Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Surabaya?
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 Surabaya or Suzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Surabaya or Suzhou? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Surabaya or Suzhou?
Surabaya
Surabaya, also known as the "city of heroes," is the capital of East Java and the second largest city in Indonesia, following Jakarta. While it doesn't highlight as many typical tourist monuments as other cities, Surabaya serves as a takeoff point or a landing base for travelers visiting Mount Bromo and Bali.
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 Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Indonesia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.
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Surabaya Prices
Indonesia PricesSuzhou Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurabaya $76Suzhou $127
The average daily cost (per person) in Surabaya is $76, 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 Surabaya and Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurabaya $36Suzhou $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurabaya $72Suzhou $78
Compare Hotels in Surabaya and Suzhou
Looking for a hotel in Surabaya 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Surabaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surabaya $2.66Suzhou $58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surabaya
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Surabaya:
- Private Transfer International Jendaral Ahmad (SRG) to City centre Seamarang: $13
- Private Transfer International Jendaral Ahmad (SRG) to City Semarang: $13
- Private Airport Transfer Surabaya: $21
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Bungurasih: $33
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Kota Surabaya: $33
- Private Transfer from Kota Surabaya to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $33
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Pabean: $33
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Sedati: $33
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Surabaya City : $33
- Private Transfer from Surabaya City to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $33
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Delta sari: $33
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Semampir: $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:
- Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $80
- Hangzhou Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Wuzhen Water Town : $144
- Private Day Tour: Gardens and Old Street in Suzhou with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $277
- Private Round Trip Transfer from Suzhou to Luzhi Water Town: $64
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Tianping Mountain from Suzhou: $51
- Private Round-Trip Transfer between Zhouzhuang Water Town and Suzhou City: $58
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
- Shanghai Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Tongli Water Town : $90
- Shanghai Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Zhouzhuang Water Town : $81
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $87
- Suzhou Gardens Entry Ticket with Optional Guide&Transfer Services: $8.00
- Suzhou Private Transfer to Tongli Water Town with Shanghai Drop-off Option: $84
Is it cheaper to fly into Surabaya or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Surabaya 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 daySurabaya $37Suzhou $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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surabaya $4.56Suzhou $9.47
Tours and Activities in Surabaya
Here are a few actual costs in Surabaya for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- From Mount Bromo Sunrise Guided Group Tour: $46
- Epic Mount Bromo Sunrise Tour from Surabaya & Malang: $52
- From Malang: Tumpak Sewu Waterfall Private Tour: $68
- Private Day Tour Surabaya Historiculture : $70
- Mount Bromo Sunrise Shared Guided Tour from Surabaya : $71
- Day Tour - Surabaya Heritage Colonial Tour: $73
- Bromo Sunrise Tour: $76
- Surabaya Private Tour: $78
- Probolinggo City Tour For Cruise Passengers: $78
- Bromo Tour Package: Midnight Bromo Open Trip from Batu: $79
- Start From Mount Bromo Sunrise Shared Guided Tour : $79
- Half-Day Private Majapahit Historical Tour from Surabaya: $80
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: $22
- 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
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurabaya -Suzhou $6.50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surabaya and Suzhou, we can see that Suzhou is more expensive. And not only is Surabaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Surabaya would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Surabaya 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 Surabaya.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Surabaya Expensive? and Is Suzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Suzhou?
Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 77% larger than the population of Suzhou. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya 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.
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.