Jiangsu is a coastal province in eastern China, on the northern side of the Yangtze River Delta and the Yellow Sea. It is one of China's wealthiest and most densely populated provinces, anchored by the capital Nanjing and by Suzhou, the province's largest city, whose classical gardens are UNESCO-listed. Jiangsu is celebrated for its canal-laced water towns, Grand Canal heritage, Taihu Lake, and refined Huaiyang and Jiangnan cuisine.
Local currency: Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Jiangsu.
- Mid-range
- CNY 650-1000/day ($97-149)
- Luxury
- CNY 1800+/day ($269+)
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- CNY 60-130 ($8.96-19)
- Budget
- CNY 180-320 ($27-48)
- Midrange
- CNY 400-800 ($60-119)
- Luxury
- CNY 1000-3000+ ($149-448+)
Food
- Street
- CNY 5-20 ($0.75-2.99)
- Local
- CNY 25-60 ($3.73-8.96)
- Midrange
- CNY 90-200 ($13-30)
- Fine
- CNY 300-900+ ($45-134+)
Transport
- Bus
- CNY 2-4 ($0.3-0.6)
- Taxi
- CNY 14-45 ($2.09-6.72)
- Airport
- CNY 6-180 ($0.9-27)
- Daytrip
- CNY 30-120 ($4.48-18)
Activities
- Museum
- CNY 0-60 ($0-8.96)
- Sites
- CNY 30-120 ($4.48-18)
- Tour
- CNY 200-500 ($30-75)
- Excursion
- CNY 100-600 ($15-90)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Jiangsu costs end-to-end.
Weekend escape
A short city break covering essentials and a few highlights.
One-week tour
Comfortable pace including major attractions and day trips.
Two-week explorer
In-depth exploration covering multiple regions.
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Travel in shoulder season — fewer crowds and significantly lower accommodation rates.
Use public transport instead of taxis where possible. Day passes often pay for themselves after 3 trips.
Eat where locals eat — markets and neighbourhood eateries offer better food at a fraction of tourist-strip prices.
Book accommodation with kitchen access for longer stays so you can self-cater some meals.