Which place is cheaper, Pai or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dubai or Pai?
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 Dubai and Pai can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or Pai?
Dubai
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.
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 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, 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 dayDubai $248Pai $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $248, 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 Dubai and Pai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Pai $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Pai $28
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Pai
Looking for a hotel in Dubai 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: Dubai Hotel Prices and Pai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Pai $37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
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Taxi Ride$12
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Airport Taxi$12
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Sea Taxi$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yellow Boat Tour Dubai with Private Transfers: $95
- Yellow Boat Tour Dubai With Private Transfers: $102
- Yellow Boat Ride in Dubai with Private Transfers: $110
- Xline Dubai Marina Zipline Experience With Transfers Option: $243
- Xline Dubai Marina Zipline Experience Dubai with Transfers Option: $247
- Wild Wadi tickets with Transfers: $100
- Wild Wadi Waterpark tickets with Private transfer: $154
- Wild Wadi Waterpark Entrance Ticket -Dubai with Transfers Option: $99
- Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai Ticket With Private Transfer: $125
- Wild Wadi WaterPark Ticket with Optional Transfers and Meal: $78
- Wild Wadi Water Park Ticket with Transfer from Dubai: $131
- Wild Wadi Dubai water park Ticket with 1 way transfer in Dubai: $110
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pai
Also for Pai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $149
- Transfer and Tour to Pai / Chiang Mai: $149
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $132
- Chiang Mai City to/from Pai Hotel: Private Transfer: $132
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to or from Pai(Mae Hong Son): $107
- Pa Pae Meditation: Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Pai?
Prices for flights to both Pai and Dubai 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 dayDubai $56Pai $21
Typical Food Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
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French bread$0.95
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Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice$10
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Lemon Mint Tea$4.36
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Coffee & Cake$6.54
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Smoothie$5.45
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Shawarma$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Dubai Creek with Buffet Dinner: $14
- Dubai:Desert Safari BBQ dinner, Dune bashing,Camel&Sandboarding: $14
- Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet in Dubai: $14
- Scenic Dhow Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Live Shows: $14
- 2-Hour Evening Dhow Cruise and Dinner: $15
- Romantic Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner: $15
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner in Dubai Creek: $17
- Dubai Creek Dhow Cruise Dinner: $18
- Desert Safari with Dinner and Live Show: $18
- Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet: $18
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner: $19
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Creek: $19
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubai $19Pai $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Visit to the Dubai Museum$0.82
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
- 60 Minutes Dubai Yellow Boat Marina Tour: $78
- Abu Dhabi City Tour Including Ferrari World Ticket : $170
- Bur Dubai Abra Tour and Boat Ride with Museum of Illusions : $135
- Burj Khalifa Observation deck Dubai Admission Ticket : $71
- Classical Dubai Highlights City Tour : $44
- DXB Tour and Aquaventure water park & lost Chambers PRIVATE tour: $215
- Dubai (Marina Luxury Yacht) Tour with BF : $95
- Dubai (Marina Luxury Yacht) Tour with Breakfast: $105
- Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo Explorer Tickets: $95
- Dubai City Tour : Half Day: $45
- Dubai City Tour(Full Day) with Burj Khalifa Ticket 'At the Top' : $225
- Dubai Frame Entry Ticket: $22
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 dayDubai $23Pai $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
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A Couple Drinks$25
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubai
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubai:
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tours: $66
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour: $67
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Pai, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Pai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai 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 Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai 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 Dubai Expensive? and Is Pai Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Dubai or Pai?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Dubai or Pai in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Dubai and Pai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dubai year-round. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
June to August in Dubai is the dry season. Pai receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Dubai usually receives less rain than Pai. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Pai receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The heat can be very extreme in Dubai. In the summer, Dubai is a little warmer than Pai. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dubai in July average around 35°C (95°F), and Pai averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDubai 35°C (95°F)Pai 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Pai in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Dubai as well as Pai. Dubai 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. Dubai usually gets less rain in October than Pai. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Pai receives 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Dubai is generally around the same temperature as Pai. Daily temperatures in Dubai average around 29°C (84°F), and Pai fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDubai 29°C (84°F)Pai 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Pai in the Winter?
Both Pai and Dubai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dubai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Dubai is January to March. In January, Dubai usually receives less rain than Pai. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Pai receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Dubai is cooler than Pai in the winter. The daily temperature in Dubai averages around 19°C (66°F) in January, and Pai fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDubai 19°C (66°F)Pai 24°C (74°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Pai in the Spring?
Both Pai and Dubai during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dubai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round.
June to August is the dry season in Dubai. Dubai usually gets less rain in April than Pai. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Pai receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
Pai can become quite hot in the spring. In the spring, Dubai is cooler than Pai. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dubai in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Pai averages at about 32°C (89°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDubai 26°C (79°F)Pai 32°C (89°F)
Typical Weather for Pai and Dubai
| Dubai | Pai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 20 mm (0.8 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.