Which place is cheaper, Beijing 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 Beijing?
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 Beijing. 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 Beijing?
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.
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Pai Prices
Thailand PricesBeijing Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $91Beijing $91
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $91, while the average daily cost in Beijing is $91. 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 Beijing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $16Beijing $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $32Beijing $80
Compare Hotels in Pai and Beijing
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Beijing? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $42Beijing $7.83
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
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Taxi$4.78
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Train from Airport for Two$7.01
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Taxi to Hotel$8.41
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2 Metro Passes$2.24
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Metro$0.56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
- [Airport Transfer] Beijing Capital Airport ⇔ Beijing City Transfer (one way) ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $25
- VIP Mutianyu Great Wall Tour: Expert Guide & Private Transfer: $87
- Universal Beijing Resort Private Transfer one way, City/Airport: $45
- Ultimate Forbidden City and Mutianyu Great Wall Discovery with Airport Transfer: $186
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Beijing APT-HTL (PEK): $41
- Transfer: Beijing City Center to Beijing Airport (PEK): $42
- Transfer: Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) to Beijing City: $40
- Transfer to Daxing Intl Airport : $60
- Transfer to Beijing Capital Intl Airport : $35
- Transfer from Daxing Intl Airport : $60
- Tianjin Port Private transfers to Beijing Hotel&optionals: $219
- Tianjin International Cruise Port to Beijing Capital Airport by private transfer: $148
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Beijing?
Prices for flights to both Beijing 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 $42Beijing $34
Typical Food Prices in Beijing
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
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Popcorn$0.84
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Hot Pot Dinner$7.01
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Dumpling Breakfast for Two$2.80
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Watermelon$1.96
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Peking Duck Dinner for 2$17
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Two Popsicles$0.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
- Online Cooking Class Kungpao Chicken: $20
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Orange Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $45
- Beijing Acrobatic Show Tickets w/ Optional Dinner or Transfer: $48
- Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $54
- China's Favourite Street Food Cooking Workshop: $55
- Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
- Private Local Food Tour in Beijing with a Local Guide: $59
- Beijing Walking Food Tour with a Local Friend: $60
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Center Beijing: $70
- Beijing Hidden Hutong Bike & Food Tour - Pro Photos Included: $71
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $46Beijing $24
Typical Entertainment Prices in Beijing
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Summer Palace for Two$8.41
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Two Opera Tickets$60
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Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)$9.81
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Forbidden City (for 2)$17
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Forbidden City Tickets$17
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Audio Guides at Forbidden City$11
Tours and Activities in Beijing
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Day Mutianyu Great Wall and Beijing Airport Drop off Tour: $235
- 4-Hour Beijing Layover Tour to Hutong from Daxing Airport: $145
- All Inclusive Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Private Tour: $188
- All Inclusive Private Tour: Juyongguan Greatwall, Sacred Road, MingTombs : $180
- Beijing 2 Summer Palace Private Garden Tour: $140
- Beijing Layover Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall with English Driver : $121
- Beijing Private Tour of Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, Bird's Nest and Water Cube: $297
- China Art Museum and 798 Art Zone Private Tour: $137
- China National Museum Ticket Pre-booking and Tiananmen Square : $9.50
- Forbidden City Private Walking Tour with Optional Sights: $81
- Forbidden City Tour : $116
- Forbidden city with Tian'anmen square layover tour of Beijing : $240
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $15Beijing $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
- Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing: $110
- Tipsy Travel: Beijing Local Food and Bar Crawl night in Hutong: $158
- 5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing: $178
- Beijing Brewery Bike Tour: $199
- Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour and Mutianyu Great Wall Visit: $238
When comparing the travel costs between Pai and Beijing, we can see that Pai is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pai Expensive? and Is Beijing Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Beijing?
Beijing 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 Beijing in the Summer?
Both Beijing and Pai during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Beijing because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Pai is generally around the same temperature as Beijing. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (85°F), and Beijing fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Pai often gets less sunshine than Beijing. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beijing receives 224 hours of full sun.
Beijing gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually gets more rain in July than Beijing. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPai 29°C (85°F)Beijing 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Pai or Beijing in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Beijing. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Beijing this time of year.
Pai is much warmer than Beijing in the autumn. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Beijing fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Beijing during autumn. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Beijing receives 227 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Pai usually receives more rain than Beijing. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPai 29°C (84°F)Beijing 14°C (56°F)
Should I visit Pai or Beijing in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Pai as well as Beijing. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Beijing for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Beijing. In the winter, Pai is much warmer than Beijing. Typically, the winter temperatures in Pai in January average around 24°C (74°F), and Beijing averages at about -4°C (26°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In the winter, Pai often gets more sunshine than Beijing. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beijing receives 201 hours of full sun.
Pai usually gets more rain in January than Beijing. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPai 24°C (74°F)Beijing -4°C (26°F)
Should I visit Pai or Beijing in the Spring?
Both Beijing and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Beijing in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Pai can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Pai is generally much warmer than Beijing. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 32°C (89°F), and Beijing fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
It's quite sunny in Beijing. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Beijing during spring. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Beijing receives 247 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Pai usually receives more rain than Beijing. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPai 32°C (89°F)Beijing 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Beijing and Pai
| Pai | Beijing | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | -1°C (29°F) | 2 mm (0.1 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.