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

Should you visit Koh Samet or Suzhou?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Suzhou, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Koh Samet or Suzhou?

Koh Samet

The country of Thailand is full of some of the world's most stunning beauty and peaceful settings. So it begs the question, where the Thai people go to get away from it all? They go to Ko Samet on the eastern gulf coast. Located just outside of Bangkok, Ko Samet provides visitors an easily accessible and desirable weekend getaway spot. With white beaches and coral of every other color, this island has steadily developed over the last few years without an intense construction increase like many other Thai beaches. Once thought to be the home of pirates, this island provides plenty to wonder about including, are there hidden treasures under that gorgeous white sand?

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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.


Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Koh Samet?

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 Koh Samet is $133, 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 Koh Samet and Suzhou in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Samet $37
    Suzhou $39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Samet $74
    Suzhou $78
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Suzhou

Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet 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 Koh Samet


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.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Koh Samet Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Koh Samet $79
    Suzhou $58

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 Koh Samet or Suzhou?

Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Koh Samet 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
    Koh Samet $54
    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.
    Koh Samet $10
    Suzhou $9.47

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: $21
  • 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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Samet $5.38
    Suzhou $6.50


When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samet and Suzhou, we can see that Koh Samet 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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



When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Suzhou?

Suzhou has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Samet experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Suzhou in the Summer?

Both Suzhou and Koh Samet are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year.

In July, Koh Samet is generally around the same temperature as Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 28°C (82°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).

It's quite sunny in Suzhou. Koh Samet usually receives less sunshine than Suzhou during summer. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 232 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Suzhou. It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In July, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Koh Samet 28°C (82°F) 
    Suzhou 28°C (83°F)

Should I visit Koh Samet or Suzhou in the Autumn?

Both Suzhou and Koh Samet during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samet because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Koh Samet is a little warmer than Suzhou in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Suzhou fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).

In the autumn, Koh Samet often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Suzhou. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 162 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually gets more rain in October than Suzhou. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Koh Samet 27°C (81°F) 
    Suzhou 19°C (65°F)

Should I visit Koh Samet or Suzhou in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Suzhou. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round.

Suzhou can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Koh Samet is much warmer than Suzhou. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Samet in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Suzhou averages at about 4°C (39°F).

In Koh Samet, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Suzhou during winter. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 135 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Koh Samet 25°C (77°F) 
    Suzhou 4°C (39°F)

Should I visit Koh Samet or Suzhou in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Suzhou. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 29°C (84°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Samet this time of the year. In the spring, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Suzhou. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 153 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Suzhou. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in April than Suzhou. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Koh Samet 29°C (84°F) 
    Suzhou 15°C (58°F)

Typical Weather for Suzhou and Koh Samet

Koh Samet Suzhou
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 4°C (39°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Feb 26°C (80°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 5°C (41°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Mar 27°C (81°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 9°C (48°F) 82 mm (3.2 in)
Apr 29°C (84°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 15°C (58°F) 102 mm (4 in)
May 28°C (83°F) 189 mm (7.4 in) 20°C (67°F) 113 mm (4.5 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 174 mm (6.9 in) 24°C (75°F) 152 mm (6 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 174 mm (6.9 in) 28°C (83°F) 128 mm (5 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 206 mm (8.1 in) 28°C (82°F) 133 mm (5.2 in)
Sep 28°C (82°F) 158 mm (6.2 in) 24°C (75°F) 156 mm (6.1 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 276 mm (10.9 in) 19°C (65°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 380 mm (15 in) 13°C (55°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 7°C (44°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)