Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Xiamen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Xiamen or Suzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Xiamen and Suzhou 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: Xiamen or Suzhou?
Xiamen
Xiamen is a coastal city in the Fujian Province of China and has been a major port city and gateway to China for centuries. This vibrant and modern city was named the most livable city in the world in 2002 and one of the first cities to be named a Special Economic Zone. Xiamen is best known for being home to Gulangyu Island, a beautiful island full of historic colonial buildings and lovely walking paths.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayXiamen $64Suzhou $102
The average daily cost (per person) in Xiamen is $64, while the average daily cost in Suzhou is $102. 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 Xiamen and Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personXiamen $31Suzhou $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomXiamen $62Suzhou $76
Compare Hotels in Xiamen and Suzhou
Looking for a hotel in Xiamen 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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Xiamen $5.99Suzhou $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xiamen
Also for Xiamen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Gaoqi Airport to Xiamen City Hotel: $10
- Private Transfer from Railway Station to Xiamen City: $10
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Transfers in Xiamen City: $12
- Private Departure Transfer to North Railway Station from Downtown Xiamen: $15
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Arrival Transfer to City Area: $30
- Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Chauffeur Service ,Xiamen Airport Transfer: $47
- Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and HongKeng Hakka Tulou Cluster: $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hua’an Earth Building: $89
- Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and Yun Shui Yao Ancient Town: $89
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen and Anxi : $89
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng Tulou and Yunshuiyao Village from Xiamen City: $93
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Hongkeng Tulou from Xiamen City: $98
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
- 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
- Private Transfer to Hangzhou City from Suzhou: $113
- 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 Departure Transfer to Suzhou Train Station from City Hotel: $44
- Private Departure Transfer to Shanghai Airport from Suzhou City Hotel: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Xiamen or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Xiamen 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 dayXiamen $26Suzhou $32
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
- Private Suzhou Night Tour:Master of the Nets Garden, Ancient Canal with Dinner: $145
- Zhouzhuang Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Lunch or Dinner Option: $154
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Xiamen $16Suzhou $9.34
Tours and Activities in Xiamen
For Xiamen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Xiamen Private English Tour Guide Service: $93
- Xiamen Private Half Day Tour of Gulangyu Island and Shuzhuang Garden: $97
- Private Xiamen Half Day Tour to Gulangyu Island and the Hi Heaven Villa: $97
- A Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
- Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour with Meal Option: $109
- Flexible Private Half-Day Tour to Visit the Top Attraction Xiamen Yuanbo Garden: $110
- Day Tour to Admire the Panorama of Gulangyu Island and Visit the Precious Birds: $110
- 4-hour Xiamen Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $113
- Xiamen Half-Day Private Tour include Gulang Yu Island and Garden : $119
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Shore Excursion Tour in Your Way: $121
- Shanghai Metro Tour: $127
- Xiamen Layover Day Tour-Gulangyu,Shuzhuang Garden And Piano Museum: $132
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
- Classic Suzhou Tour with Hotel or Railway Station Pickup: $213
- 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 Tour Incredible Suzhou Highlight: $169
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayXiamen $17Suzhou $6.41
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Xiamen and Suzhou, we can see that Suzhou is more expensive. And not only is Xiamen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Xiamen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Xiamen 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 Xiamen.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Xiamen Expensive? and Is Suzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Xiamen or Suzhou?
Suzhou has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Xiamen. When comparing the sizes of Xiamen 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.
When is the best time to visit Xiamen or Suzhou?
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 Xiamen or Suzhou in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Xiamen as well as Suzhou.
In the summer, Xiamen is around the same temperature as Suzhou. Typically, the summer temperatures in Xiamen in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Suzhou averages at about 28°C (83°F).
It's quite rainy in Suzhou. Xiamen receives a lot of rain in the summer. Xiamen usually gets more rain in July than Suzhou. Xiamen gets 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyXiamen 30°C (86°F)Suzhou 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Suzhou in the Autumn?
Both Suzhou and Xiamen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In October, Xiamen is generally a little warmer than Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 25°C (77°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
In October, Xiamen usually receives less rain than Suzhou. Xiamen gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberXiamen 25°C (77°F)Suzhou 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Suzhou in the Winter?
Both Suzhou and Xiamen during the winter are popular places to visit.
Suzhou can get quite cold in the winter. Xiamen is much warmer than Suzhou in the winter. The daily temperature in Xiamen averages around 14°C (58°F) in January, and Suzhou fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
Xiamen usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Suzhou. Xiamen gets 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryXiamen 14°C (58°F)Suzhou 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Suzhou in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Xiamen and Suzhou.
In the spring, Xiamen is a little warmer than Suzhou. Typically, the spring temperatures in Xiamen in April average around 20°C (69°F), and Suzhou averages at about 15°C (58°F).
Suzhou receives a lot of rain in the spring. Xiamen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Xiamen usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Xiamen gets 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilXiamen 20°C (69°F)Suzhou 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Suzhou and Xiamen
| Xiamen | Suzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (69°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 24°C (76°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 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.