Which place is cheaper, Pai or Aqaba?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Aqaba or Pai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Pai, 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: Aqaba or Pai?
Aqaba
Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.
Pai
As the lush green mountains adorn the blue horizon amidst its creamy clouds, Pai, in northern Thailand, works as one of the many hubs for some of the world's most exciting cultural adventures and natural wonders. Within this small town just north of the Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, Pai lays on the Pai River and holds a population of no more than 2,500. Despite its geographical insignificance, this town attracts a wide array of tourists. From breathtaking waterfalls to relaxing hot springs, you will find yourself astonished at how much this little city holds within its borders.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAqaba $127Pai $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $127, while the average daily cost in Pai is $64. 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 Aqaba and Pai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAqaba $59Pai $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAqaba $118Pai $28
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Pai
Looking for a hotel in Aqaba or Pai? 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: Aqaba Hotel Prices and Pai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aqaba $24Pai $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:
- Transfers from Aqaba Airport to Aqaba city: $50
- Transfers , Meet & Assistance at Wadi Araba Crossing Border : $133
- Transfer from Aqaba City Or TalaBay to Amman Airport: $101
- Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Petra: $60
- Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Petra: $59
- Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Aqaba City Or TalaBay: $25
- Snorkeling in The Red Sea With Equipment And Free Transfer: $29
- Private Transfers from Wadi Rum: Dead Sea, Petra, Amman, Aqaba & vice versa: $107
- Private Transfers Aqaba to Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum, Amman & vice versa: $47
- Private Transfer: From Amman City To Wadi Rum: $209
- Private Transfer: Aqaba Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $27
- Private Transfer: Aqaba Airport to Sheikh Hussein Border or vice versa: $193
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pai
Also for Pai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Mai City to/from Pai Hotel: Private Transfer: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $149
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to or from Pai(Mae Hong Son): $107
- Pa Pae Meditation: Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $70
- Transfer and Tour to Pai / Chiang Mai: $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Pai?
Prices for flights to both Pai and Aqaba 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 dayAqaba $42Pai $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.
- Suhaila (connecting through cooking): $50
- Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner: $64
- 4 hour desert jeep tour with overnight in beduin camp including dinner&breakfast: $85
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight + Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $87
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight in Bedouin Camp & Dinner : $88
- 2 Day Wadi Rum Tour: Traditional Dinner and Starlit Cave Camp: $115
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight + Dinner Under the Stars: $135
- From Wadi Rum Full-Day Private Jeep Tour with Dinner: $169
- From Aqaba to Wadi Rum ,Jeep Tour with Dinner (Half Day): $185
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aqaba $54Pai $40
Tours and Activities in Aqaba
Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Day Tour in Jeep Tour with Bedouin Guide: $81
- Discover the Depths: Aqaba's Ultimate private Dive Experience: $55
- Full-Day Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum without Overnight Stay: $85
- 03 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $47
- 06 Hours Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum : $84
- 1 Day & 1 Night | Stay & Jeep + Camel Tour in Wadi Rum | Magic Bedouin Star: $136
- 2 Days & 1 Night | Jeep & Hike Tour in Wadi Rum Desert | Magic Bedouin Star: $258
- 2 Days Guided Hiking Tour To Wadi Rum Jebal Al Hash: $103
- 2 Days private tour Petra, Wadi Rum (overnight) from Amman: $682
- 2 Hour Jeep Tour - Wadi Rum Desert & Canyon: $35
- 2 Hours Morning or Sunset Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $35
- 2 hours Jeep tour in Wadi Rum with Bedouin guide (incl. bottled water and tea): $100
Tours and Activities in Pai
For Pai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jungle Tipsy Tubing Experience with Shots: $6.76
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAqaba $9.07Pai $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aqaba and Pai, we can see that Aqaba is more expensive. And not only is Pai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aqaba is in Middle East and Pai is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Pai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pai 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 Aqaba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aqaba than you might in Pai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aqaba Expensive? and Is Pai Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Aqaba or Pai?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Aqaba or Pai in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Aqaba as well as Pai. Aqaba attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Pai. Aqaba usually gets less rain in July than Pai. Aqaba gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Pai receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Aqaba this time of the year. In the summer, Aqaba often gets more sunshine than Pai. Aqaba gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pai receives 146 hours of full sun.
Aqaba can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Aqaba is generally a little warmer than Pai. Daily temperatures in Aqaba average around 33°C (91°F), and Pai fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAqaba 33°C (91°F)Pai 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Aqaba or Pai in the Autumn?
Both Pai and Aqaba are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Aqaba throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Pai. In October, Aqaba usually receives less rain than Pai. Aqaba gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Pai receives 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
It's quite sunny in Pai. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Aqaba. Aqaba usually receives more sunshine than Pai during autumn. Aqaba gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Pai receives 226 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Aqaba is cooler than Pai in the autumn. The daily temperature in Aqaba averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Pai fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAqaba 26°C (79°F)Pai 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Aqaba or Pai in the Winter?
Both Pai and Aqaba during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Aqaba because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round.
Aqaba usually gets less rain in January than Pai. Aqaba gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Pai receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Aqaba. In the winter, Aqaba often gets less sunshine than Pai. Aqaba gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pai receives 283 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Aqaba is much colder than Pai. Typically, the winter temperatures in Aqaba in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Pai averages at about 24°C (74°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAqaba 14°C (57°F)Pai 24°C (74°F)
Should I visit Aqaba or Pai in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Aqaba and Pai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Aqaba year-round. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Aqaba usually receives less rain than Pai. Aqaba gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Pai receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In Aqaba, it's very sunny this time of the year. Aqaba usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Pai during spring. Aqaba gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Pai receives 275 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's very hot in Pai this time of the year. In April, Aqaba is generally cooler than Pai. Daily temperatures in Aqaba average around 24°C (75°F), and Pai fluctuates around 32°C (89°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAqaba 24°C (75°F)Pai 32°C (89°F)
Typical Weather for Pai and Aqaba
| Aqaba | Pai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) |
| Sep | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.