A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pai vs. Coffs Harbour for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pai or Coffs Harbour?

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 Coffs Harbour. 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 Coffs Harbour?

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.

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is in New South Wales between Brisbane and Sydney. Historically, Coffs Harbour has been a popular vacation destination among families, particularly Australian families. Most visitors today are families that are carrying on a longstanding tradition and bringing their children to the holiday destination of their childhood. You'll also find backpackers who spend up to a week here, dividing the trip between Sydney and Brisbane. The area has a well established tourist infrastructure that is not as trendy as that in Byron Bay, but it remains a wonderful community to visit if you're not looking for the party atmosphere.

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.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Coffs Harbour, we can see that Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Pai or Coffs Harbour?

Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour in the Summer?

Both Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

Pai is a little warmer than Coffs Harbour in the summer. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 23°C (74°F)in January.

It's quite sunny in Coffs Harbour. Pai usually receives less sunshine than Coffs Harbour during summer. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies, while Coffs Harbour receives 237 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Coffs Harbour. It's quite rainy in Pai. In July, Pai usually receives more rain than Coffs Harbourin January. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 187 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Pai or Coffs Harbour in the Autumn?

Both Coffs Harbour 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. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Coffs Harbour this time of year.

In the autumn, Pai is a little warmer than Coffs Harbour. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pai in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Coffs Harbour averages at about 20°C (67°F)in April.

In Coffs Harbour, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Pai. In the autumn, Pai often gets more sunshine than Coffs Harbourin April. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coffs Harbour receives 203 hours of full sun.

Coffs Harbour gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually gets less rain in October than Coffs Harbourin April. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 215 mm (8.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Coffs Harbour in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Coffs Harbour. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Coffs Harbour for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Pai is generally much warmer than Coffs Harbourin July. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 24°C (74°F), and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Coffs Harbour this time of the year. In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Coffs Harbour during winter. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Coffs Harbour receives 219 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Pai usually receives less rain than Coffs Harbourin July. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Pai or Coffs Harbour in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Pai as well as Coffs Harbour. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Coffs Harbour in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

It's very hot in Pai this time of the year. Pai is much warmer than Coffs Harbour in the spring. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 32°C (89°F) in April, and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 19°C (66°F)in October.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Coffs Harbour. 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 Coffs Harbourin October. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coffs Harbour receives 257 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Coffs Harbour. Pai usually gets less rain in April than Coffs Harbourin October. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Coffs Harbour and Pai