Which place is cheaper, Paihia or Bagan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bagan or Paihia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bagan and Paihia can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bagan or Paihia?
Bagan
Located in central Myanmar (formerly Burma), Bagan is an ancient city best known as the home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas, and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.
Paihia
Paihia is a town on the North Island of New Zealand in the Bay of Islands region. It is about a three hours north of Auckland by car. For those visiting the Bay of Islands, it is the main town in the area and is located near the town of Russell and Kerikeri. There is a wharf in town where most ships depart from if you are planning on going out to explore the Bay of Islands. Paihia is a very small town with a population of about 1800 people. There is a fair climate all year round with temperatures ranging from sixty to seventy degrees Fahrenheit.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBagan $30Paihia $80
The average daily cost (per person) in Bagan is $30, while the average daily cost in Paihia is $80. 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 Bagan and Paihia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBagan $7.36Paihia $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBagan $15Paihia $66
Compare Hotels in Bagan and Paihia
Looking for a hotel in Bagan or Paihia? 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: Paihia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bagan $3.57Paihia $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bagan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bagan:
- From Bagan City To Mandalay Private Transfer: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Bagan or Paihia?
Prices for flights to both Paihia and Bagan 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 dayBagan $5.95Paihia $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bagan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bagan.
- Romantic Sunset Dinner At Bagan Viewing Tower: $91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paihia
For Paihia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Modern Vegetarian Cooking Class with Anna in Northland: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bagan $57Paihia $34
Tours and Activities in Bagan
Here are a few actual costs in Bagan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Acient Capitals of Myanmar Tour: $149
- Amazing Bagan, full day tour by car and guide: $90
- BAGAN TEMPLES FULL DAY GUIDED BY ELECTRIC BIKE ( Private Tour ): $64
- Bagan Classics Private Temples Tour: $159
- Bagan Cycling Tour ( Villages & Temples Cycling Explorer) : $129
- Bagan Horse Cart Ride Tour with Puppet Show: $160
- Bagan Instagram Photo Tour: $179
- Bagan and Mount Popa Private Tour (2 Days): $90
- Best Bagan One Day Tour With Tour Guide: $48
- Day Cruise Bagan to Mandalay: $31
- Excellent Private Guided Tour Around Bagan With Lunch: $88
- Full Day tour In Bagan UNESCO World Heritage: $50
Tours and Activities in Paihia
For Paihia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Bay of Islands 2-Hour Sundowner Evening Sailing Cruise: $48
- Sundowner Evening Cruise - 2 hour evening sailing cruise with swim stop: $48
- Bay of Islands 30-minute Adventure Jet Boat Trip: $53
- Bay of Islands Trike Tour Experience: $53
- Bay of Islands: Late Afternoon Sailing Cruise: $59
- Bay of Islands Waterfall Explorer Kayaking Tour: $59
- Glass Bottom Boat Tour to the Hole in the Rock: $68
- Parasailing Adventure Over the Bay of Islands: $69
- Hole in the Rock 1.5-Hour Fast Boat Ocean Adventure: $71
- Bay of Islands: 4.5 Hour Day Cruise and Island Getaway Tour: $74
- Paihia/Russell: Hole in the Rock & Bay of Islands Cruise: $74
- From Scenic Cruise with Roberton Island Stopover: $74
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBagan -Paihia $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Paihia
Also in Paihia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bay of Islands Wine Tour with Lunch: $106
- Private Tour: Bay of Islands Tour with Wine Tasting: $287
- Private Shore Excursion: Bay of Islands Tour with Wine Tasting: $287
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bagan and Paihia, we can see that Paihia is more expensive. And not only is Bagan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bagan is in Asia and Paihia is in Pacific, 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 Bagan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bagan 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 Paihia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paihia than you might in Bagan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bagan Expensive? and Is Paihia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bagan or Paihia?
Paihia has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Bagan. When comparing the sizes of Bagan and Paihia, 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.