Which place is cheaper, Paihia or Cheju (Jeju)?
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 Cheju (Jeju) or Paihia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Cheju (Jeju) and Paihia. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Cheju (Jeju) or Paihia?
Cheju (Jeju)
Cheju is an island located just off the southern coast of South Korea in the Korean Strait. It is known for its volcanic landscape full of craters and cave-like lava tubes, which many visitors venture to hike and explore. With the main industry invested in tourism, it is a popular vacation spot for Koreans and foreigners alike, and remains the top honeymoon destination for Korean newlyweds.
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 The Best Cultural Tours in South Korea, The Best Luxury Tours to South Korea, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.
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Cheju (Jeju) Prices
South Korea PricesPaihia Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCheju (Jeju) $84Paihia $99
The average daily cost (per person) in Cheju (Jeju) is $84, while the average daily cost in Paihia is $99. 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 Cheju (Jeju) and Paihia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCheju (Jeju) $45Paihia $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCheju (Jeju) $90Paihia $66
Compare Hotels in Cheju (Jeju) and Paihia
Looking for a hotel in Cheju (Jeju) 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.Cheju (Jeju) $10Paihia $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cheju (Jeju)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cheju (Jeju):
- jeju island Private Taxi Hallasan Hiking Trail Transfer - One way: $70
- Private Transfer From Seogwipo to Jeju Airport in jeju island: $75
- Private Transfer From Jeju Airport to in Seogwipo Jeju Island : $75
- Private Transfer From Jeju Airport To Seogwipo City: $150
- Private Transfer From Airport to Downtown jeju city (One way ) : $45
- Private Taxi Transfer from Jeju City to Jeju Airport(one way ): $90
- Private Sightseeing Tour to Jeju Island with Transfer Included: $190
- Private Jeju Airport Transfer : Jeju Airport to/from Jeju(~7 pax): $89
- Jeju Airport Transfer: $22
- Jeju Airport (CJU) Private Transfer to Jeju City Centre/Seogwipo: $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paihia
Also for Paihia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bay Of Islands - Airport Transfers: $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Cheju (Jeju) or Paihia?
Prices for flights to both Paihia and Cheju (Jeju) 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 dayCheju (Jeju) $29Paihia $48
Typical Food Prices in Cheju (Jeju)
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cheju (Jeju):
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Burger$4.44
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Donkatsu (Charles Restaurant)$7.16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cheju (Jeju)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cheju (Jeju).
- JEJU Cooking Class _Class & Dinner at Jeju Seaside Sunset Terrace: $139
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cheju (Jeju) $5.43Paihia $34
Tours and Activities in Cheju (Jeju)
Here are a few actual costs in Cheju (Jeju) for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private Day Tour World Natural Heritage in jeju island : $125
- 1-Day Jeju Island Tour For Cruise Passenger: $64
- 2 Days Private Tour with a Very Experienced Driver in Jeju Island: $290
- 2025 Cherry Blossom East Day Tour in Jeju with UNESCO: $81
- 2025 JEJU Cherry Blossom West&South Full Day Tour with UNESCO: $80
- 2Days Private Tour Free schedule with A lot of Experience driver : $300
- 2Days World Natural Heritage & South & west tour in jeju island : $225
- All-Inclusive Jeju East Tour with Lunch and Tangerine Picking: $105
- Customized private tour in Jeju island: $175
- East of Jeju island Bus Tour from Seogwipo city, Jeju island: $99
- East of jeju tour for Seogwipo Gangjeong Cruise Customers: $160
- Eastern Jeju: All Inclusive Private Tour w/ Tangerine picking: $200
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: 1 Hour Scenic Bay of Islands Tour: $29
- 1 Hour Scenic Bay of Islands Tour: $30
- Bay of Islands - Mini Tour (75-90 mins): $38
- Bay of Islands - Mini Tour: (75-90mins): $45
- Bay of Islands 30-minute Adventure Jet Boat Trip: $52
- Bay of Islands 2-Hour Sundowner Evening Sailing Cruise: $55
- Sundowner Evening Cruise - 2 hour evening sailing cruise with swim stop: $57
- Bay of Islands: Late Afternoon Sailing Cruise: $57
- Bay of Islands Waterfall Explorer Kayaking Tour: $58
- Bay of islands Waterfall Cruise Kayaking Tour: $58
- Bay of Islands Scenic Tour : $65
- Hole in the Rock Fast Boat Ocean Adventure: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCheju (Jeju) $7.04Paihia $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cheju (Jeju) and Paihia, we can see that Paihia is more expensive. And not only is Cheju (Jeju) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cheju (Jeju) 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 Cheju (Jeju) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cheju (Jeju) 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 Cheju (Jeju).
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cheju (Jeju) Expensive? and Is Paihia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cheju (Jeju) or Paihia?
Cheju (Jeju) has a larger population, and is about 210 times larger than the population of Paihia. When comparing the sizes of Cheju (Jeju) 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.