Which place is cheaper, Paihia or Krabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Krabi and Paihia can help you decide which place is right for you.
Krabi is a vibrant, colorful, and stunning town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.
Paihia is a beautiful, relaxing, and fun-filled coastal town. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Paihia. Although Krabi and Paihia are popular destinations, Paihia has more sights and attractions for tourists. Paihia is very popular for its food, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and hiking, while Krabi attracts visitors for its museums, resorts, shopping, and small town charm. Paihia is more touristy than Krabi and is known for its warm year round climate, impressive beaches, and world class snorkeling and scuba diving. It is also well known for the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Krabi is famous for its easy access to inland adventures and nearby island hopping as well as its lively night market.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Paihia and Krabi. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Krabi is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Paihia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.
Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Krabi. In the area you'll find mountain top temples such as Wat Tham Suea and natural spots such as Khao Khanap Nam Cave. In town there's the stunning Wat Kaew Korawaram temple as well.
If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Paihia. There are some interesting cultural sights in the area like the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and the Museum of Waitangi.
Paihia is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Krabi is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.
The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Paihia. Local seafood, regional produce, and fresh ingredients make dining in the area a rewarding experience. You'll find fine dining restaurants, pizzerias, and local cafes to choose from.
Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Krabi. It's not particularly known for its culinary scene, but Krabi Town does have great street food and a lively night market. For some of the best restaurants, head to Chao Fah Road.
The nice nightlife scene is relatively similar in Krabi and Paihia.
With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Krabi. There's a decent live music scene, but in general the town is quiet at night. There's also a good night market.
Paihia has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. As a holiday spot, there are a number of clubs and bars that cater to tourists in the area.
Krabi is a decent place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Paihia is not a resort destination.
Not known for its high-end resorts, Krabi offers a few options. There's no real beach in town, so the better resorts are found at nearby beach towns.
Paihia is not a resort destination.
Paihia is a very popular place for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Krabi is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
There is a nice variety of marine life that makes scuba diving and snorkeling great in Paihia. There are scuba diving and snorkel shops available around town where you can organize trips and excursions to experience the undersea world.
Krabi is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
Paihia is an amazing coastal town to visit for its beaches. However, Krabi is lacking in good options for the beache.
With world-famous beaches, Paihia is a very popular vacation destination. There are stunning beaches both in Paihia and throughout the Bay of Islands. Paihia Beach is in town. It's small but nice and makes a great picnic spot. For a more secluded spot head to Matauri Bay Beach or Takou Bay.
You can check out the beach in Krabi. The town itself has no beach, so you'll need to take a day trip to nearby Railay Beach or Ao Nang.
Paihia is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Krabi is not a hiking destination.
Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Paihia. The Bay of Islands is filled with coastal walks and peaceful hikes. This is a great way to soak up the area's atmosphere and take in some spectacular views.
Krabi is not a hiking destination.
Krabi is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Paihia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.
Krabi is well-known for its shopping. The town's night market is fun to explore. There's also the popular Krabi Town Walking Street (where you'll find the night market) as well as some larger stores and small malls near town.
Many visitors go to Paihia to go shopping. There are plenty of retail stores around town where you can pick up clothes or enjoy some souvenir shopping.
Paihia is an amazing coastal town to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Krabi is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.
Paihia is one of the most popular family destinations. Beaches, dolphin spotting, ice cream, and chocolate factories make the Bay of Islands the perfect place for a family vacation. There are amazing walking trails like the Manginangina Kauri Walk and opportunities to learn about the Maori culture. There are also adventure spots and great beaches.
Krabi is a very kid-friendly town. The town makes a great base for island hopping and exploring the province of Krabi. Nearby you'll find Krabi Fun Park, which includes a ropes course. There are also caves nearby to explore and plenty of stunning natural beauty.
Paihia is an amazing coastal town to visit for romance. Also, Krabi is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.
For those traveling as a couple, Paihia has plenty to offer. You can enjoy sunset boat cruises, sip wine with a waterfront view, or walk through pristine natural areas. For thrill seekers there are adrenaline filled activities like parasailing or scuba diving.
Couples visit Krabi frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. There's easy access to many beautiful areas with caves, viewpoints, and beaches. Krabi Walking Street also has great restaurants and a lively night market.
Paihia is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Krabi is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.
Paihia is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There are a handful of hostels around town as well as many great activities for backpackers like scuba diving or parasailing.
It's common for backpackers to visit Krabi. The town has a more local vibe, as many backpackers head on to Ao Nang or Railay Beach. You'll find affordable accommodation here though, as well as easy access to some great excursions.
Paihia is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, Krabi is lacking in good options for its public transit.
Paihia has some public transit options. There are ferries and some intercity buses through the Bay of Islands.
Public transit is generally limited in Krabi. There's no real public transit so you'll need to get around by rental car, motorbike, or songthaew truck (pickup trucks with seats in back).
Krabi and Paihia are nice when it comes to walkability.
Krabi is somewhat walkable. There's a walking street and a few parts of town that are relatively walkable.
Paihia is a somewhat walkable place. It's possible to explore parts of the town on foot.
For even more information, also check out Is Krabi Worth Visiting? and Is Paihia Worth Visiting?.
In either Krabi or Paihia, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Paihia than Krabi because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Krabi, and 3-5 days is enough time in Paihia.
Families should spend more time in Paihia than Krabi. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Paihia, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Paihia than Krabi. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Paihia that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Paihia than Krabi if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Paihia.
Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Krabi. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
In Paihia, many people enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling that this fun-filled destination offers. It's also a great beach destination, too. Lots of people come for the beaches. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.
Krabi is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Paihia. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Krabi. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Paihia is a fun place to experience. In Paihia, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this destination offers. Lots of people come for the beaches. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.
Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the colorful destination of Krabi. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
You'll find museums and nightlife around the beautiful destination of Paihia. Most people come for the beaches. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the beaches. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 10-Day Tours in New Zealand, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $55, 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 Krabi and Paihia in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Krabi 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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Paihia and Krabi 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.
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Paihia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
For Paihia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Krabi:
Also in Paihia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krabi and Paihia, we can see that Paihia is more expensive. And not only is Krabi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Krabi 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 Krabi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Krabi 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 Krabi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Krabi Expensive? and Is Paihia Expensive?.
Krabi has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Paihia. When comparing the sizes of Krabi 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.