Which place is cheaper, Guangzhou or Pai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pai or Guangzhou?
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 Guangzhou. 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 Guangzhou?
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.
Guangzhou
With a population of more than 12 million, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Though it has a long history, founded in 214 BC, the city has also many modern attractions, a mix of the old and new with temples and parks as well as skyscrapers and shopping centers. Its location on the Pearl River has contributed to this growth, making Guangzhou a major port and commercial hub.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $64Guangzhou $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $64, while the average daily cost in Guangzhou is $89. 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 Guangzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $14Guangzhou $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $28Guangzhou $114
Compare Hotels in Pai and Guangzhou
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Guangzhou? 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 $37Guangzhou $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pai
Also for Pai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Mai City to/from Pai Hotel: Private Transfer: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $149
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to or from Pai(Mae Hong Son): $107
- Pa Pae Meditation: Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $70
- Transfer and Tour to Pai / Chiang Mai: $149
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- Zhuhai City Private Arrival Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Int'l Airport : $108
- Private Transfer: Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Nan Railway Station: $38
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou South Railway Station to Baiyun Airport : $53
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN) to Shekou Port: $68
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou City Center to South Railway Station: $49
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Hotel: $88
- Private Transfer between Guangzhou and Shenzhen City Area: $104
- Private Transfer between Guangzhou Baiyun Mountain and City Area: $44
- Private Guided Guangzhou Pearl River Cruise Tour With Hotel Transfer: $109
- Private Baiyun Airport Transfer to Guangzhou Railway or East Railway Station: $49
- Private Arrival Transfer in English-speaking: Airport to Hotel: $99
- Pearl River Night Cruise with Private Transfers in Guangzhou: $129
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Guangzhou?
Prices for flights to both Guangzhou 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 $21Guangzhou $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
- Guangzhou Evening Food Tour Through Local Neighborhood: $65
- Guangzhou Night View Cruise Tour with Dinner: $90
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour VIP Cruise and Dim-Sum Dinner Option: $146
- 3-Hour Guangzhou Private Cooking Class with Local Market Visit : $165
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner: $176
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Michelin Restaurant&Local Food Market: $180
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Yumcha and Local Food Market Explore: $180
- Guangzhou Private Night Tour: Lychee Bay, Beijing Road, Cruise, Dinner: $204
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $40Guangzhou $18
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 Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guangzhou Self-Guided Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $75
- Liuxihe National Forest Park Private Day Tour from Guangzhou: $266
- Private Tour of Foshan: The Ancestral Temple and Other Options from Guangzhou : $167
- 1 Day Historical Guangzhou Layover Tour from Airport: $260
- 4 Hours Half Day Guangzhou Airport Layover Visa-Free Private Tour: $180
- 4-Hour Baiyun Mountain Yuntai Garden Private Guangzhou City Tour: $180
- 5-Hour Sai Kwan Walking Tour with Unique Food Tasting: $72
- AAAAA Top National Natural Preserve Dinghu Mountain Private Tour: $300
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Lotus Hill and Shawan Old Town from Guangzhou: $229
- Ancient Foshan Day Tour from Guangzhou: $201
- Best of Guangzhou City Sightseeing: $110
- Big Buddha Mountain Martial Art Culture Countryside Private Tour: $220
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $13Guangzhou $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Guangzhou, we can see that Guangzhou is more expensive. And not only is Pai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Guangzhou would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Guangzhou?
Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou in the Summer?
Both Guangzhou 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.
Pai is around the same temperature as Guangzhou in the summer. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Guangzhou fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
In Guangzhou, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Pai often gets less sunshine than Guangzhou. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Guangzhou receives 220 hours of full sun.
Guangzhou gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Guangzhou. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPai 29°C (85°F)Guangzhou 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Pai or Guangzhou in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Guangzhou. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round.
In the autumn, Pai is a little warmer than Guangzhou. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pai in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Guangzhou averages at about 25°C (76°F).
In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Guangzhou during autumn. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Guangzhou receives 192 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 Guangzhou. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPai 29°C (84°F)Guangzhou 25°C (76°F)
Should I visit Pai or Guangzhou in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Pai as well as Guangzhou. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Pai is generally much warmer than Guangzhou. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 24°C (74°F), and Guangzhou fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In the winter, Pai often gets more sunshine than Guangzhou. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Guangzhou receives 133 hours of full sun.
Pai usually gets less rain in January than Guangzhou. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPai 24°C (74°F)Guangzhou 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Pai or Guangzhou in the Spring?
Both Guangzhou and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year.
It's very hot in Pai this time of the year. Pai is a little warmer than Guangzhou in the spring. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 32°C (89°F) in April, and Guangzhou fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Guangzhou during spring. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Guangzhou receives 78 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Guangzhou. In April, Pai usually receives less rain than Guangzhou. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 182 mm (7.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPai 32°C (89°F)Guangzhou 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Guangzhou and Pai
| Pai | Guangzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.1 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 221 mm (8.7 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 24 mm (0.9 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.