Which place is cheaper, Paihia or Luang Prabang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Luang Prabang or Paihia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Luang Prabang or Paihia, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Luang Prabang or Paihia?
Luang Prabang
Southeast Asia is a region full of mystical wonders and cultural charm, but nowhere is as charming as the city of Luang Prabang. As the former capital of Laos, Luang Prabang was reopened to tourism in 1989. With that move the city experienced an upswing in revenue and was able to restore and rebuild the beautiful colonial mansions to serve as guesthouses and hotels for the new swarm of tourists.
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 Laos, The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, The Best 10-Day Tours in New Zealand, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLuang Prabang $14Paihia $80
The average daily cost (per person) in Luang Prabang is $14, 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 Luang Prabang and Paihia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLuang Prabang $5.72Paihia $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLuang Prabang $11Paihia $66
Compare Hotels in Luang Prabang and Paihia
Looking for a hotel in Luang Prabang 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: Luang Prabang Hotel Prices and Paihia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Luang Prabang $2.11Paihia $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Luang Prabang
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Luang Prabang are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$2.36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luang Prabang
Also for Luang Prabang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Tortola island to Tortola Cruise Port: $81
- Luang Prabang Private Airport transfers: $9.00
- LPQ Airport: Private Transfer to/from Luang Prabang City: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Luang Prabang or Paihia?
Prices for flights to both Paihia and Luang Prabang 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 dayLuang Prabang $5.47Paihia $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Luang Prabang
For Luang Prabang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bamboo Weaving Workshop & Cooking Class: $44
- Day-time Bamboo weaving & Cooking Classes join-in: $44
- Evening Bamboo weaving & Cooking classes join-in: $47
- Mekong Sunset Cruise and Hot Pot Dinner: $50
- Luang Prabang Mekong Sunset Cruise and Hot Pot Dinner: $51
- Evening Cooking Class & Local Baci Ceremony: $51
- Laos Cooking Class in Luang Prabang: $55
- Cooking Class: $55
- Luang Prabang Evening food tour by Tuktuk: $56
- Luang Prabang Evening Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $57
- Luang Prabang Evening Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk : $58
- Full Day bamboo experience with cooking class & Kuang si waterfalls: $59
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.Luang Prabang $2.72Paihia $34
Tours and Activities in Luang Prabang
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Luang Prabang.
- 1 DAY Mekong Cruise to Pak Ou Caves. Kuang Si Waterfalls . Local Villages: $48
- Bike to Kuangsi Waterfall and Cruise the Mekong River Back - Luang Prabang 1 day: $170
- Biking & Kayaking through Nam Khan River Valley - Luang Prabang full day tour: $73
- Dine and Cruise on Mekong River: $66
- Elephant keeper experience option waterfall day tour: $115
- From Guided Mountain Bike Tour with Lunch: $42
- Full Day Kuang Si Warerfalls & Rice Farming Experience in Living Land: $95
- Full Day Private Tour in Luang Prabang: $164
- Full day / Half Day Kayaking and Pak Ou Caves with optional sunset cruise: $41
- Full-Day Luang Prabang Highlights Tour Including Kuangsi Waterfall: $85
- Full-Day Private Guided Pak Ou Caves & Ethnic Village Tour: $159
- Full-Day Private Tour in Luang Prabang with Vintage Jeep: $170
Tours and Activities in Paihia
For Paihia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Adrenalin Junkie Tour - 60 mins (min 2): $108
- *Popular Cruise Ship Tour* Bay of Islands and Glow Worm Caves Shore Excursion: $127
- 3 Hours // Hole in the Rock Cruise & Bay of Islands Tour: $75
- 3 Hours // Hole in the Rock Cruise & Island Stopover: $75
- Bay Combo Tour - 60 mins (min 2): $108
- Bay of Islands 2-Hour Sundowner Evening Sailing Cruise: $48
- Bay of Islands Cruise & Island Tour - Snorkel, Hike,Swim,Wildlife: $90
- Bay of Islands Discover the Bay cruise including Dolphins: $90
- Bay of Islands Half-Day Private Tour: $196
- Bay of Islands Waterfall Explorer Kayaking Tour: $59
- Bay of Islands and Hole in the Rock Scenic Helicopter Tour: $173
- Bay of Islands: 4.5 Hour Day Cruise and Island Getaway Tour: $74
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLuang Prabang $1.82Paihia $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 Luang Prabang and Paihia, we can see that Paihia is more expensive. And not only is Luang Prabang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Luang Prabang 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 Luang Prabang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Luang Prabang 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 Luang Prabang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Luang Prabang Expensive? and Is Paihia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Luang Prabang or Paihia?
Luang Prabang has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Paihia. When comparing the sizes of Luang Prabang 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.