Which place is cheaper, Da Nang or Pai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pai or Da Nang?
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 Da Nang. 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 Da Nang?
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.
Da Nang
Halfway between Ho Chi Minh City in the south and Hanoi in the North is the easy-going beach city of Da Nang (or Danang, for some). The third most populated city in Vietnam, Da Nang draws in crowds with its beautiful and calm beaches as well as its history as a French colonial port.
With beaches, mountains, and cityscape, there's bound to be a point of interest for all travelers. Da Nang is also a transit hub to get to the four Vietnamese UNESCO World heritage sites: Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, Hue, Hoi An, and My Son.
Da Nang experiences wet season from September through March and dry season from April through August with average temperatures of around 80℉.
Da Nang is also known to have some of the friendliest locals, probably due to the peace and quiet and lack of heavy traffic, even in the city.
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 Vietnam, and The Best Eco Tours in Vietnam.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $64Da Nang $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $64, while the average daily cost in Da Nang is $46. 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 Da Nang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $14Da Nang $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $28Da Nang $38
Compare Hotels in Pai and Da Nang
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Da Nang? 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 Da Nang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $37Da Nang $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pai
Also for Pai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Pa Pae Meditation: Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $70
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to or from Pai(Mae Hong Son): $107
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $132
- Chiang Mai City to/from Pai Hotel: Private Transfer: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $149
- Transfer and Tour to Pai / Chiang Mai: $149
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Da Nang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Da Nang:
- Vietnam Airport Transfers: $13
- Try find better than us! Airport Transfer in Da Nang HTL-APT (DAD): $10
- Try find better than us! Airport Transfer in Da Nang APT-HTL (DAD): $10
- Transfer: Center Danang - BRG Golf Resort: $55
- Transfer from Danang to Ba Na hills get free to Marble mountains: $66
- Transfer from Da Nang to Hue : $70
- Transfer from Da Nang to Hoi An: $8.00
- Transfer from Da Nang or Hoi An to Hue via Bach Ma National Park: $81
- Transfer between Da Nang Railway Station and Hoi An: Arrival or Departure: $31
- Transfer From Hoi An to Da Nang Airport or Train station.: $21
- Transfer Danang Airport to Intercontinenal Danang Resort: $31
- Tours/transfer from Hoi An/Da Nang to Bana/Golden Bridge: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Da Nang?
Prices for flights to both Da Nang 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 $21Da Nang $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Da Nang
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Da Nang.
- Dragon bridge show and Da Nang local food tour: $4.10
- Home Cooking Class: $22
- Vegetarian Cooking class and Basket Boat Riding: $25
- Happy Cooking Class in Danang : $26
- Cooking Class and tasting Pho with Local Girl: $29
- Vegetarian Home Cooking Class Da Nang: $29
- Eco Cooking Class and Basket boat tour from Da Nang city: $29
- Da Nang Home Cooking Class: $29
- Da Nang Street Walking Food Tour : $29
- Basket Boat Riding and Cooking Class from Da Nang City : $29
- Da Nang Vegetarian Cooking Class: $29
- Making Lantern & Basket Boat & Happy Cooking Class: $30
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $40Da Nang $13
Tours and Activities in Pai
For Pai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jungle Tipsy Tubing Experience with Shots: $6.76
Tours and Activities in Da Nang
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Da Nang are as follows:
- Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge Full-Day Tour: $93
- DA NANG CITY SUNSET - Private Guided Tour : $92
- Experience Hoi an Rural Eco Tour from Da Nang or Hoi An city: $76
- Full-Day Tour to Discover Hue's Imperial Heritage : $56
- GOLDEN BRIDGE BA NA HILLS & MARBLE MOUNTAIN -Private Guided Tour: $148
- Golden Bridge Ba Na Hill-Early start to Avoid Crowds-PrivateTour: $138
- Golden Bridge- Early Departure & Marble Mountains- Private Tour: $133
- HOI AN COUNTRYSIDE & MARBLE MOUNTAIN Private Tour from Hoi An or Da Nang city: $82
- Hoi An Countryside Tour with 3 Villages & Hoi An City Tour: $128
- HoiAn Walking Tour with RiverBoat-Night Market-Colourful Lantern: $77
- Hue City 1 Day Private Tour From Hoi An or Da Nang: $130
- INSTAGRAM Tour - Da Nang & Hoi An city Private Tour ( 11 Hours): $140
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $13Da Nang $9.39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Da Nang, we can see that Pai is more expensive. And not only is Da Nang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Da Nang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Da Nang 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 Da Nang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pai Expensive? and Is Da Nang Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Da Nang?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Pai or Da Nang in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Pai as well as Da Nang. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Da Nang throughout the year.
Also, January to July in Da Nang is the dry season. August to December in Da Nang is the rainy season. Pai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai usually gets more rain in July than Da Nang. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Da Nang receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Da Nang. In the summer, Pai often gets less sunshine than Da Nang. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Da Nang receives 242 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Pai is around the same temperature as Da Nang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Da Nang averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPai 29°C (85°F)Da Nang 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Pai or Da Nang in the Autumn?
Both Da Nang and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Da Nang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Da Nang is August to December. It rains a lot this time of the year in Da Nang. It's quite rainy in Pai. In October, Pai usually receives less rain than Da Nang. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Da Nang receives 613 mm (24.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Da Nang during autumn. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Da Nang receives 158 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Pai is generally a little warmer than Da Nang. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Da Nang fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPai 29°C (84°F)Da Nang 25°C (78°F)
Should I visit Pai or Da Nang in the Winter?
Both Da Nang and Pai during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Da Nang year-round.
January to July is the dry season in Da Nang. Da Nang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pai usually gets less rain in January than Da Nang. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Da Nang receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Pai. In the winter, Pai often gets more sunshine than Da Nang. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Da Nang receives 136 hours of full sun.
Pai is around the same temperature as Da Nang in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Da Nang fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPai 24°C (74°F)Da Nang 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Pai or Da Nang in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Da Nang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Da Nang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Pai usually receives more rain than Da Nang. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Da Nang receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Da Nang this time of the year. In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Da Nang during spring. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Da Nang receives 210 hours of full sun in the spring.
The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is a little warmer than Da Nang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Da Nang averages at about 26°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPai 32°C (89°F)Da Nang 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Da Nang and Pai
| Pai | Da Nang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 613 mm (24.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 376 mm (14.8 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 223 mm (8.8 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.