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

Should you visit Suzhou or Paihia?

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 Paihia 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 Paihia?

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.

Paihia

Paihia is a town on the North Island of New Zealand in the Bay of Islands region. It is about a three hours north of Auckland by car. For those visiting the Bay of Islands, it is the main town in the area and is located near the town of Russell and Kerikeri. There is a wharf in town where most ships depart from if you are planning on going out to explore the Bay of Islands. Paihia is a very small town with a population of about 1800 people. There is a fair climate all year round with temperatures ranging from sixty to seventy degrees Fahrenheit.

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 10-Day Tours in New Zealand, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Paihia or Suzhou?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Suzhou is $101, while the average daily cost in Paihia is $80. 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 Paihia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Suzhou $38
    Paihia $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Suzhou $76
    Paihia $66
Compare Hotels in Suzhou and Paihia

Looking for a hotel in Suzhou or Paihia? 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 Paihia


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: Paihia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Suzhou $57
    Paihia $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
  • Shanghai Pudong International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $87
  • Shanghai Pudong Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
  • Shanghai Pudong Airport - Suzhou Chauffeur Service,Shanghai Airport Transfer: $280
  • 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 between Tongli Water Town and Suzhou City : $58
  • Private Round Trip Transfer from Suzhou to Luzhi Water Town: $64

Is it cheaper to fly into Suzhou or Paihia?

Prices for flights to both Paihia 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 $32
    Paihia $28

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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paihia

For Paihia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Private Modern Vegetarian Cooking Class with Anna in Northland: $195

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Suzhou $9.32
    Paihia $34

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: $71
  • 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 : $127
  • 4-Hour Zhouzhuang Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride: $145
  • All Inclusive Suzhou Highlight Tour with Boat Ride and Lunch: $179
  • Essential Suzhou City Sightseeing Private Day Tour: $248
  • Flexible Shanghai Private Day Tour from Suzhou by Bullet Train: $208
  • Full Day Luzhi Water Town Day Tour From Suzhou: $178
  • Full- Day Private Suzhou Tour Guide Service: $150
  • Full-day Private Tour of Top Suzhou Gardens: $211

Tours and Activities in Paihia

For Paihia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Bay of Islands 2-Hour Sundowner Evening Sailing Cruise: $48
  • Sundowner Evening Cruise - 2 hour evening sailing cruise with swim stop: $48
  • Bay of Islands 30-minute Adventure Jet Boat Trip: $53
  • Bay of Islands Trike Tour Experience: $53
  • Bay of Islands: Late Afternoon Sailing Cruise: $59
  • Bay of Islands Waterfall Explorer Kayaking Tour: $59
  • Glass Bottom Boat Tour to the Hole in the Rock: $68
  • Parasailing Adventure Over the Bay of Islands: $69
  • Hole in the Rock 1.5-Hour Fast Boat Ocean Adventure: $71
  • Bay of Islands: 4.5 Hour Day Cruise and Island Getaway Tour: $74
  • Paihia/Russell: Hole in the Rock & Bay of Islands Cruise: $74
  • From Scenic Cruise with Roberton Island Stopover: $74

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Suzhou $6.40
    Paihia $22

Sample the Local Flavors in Paihia

Also in Paihia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Bay of Islands Wine Tour with Lunch: $106
  • Private Tour: Bay of Islands Tour with Wine Tasting: $287
  • Private Shore Excursion: Bay of Islands Tour with Wine Tasting: $287


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Suzhou and Paihia, we can see that Suzhou is more expensive. And not only is Paihia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Suzhou is in Asia and Paihia 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 Paihia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Paihia 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 Paihia.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Suzhou Expensive? and Is Paihia Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Suzhou or Paihia?

Suzhou has a larger population, and is about 690 times larger than the population of Paihia. When comparing the sizes of Suzhou and Paihia, 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.