Which place is cheaper, Dunedin 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 Dunedin?
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 Dunedin. 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 Dunedin?
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.
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second largest city on the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the southeast coast and is largely Scottish in its heritage. It is part of the Otago region and has mild temperatures during the spring and summer, but extremely cold temperatures during the end of fall and winter. Dunedin is a university town; The University of Otago is the oldest in New Zealand, established in 1869. The students make up over a tenth of the entire city's population.
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 New Zealand, and The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand.
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Pai Prices
Thailand PricesDunedin Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $91Dunedin $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $91, while the average daily cost in Dunedin is $122. 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 Dunedin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $16Dunedin $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $32Dunedin $102
Compare Hotels in Pai and Dunedin
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Dunedin? 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 Dunedin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $42Dunedin $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Dunedin?
Prices for flights to both Dunedin 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 $42Dunedin $49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $46Dunedin $17
Tours and Activities in Dunedin
Here are a few actual costs in Dunedin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Shared Dunedin City & Otago Peninsula Scenery Day Tour up to 10: $134
- Shore Excursion: V8 Trike, Peninsula and City Tour: $48
- Albatross, seals, and sea birds-Wildlife Cruise: $101
- Captivating Side of Dunedin Walking Tour for Couples: $554
- Castle, Coast & City Tour - 8 pax max - Castle Entrance Included: $142
- Clearwater Wildlife Tours (small group 10max) Otago Peninsula: $134
- Cruise Dunedin City and Castle Tour: $115
- Dunedin 4 Hrs halfday Private Tour : $233
- Dunedin City & Otago Peninsula Scenery Day Tour: $130
- Dunedin City Highlights & Larnach Castle Tour: $143
- Dunedin City Highlights, Otago Peninsula Scenery & Albatross Guided Tour: $177
- Dunedin City Highlights, Otago Peninsula Scenery & a Guided Penguin Reserve Tour: $177
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $15Dunedin $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Dunedin
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dunedin:
- Speight's Brewery Tour & Guided Tasting: $27
- Speight's Brewery Guided Tour with Tasting: $27
- City Sights Tour, Distillery & Lunch all inclusive: $138
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Dunedin, we can see that Dunedin 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 Dunedin 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 Dunedin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dunedin 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 Dunedin 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.