A Travel Price Comparison for China Taiyuan vs. Suzhou for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Taiyuan or Suzhou?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Taiyuan and Suzhou. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Taiyuan or Suzhou?

Taiyuan

With sleek architectural designs and blossoming businesses, this metropolis is simply brimming with invigorating excitement and once-in-a-lifetime entertainment. Despite its glimmering skyscrapers and gorgeous fountains, Taiyuan, China has an extensive history of nearly 2,500 years. During ancient China, Taiyuan, or the "Dragon City," was a major military town. Presently, this city is now one of China's most important industrial cities, producing more than half of the national coal mining output. Taiyuan is both the capital and largest city of the Shanxi province of North China. It is bounded by mountains on three of its sides, allowing this great city to be surrounded by fantastic views of its landscape. Besides its economic significance, Taiyuan also achieves tourist significance due to its plethora of landmarks and sights. Some of these attractions include Jinci Temple, Forest Park, Mengshan Giant Buddha, and Shanxi Museum. Taiyuan is also celebrated internationally for holding their annual Shanxi Taiyuan International Folk Arts Festival, a celebration held in September that hosts exhibition of fine arts, painting, paper-cutting, sculpture, drama, acrobatic and the culture of costume. With such a great deal to do in such a limited window of time, it is best to make the most Taiyuan while you visit!

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, and The Best Budget Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Taiyuan?

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

  • Taiyuan Prices
    China Prices
    Suzhou Prices
    China Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Taiyuan $107
    Suzhou $127

The average daily cost (per person) in Taiyuan is $107, while the average daily cost in Suzhou is $127. 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 Taiyuan and Suzhou in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Taiyuan $43
    Suzhou $39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Taiyuan $86
    Suzhou $78
Compare Hotels in Taiyuan and Suzhou

Looking for a hotel in Taiyuan or Suzhou? 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 Taiyuan


Hotels in Suzhou


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Taiyuan $48
    Suzhou $58

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:

  • Private Suzhou Garden and Water Town Highlight Trip with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $240
  • Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
  • Shanghai Pudong Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
  • Private Day Tour: Suzhou Highlights with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $227
  • Full-Day Suzhou Gardens Exploration with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $227
  • Hangzhou Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Wuzhen Water Town : $143
  • Private Transfer from Suzhou to Hangzhou City Area : $137
  • Pudong Airport to Suzhou City Hotel One Way Private Transfer Vice Versa: $114
  • Private Transfer to Hangzhou City from Suzhou: $113
  • Shanghai Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Tongli Water Town : $90
  • Shanghai Pudong International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $87
  • Suzhou Private Transfer to Tongli Water Town with Shanghai Drop-off Option: $84

Is it cheaper to fly into Taiyuan or Suzhou?

Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Taiyuan 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
    Taiyuan $36
    Suzhou $57

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.
    Taiyuan $15
    Suzhou $9.48

Tours and Activities in Suzhou

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

  • Private Shanghai City Tour from Suzhou by Bullet Train with Drop off Option: $232
  • 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 Tongli Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride : $127
  • 4-Hour Zhouzhuang Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride: $145
  • Classic Suzhou Tour with Hotel or Railway Station Pickup: $213
  • Essential Suzhou City Sightseeing Private Day Tour: $248
  • Flexible Suzhou City Highlights Private Day Tour with Authentic Lunch: $153
  • Full Day Private Tour Incredible Suzhou Highlight: $259
  • Full-Day Suzhou Gardens Private Tour with Local Guide: $248
  • Full-day Private Tour of Top Suzhou Gardens: $211

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Taiyuan $6.42
    Suzhou $6.51


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

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


Which is Bigger, Taiyuan or Suzhou?

Taiyuan has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Suzhou. When comparing the sizes of Taiyuan and Suzhou, 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.