Which place is cheaper, Adelaide or Pai?
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 Pai or Adelaide?
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 Pai and Adelaide. 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: Pai or Adelaide?
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.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the often overlooked capital city of the State of South Australia. It's also the fifth largest city in the country. Despite being skipped by most travelers, Adelaide is an interesting city to explore and has a decent amount to offer open minded travelers. It has some fascinating architecture, unique shopping, and wonderful cafes and restaurants. Part of the appeal of Adelaide is its location in the midst of Australia's wine regions, including McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, and Clare Valley. Any of these destinations could be visited as a day trip from Adelaide.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.
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Pai Prices
Thailand PricesAdelaide Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $91Adelaide $133
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $91, while the average daily cost in Adelaide is $133. 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 Pai and Adelaide in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $16Adelaide $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $32Adelaide $130
Compare Hotels in Pai and Adelaide
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Adelaide? 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: Pai Hotel Prices and Adelaide Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $42Adelaide $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Adelaide
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Adelaide are as follows:
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Shuttle from the Train Station$3.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Adelaide
Also for Adelaide, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Adelaide city to Adelaide Cruise Port: $60
- Private Transfer from Adelaide Port to Adelaide Airport (ADL): $60
- Private Transfer from Adelaide Cruise Port to Adelaide city: $60
- Private Transfer from Adelaide Airport (ADL) to Adelaide Port: $60
- Private Transfer Adelaide Airport ADL to Adelaide City & Port: $39
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Adelaide Airport: $54
- Private Arrival Transfer: Adelaide Airport to Hotel: $67
- Private Airport & Houseboat Transfers Adelaide Bus: $298
- One Day Kangaroo Island Sip & See tour with return ferry transfers from Adelaide: $261
- Departure Transfer: Adelaide to Airport ADL by Business Car: $78
- Departure Private Transfers: Adelaide to Adelaide Airport ADL in Luxury Van: $113
- Arrival Transfer: Airport ADL to Adelaide by Business Car: $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Adelaide?
Prices for flights to both Adelaide and Pai 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 dayPai $42Adelaide $54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Adelaide
For Adelaide, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- HandleBar Bike Tour with Pub Stops & Dinner Option: $30
- A Taste of Adelaide Central Markets Food Tour: $36
- Local Food Tour and Tastings with Guide: $65
- Four Hours Cooking Class in Adelaide Hills: $124
- Maggie Beer's Farm Cooking School and Seasonal Lunch: $131
- Small-Group River Murray Dark Sky and Sunset Tour with Dinner: $201
- Pipi Catching and Cooking Experience in Goolwa : $235
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $46Adelaide $14
Tours and Activities in Adelaide
For Adelaide, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Barossa Tour from 4 Tastings & Lunch Included": $109
- "Penfolds Magill Estate Luxury Wine & Gourmet Lunch Private Tour": $268
- 90 Minute Port River Dolphin & Ships Graveyard Cruise: $59
- Adelaide "Firsts" Walking Tour - From Grid Plans to Great Wine: $17
- Adelaide Central Market Tour with Lunch: $122
- Adelaide Central Markets: Food Walking Tour: $46
- Adelaide City Full-Day Tour: $155
- Adelaide City Highlights Full-Day Tour: $152
- Adelaide City Highlights Tour: $58
- Adelaide City Kayak Tour: $52
- Adelaide City and First Nations Cultural tour: $99
- Adelaide Cruise Ship Tours: $208
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $15Adelaide $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Adelaide
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Adelaide:
- Private Pinot Noir Wine Tasting & Platter in Adelaide Hills: $30
- Experience SA Private Barossa Wine Tour- Pickup is in the Barossa: $34
- Half-day McLaren Vale & Glenelg Wine Tasting Tour: $59
- McLaren Vale and Glenelg Wine Tasting and Sightseeing (Half-day Afternoon): $60
- Highlights, Hahndorf & McLaren Vale Wine Tasting: $89
- Adelaide Highlights, Hahndorf & McLaren Vale Wine Tasting and Sightseeing Tour: $91
- Epic Barossa Wine, Brewery, Chocolate, Lunch & Wildlife: $100
- Picnic and Wine Tasting Experience in the Barossa Valley: $104
- Adelaide Food Odyssey: Food Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $105
- Barossa Day Out: Wines, Brewery, Chocolate & Lunch: $105
- Discover Barossa: 4 Wine Tastings, Gourmet Lunch, and Hidden Gems: $114
- Barossa Premium Wine Tasting tour & Winery Lunch: $118
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Adelaide, we can see that Adelaide is more expensive. And not only is Pai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Pai is in Asia and Adelaide 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 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 Adelaide would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Adelaide 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 Pai Expensive? and Is Adelaide Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Adelaide?
Adelaide has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Pai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Pai or Adelaide in the Summer?
Both Adelaide and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Adelaide because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Pai is a little warmer than Adelaide in the summer. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Adelaide fluctuates around 22°C (72°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Adelaide. Pai usually receives less sunshine than Adelaide during summer. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies, while Adelaide receives 330 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Pai. In July, Pai usually receives more rain than Adelaidein January. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Adelaide receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPai 29°C (85°F)Adelaide 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Pai or Adelaide in the Autumn?
Both Adelaide and Pai during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Adelaide this time of year.
In the autumn, Pai is much warmer than Adelaide. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pai in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Adelaide averages at about 18°C (64°F)in April.
In Adelaide, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Pai. In the autumn, Pai often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Adelaidein April. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Adelaide receives 215 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually gets more rain in October than Adelaidein April. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Adelaide receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPai 29°C (84°F)Adelaide 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Pai or Adelaide in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Adelaide. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Also, many travelers come to Adelaide for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Pai is generally much warmer than Adelaidein July. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 24°C (74°F), and Adelaide fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Adelaide during winter. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Adelaide receives 159 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Pai usually receives less rain than Adelaidein July. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Adelaide receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPai 24°C (74°F)Adelaide 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Pai or Adelaide in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Pai as well as Adelaide. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Adelaide in the spring for the beaches.
It's very hot in Pai this time of the year. Pai is much warmer than Adelaide in the spring. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 32°C (89°F) in April, and Adelaide fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Adelaide. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In the spring, Pai often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Adelaidein October. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Adelaide receives 256 hours of full sun.
Pai usually gets more rain in April than Adelaidein October. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Adelaide receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPai 32°C (89°F)Adelaide 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Adelaide and Pai
| Pai | Adelaide | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 25 mm (1 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.