, we can see that New York City 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 New York City is in North America, 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 New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City 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 New York City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Suzhou or New York City?
New York City has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Suzhou. When comparing the sizes of Suzhou and New York City, 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 New York City?
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 Suzhou or New York City in the Summer?
Both New York City and Suzhou during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to New York City for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Suzhou is a little warmer than New York City in the summer. The daily temperature in Suzhou averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and New York City fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
New York City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Suzhou. Suzhou usually gets more rain in July than New York City. Suzhou gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySuzhou 28°C (83°F)New York City 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Suzhou or New York City in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Suzhou and New York City. Furthermore, many visitors come to New York City in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Suzhou is a little warmer than New York City. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Suzhou in October average around 19°C (65°F), and New York City averages at about 57°F (14°C).
In October, Suzhou usually receives less rain than New York City. Suzhou gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSuzhou 19°C (65°F)New York City 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Suzhou or New York City in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Suzhou as well as New York City. Additionally, most visitors come to New York City for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
New York City can be very cold during winter. Suzhou can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Suzhou is generally much warmer than New York City. Daily temperatures in Suzhou average around 4°C (39°F), and New York City fluctuates around 31°F (-1°C).
Suzhou usually gets less rain in January than New York City. Suzhou gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySuzhou 4°C (39°F)New York City 31°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Suzhou or New York City in the Spring?
Both New York City and Suzhou are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to New York City because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Suzhou is a little warmer than New York City in the spring. The daily temperature in Suzhou averages around 15°C (58°F) in April, and New York City fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
It's quite rainy in Suzhou. In April, Suzhou usually receives around the same amount of rain as New York City. Suzhou gets 102 mm (4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSuzhou 15°C (58°F)New York City 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for New York City and Suzhou
| Suzhou | New York City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Feb | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) |
| May | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.4 inches (88 mm) |
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.