Which place is cheaper, Darwin or Pai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pai or Darwin?
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 Darwin. 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 Darwin?
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.
Darwin
Darwin is a tropical city set against the Timor Sea in north central Australia. It is also the capital city of the Northern Territory. Despite being a relatively small city, Darwin is very diverse with residents from all over the world. The city itself has a very relaxed vibe with plenty to do. Visitors can enjoy everything from traditionally Asian style markets to culturally diverse events such as concerts, festivals or art shows.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Walking Tours in Australia, and The Best Eco Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $64Darwin $111
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $64, while the average daily cost in Darwin is $111. 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 Darwin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $14Darwin $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $28Darwin $124
Compare Hotels in Pai and Darwin
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Darwin? 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 Darwin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $37Darwin $12
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Darwin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Darwin:
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Shuttle to Train Station$9.73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darwin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Darwin:
- Private Transfer from Darwin Cruise Port to Darwin city hotels: $59
- Private Transfer from Darwin Cruise Port to Darwin Airport (DRW): $59
- Darwin to Darwin Int Airport (DRW) - Departure Private Transfer: $71
- Darwin Int Airport (DRW) to Darwin - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $142
- Crocodile Jumping Boat Cruise with Transfer from Darwin: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Darwin?
Prices for flights to both Darwin 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 $21Darwin $37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Darwin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Darwin.
- Sunset Harbour Cruise with Fish and Chips Dinner: $71
- Darwin Harbor Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $85
- Charles Darwin Dinner Cruise: $91
- Darwin Sunset Dinner Cruise on Cape Adieu: $96
- Sunset 3-Hour Cruise from Darwin with Dinner and Sparkling Wine: $112
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $40Darwin $15
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 Darwin
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Darwin are as follows:
- Horse Riding Adventure in the Outback: $285
- 1 Day Corroboree Billabong Wetland Experience including 2.5 hour cruise + lunch: $139
- 1 Hour Adelaide River Queen Jumping Crocodile Cruise: $26
- 1 Hour Jumping Crocodile Cruise on the Adelaide River: $30
- 4 Hour Self Guided Gourmet Lunch and Aboriginal Art Tours: $138
- 4-Hour Outback Gourmet Food & Aboriginal Art Tour: $165
- 4x4 Litchfield Park Adventures : $238
- Bombing of Darwin World War II Tour with Harbour Cruise: $99
- Crocosaurus Cove General Admission Ticket: $26
- Darwin City & Mindil Beach Sunset Market experience: $89
- Darwin City Explorer Tour: $103
- Darwin Combo: The Bombing of Darwin Experience & Darwin Harbour Cruise: $56
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $13Darwin $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Darwin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Darwin from other travelers:
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Evening at a Bar$16
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Glass of Wine$4.54
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Darwin, we can see that Darwin 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 Darwin 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 Darwin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Darwin 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 Darwin Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Darwin?
Darwin 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 Darwin in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Pai as well as Darwin. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Darwin for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Pai is around the same temperature as Darwin. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Darwin averages at about 29°C (83°F)in January.
In the summer, Pai often gets less sunshine than Darwinin January. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Darwin receives 173 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Darwin. Pai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai usually gets less rain in July than Darwinin January. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPai 29°C (85°F)Darwin 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Pai or Darwin in the Autumn?
Both Darwin and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Darwin because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In October, Pai is generally around the same temperature as Darwinin April. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Darwin fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
It's quite sunny in Darwin. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives less sunshine than Darwin during autumn. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Darwin receives 267 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Pai. In October, Pai usually receives more rain than Darwinin April. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPai 29°C (84°F)Darwin 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Pai or Darwin in the Winter?
Both Darwin 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. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Darwin this time of year.
Pai is around the same temperature as Darwin in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Darwin fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in July.
In Darwin, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Pai. In the winter, Pai often gets less sunshine than Darwinin July. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Darwin receives 312 hours of full sun.
Pai usually gets more rain in January than Darwinin July. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPai 24°C (74°F)Darwin 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Pai or Darwin in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Darwin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Darwin for the beaches.
The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is around the same temperature as Darwin. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Darwin averages at about 29°C (85°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Darwin 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 Darwin during spring. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Darwin receives 291 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Pai usually receives less rain than Darwinin October. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPai 32°C (89°F)Darwin 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Darwin and Pai
| Pai | Darwin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 343 mm (13.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 342 mm (13.5 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 234 mm (9.2 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.