Which place is cheaper, Bandung 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 Bandung?
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 Bandung. 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 Bandung?
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.
Bandung
Bandung is the capital city of West Java, and the third largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta and Surabaya. Nicknamed Parijs van Java (Paris of Java) by the Dutch for its resemblance to Paris and European atmosphere back in colonial times, Bandung also earned another nickname as Kota Kembang, literally meaning the Flower City since Bandung used to have a lot of flowers. Nowadays, Bandung has become a very popular weekend escape for Jakartans, who crowd the city on weekends and national holidays. It's known for colonial and art deco architecture, a lively, university-town feel and relatively cool tropical weather. Bandung is also a shopping destination, with fashion outlets clustered along Jalan Setiabudi and Jalan Riau in the Dago district. The city also make a good base for day trips to the surrounding countryside - high volcanic peaks, hot springs, and tea plantations are all within reach.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia.
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Pai Prices
Thailand PricesBandung Prices
Indonesia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $91Bandung $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $91, while the average daily cost in Bandung is $48. 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 Bandung in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $16Bandung $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $32Bandung $40
Compare Hotels in Pai and Bandung
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Bandung? 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 Bandung Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $42Bandung $5.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bandung
Also for Bandung, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Kec. Batununggal Kel. Kacapiring 40271 to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
- Private Transfer from Sunyaragi to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $184
- Private Transfer from Sukatani Purwakarta Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $128
- Private Transfer from Sukatani Cikarang to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $58
- Private Transfer from Sukatani Bekasi to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $58
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi, Sukamakmur, Bogor to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $80
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Sukamakmur Bogor to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $66
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Garut Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $196
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Cianjur Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $119
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Bekasi to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $66
- Private Transfer from Sukarasa bandung to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $119
- Private Transfer from Sukarasa Kuningan Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $196
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Bandung?
Prices for flights to both Bandung 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 $42Bandung $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bandung
For Bandung, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Indonesian Cooking Class with Welcoming Exotic Fruits: $32
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $46Bandung $5.45
Tours and Activities in Bandung
For Bandung, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 7 Hour Private Bandung City Tour : $148
- BANDUNG : MAKE CUSTOMIZED TOUR WITH CAR CHARTER AND DRIVER: $78
- Bandung : White Crater, Tea Plantation Tour Guide Bandung: $66
- Bandung Crater Adventure Hotspring and Mud Bath: $70
- Bandung One Day Tour Package: $160
- Bandung Tour All In, White Crater, Volcano Mountain, Hot Spring : $52
- Bandung Tour Volcano, Hotsprings, Mud, Tea, Lunch all Included: $60
- Bandung Volcano Sightseeing and Hot Spring Private Tour: $43
- Kawah Putih Day Tours: $59
- Sanghyang Kenit Cave and Rainbow Waterfall Tour: $62
- Tangkuban Parahu Volcano & Surrounding Areas Tour: $44
- Batukaras Countryside & Canyon Tour: $74
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $15Bandung $3.32
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Bandung, we can see that Pai is more expensive. And not only is Bandung much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bandung would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bandung 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 Pai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pai than you might in Bandung.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pai Expensive? and Is Bandung Expensive?.
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.