Which place is cheaper, Paihia or Chengdu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Chengdu 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 Chengdu 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: Chengdu or Paihia?
Chengdu
Chengdu is in China's Sichuan Provence and is in what is known as the Red Basin. It is a particularly fertile region in China that is known for its agriculture. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as the "Land of Milk and Honey". The Funan River cuts through the city but has almost no boat traffic anymore. The city itself has a wonderful relaxed vibe compared to the rest of China and is filled with green parks and places to relax. It is considered one of the most livable cities in China.
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 China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best 10-Day Tours in New Zealand, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChengdu $52Paihia $85
The average daily cost (per person) in Chengdu is $52, while the average daily cost in Paihia is $85. 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 Chengdu and Paihia in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChengdu $21Paihia $36
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChengdu $42Paihia $72
Compare Hotels in Chengdu and Paihia
Looking for a hotel in Chengdu 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chengdu $6.09Paihia $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
- [Airport Transfer] Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport Kosheng City Transfer High reputation for service! : $22
- Round-Trip Private Transfer between Emei Shan and Chengdu City: $113
- Private Transfer to Leshan Giant Buddha: $138
- Private Transfer from Chengdu to TFU or CTU Airport: $171
- Private Transfer from Chengdu to Sanxingdui Museum: $143
- Private Transfer from Chengdu Hotel to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport: $52
- Private Transfer from Chengdu Hotel to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport: $52
- Private Transfer from Chengdu Downtown to Airport: $140
- Private Round-Trip Transfer:Chengdu Shuangliu Airport or Chengdu : $67
- Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Any Railway Station in Chengdu : $28
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu International Airport (CTU): $23
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu Airport (CTU or TFU): $34
Is it cheaper to fly into Chengdu or Paihia?
Prices for flights to both Paihia and Chengdu 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
-
Food Meals for one dayChengdu $22Paihia $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
- Sichuan Opera Face-Changing Show And Hotpot Dinner Evening Tour: $40
- Discovery more Chengdu evening food tour with locals : $55
- Eat with Locals Chengdu Dinner Tour : $61
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats: $69
- Half-Day Professional Mapo Tofu Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $69
- Half Day Chengdu Tofu Making Class with Mapo Tofu Cooking: $72
- Half day Sichuan Cuisine Cooking Class Tour(Cooking 3 dishes): $75
- Half-Day Chengdu Cooking Class with Local Market Visit: $75
- Chengdu Evening Food Tour: $76
- Tuk Tuk Food Tour with Unlimited Beer and Soda: $79
- Half-Day Chinese Bun Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $80
- Spicy Local Food Tour through Chengdu: $80
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chengdu $16Paihia $37
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Chengdu Leshan Buddha and Drop off off Railway Station Day Tour: $226
- Chengdu Private Day Tour to the Leshan Giant Buddha and Huanglongxi Old Town: $248
- Chinese Traditional Massage Experience In Chengdu: $90
- Private Chengdu Panda Base and Sichuan Cuisine Museum Day Tour: $120
- Private Chengdu day Tour of panda base with Leshan giant Buddha: $298
- Private Full Day Chengdu Panda Base and Jinsha Site Museum Tour: $136
- Private Leshan Buddha Day Tour with Local Market visiting: $160
- 1 Day Wolong Panda Nature Reserve Tour: $218
- 1 day Chengdu City Highlights Mini Group tour: $102
- 1-Day Chengdu Ancient History and Culture City Tour: $179
- 1-Day Chengdu Cultural Discovery:Jinsha,Shu Brocade Museum & Dufu Cottage Tour : $189
- 1-Day Chengdu Leshan Giant Buddha Private Tour With the Lunch and Boat tour: $242
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: $49
- Sundowner Evening Cruise - 2 hour evening sailing cruise with swim stop: $51
- Bay of Islands 30-minute Adventure Jet Boat Trip: $55
- Bay of Islands Trike Tour Experience: $55
- Bay of Islands: Late Afternoon Sailing Cruise: $61
- Bay of islands Waterfall Cruise Kayaking Tour: $62
- Thriller Tour - Bay of Islands, 30 mins (min 2): $63
- Scenic Tour - Bay of Islands, 30 mins (min2): $63
- Bay of Islands Scenic Tour : $69
- Glass Bottom Boat Tour to the Hole in the Rock: $71
- Parasailing Adventure Over the Bay of Islands: $73
- Hole in the Rock Fast Boat Ocean Adventure: $74
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayChengdu $4.04Paihia $24
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: $118
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chengdu and Paihia, we can see that Paihia is more expensive. And not only is Chengdu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Chengdu 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 Chengdu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chengdu 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 Chengdu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chengdu Expensive? and Is Paihia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chengdu or Paihia?
Chengdu has a larger population, and is about 2030 times larger than the population of Paihia. When comparing the sizes of Chengdu 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.