Which place is cheaper, Hue or Pai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pai or Hue?
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 Hue. 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 Hue?
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.
Hue
Hue is a major city in central Vietnam and was historically the imperial capital. The city was the base for the imperial Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled from 1802 to 1945. During the Vietnam War the city faced many challenges. It was conquered by the Viet Cong and held for 24 days. During this time about 3,000 people were slaughtered for their political views, education level, or religious affiliation.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Eco Tours in Vietnam, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Vietnam.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $64Hue $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $64, while the average daily cost in Hue is $48. 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 Hue in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $14Hue $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $28Hue $46
Compare Hotels in Pai and Hue
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Hue? 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 Hue Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $37Hue $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 Hue
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Hue:
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Cyclo$0.48
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Short Taxi Ride$0.88
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Taxi Ride to Tombs$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hue
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hue:
- Vinh Moc Tunnels & Khe Sanh: Transfer from Hue or Phong Nha: $43
- Transfer from Hue to Hoi An with Private Car: $98
- Transfer from Hue to Hoi An via Hai Van Pass and Golden Bridge: $55
- Transfer from Hue to Hoi An by Motorbike: $67
- Transfer from Hue to Da Nang or Hoi An via Bach Ma National Park: $81
- Transfer from Hue city to Phu Bai airport: $29
- Transfer from Hue airport to Hue city center or vice versa: $7.10
- Transfer from Da Nang or Hoi An to Hue via Hue City Tour: $64
- Transfer between Hue Hotels and Hue Airport: $7.41
- Sightseeing Transfer Between Hue and Hoi An: $102
- Sightseeing Transfer Between Hue and Hoi An: $113
- Roundtrip Transfer to Ba Na Hills - Golden Bridge via Hai Van Pass from Hue City: $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Hue?
Prices for flights to both Hue 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 $21Hue $15
Typical Food Prices in Hue
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hue are as follows:
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River Night Market Dinner (for Two)$7.99
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Two Sugarcane Drinks$0.80
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Quick Lunch (for Two)$2.20
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$4.39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hue
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hue.
- Private Healthy Cooking Class In Ancient Vietnamese Garden: $20
- Hue Walking Street Food Tour: $27
- Walking street food tour: $30
- Hue : Vegetarian Cooking Class with Local Family: $31
- Vietnamese Cooking Class with Local Family in Hue: $31
- Hue Food Tour by Walking or Cyclo or Motorcycle with Driver: $33
- Hue Food Tour by Walking or Cyclo or Motorbike with Driver: $33
- Home Cooking Class in Hue City : $35
- Hue Walking Food Tour: $35
- Best Hue Street Food Tour: $35
- Exploring Hue Food Tour with Local Guide : $35
- Home Vegan/Vegetarian Cooking Class with Local Girl: $35
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $40Hue $11
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hue
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hue are as follows:
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Boat Ride$7.79
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Bicycle Rental (One Day)$1.12
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Imperial Citadel Entrance$3.20
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Massage at Institute for the Blind$1.60
Tours and Activities in Hue
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hue are as follows:
- Hue - Bach Ma National Park Group Tour : $300
- Hue City Full-Day Tour with Boat Trip on Perfume River and Lunch: $128
- Hue City: Full-Day Guided Tour - Imperial City - All Inclusive: $59
- Hue Private Guided Tour : Citadel, Royal tombs, Thien Mu pagoda: $57
- 1-day Hue full day city tour: $39
- 12 Hours Experience Different Hue: $179
- 13 Days Private Tour Highlights of Cambodia & Vietnam: $4,731
- 2 Day Motorbike Tour from Hue to Hoi An by Mister T Easy Rider: $160
- 2,5 hours walking tour inside Hue Imperial city: $35
- 2-Day Phong Nha-Ke Bang Cave Adventure from Hue: $250
- 2-Day Sa Pa Adventure with Trekking and Ethnic Homestay: $88
- 2.5 hours Hue Walking Tour with Tour Guide: $19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $13Hue $5.79
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hue
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Hue:
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Beer$1.00
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Hue, we can see that Pai is more expensive. And not only is Hue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hue would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hue 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 Hue.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pai Expensive? and Is Hue Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Hue?
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 Hue in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Pai as well as Hue. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hue throughout the year.
Also, March to August in Hue is the dry season. September to December in Hue is the rainy season. Pai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai usually gets more rain in July than Hue. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Hue 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 Hue. In the summer, Pai often gets less sunshine than Hue. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hue receives 242 hours of full sun.
In July, Pai is generally around the same temperature as Hue. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (85°F), and Hue fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPai 29°C (85°F)Hue 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Pai or Hue in the Autumn?
Both Hue 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 Hue because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Hue is September to December. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hue. It's quite rainy in Pai. In October, Pai usually receives less rain than Hue. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Hue 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 Hue during autumn. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Hue receives 158 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Pai is a little warmer than Hue in the autumn. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Hue fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPai 29°C (84°F)Hue 25°C (78°F)
Should I visit Pai or Hue in the Winter?
Both Hue 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 Hue year-round.
March to August is the dry season in Hue. Hue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pai usually gets less rain in January than Hue. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Hue 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 Hue. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hue receives 136 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Pai is around the same temperature as Hue. Typically, the winter temperatures in Pai in January average around 24°C (74°F), and Hue averages at about 22°C (71°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPai 24°C (74°F)Hue 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Pai or Hue in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Hue. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Hue attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Pai usually receives more rain than Hue. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Hue receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hue this time of the year. In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Hue during spring. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Hue receives 210 hours of full sun in the spring.
Pai can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Pai is generally a little warmer than Hue. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 32°C (89°F), and Hue fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPai 32°C (89°F)Hue 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Hue and Pai
| Pai | Hue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.