Which place is cheaper, Jaisalmer 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 Jaisalmer?
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 Jaisalmer. 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 Jaisalmer?
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.
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is located in western part of the Rajasthan state of India. The city is known as the "Golden City" for its Sonar Qila, or 'Golden Fort'. This fort is different than other forts in India in that it is a living fort, meaning that it contains many hotels, homes, and shops for locals and visitors. The city is very close to the Thar Desert, to which excursions can be made.
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 India, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in India.
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Pai Prices
Thailand PricesJaisalmer Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $87Jaisalmer $41
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $87, while the average daily cost in Jaisalmer is $41. 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 Jaisalmer in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $15Jaisalmer $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $30Jaisalmer $24
Compare Hotels in Pai and Jaisalmer
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Jaisalmer? 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 Jaisalmer Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $40Jaisalmer $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaisalmer
Also for Jaisalmer, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer From Jaisalmer To Udaipur Via Ranakpur Jain Temple: $90
- Private transfer from Jaisalmer to Bikaner: $120
- Private Transfer from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur: $37
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Sam Sand Dunes: $19
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Pushkar: $85
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Khuri Sand Dunes: $19
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur Via Osian Temple: $45
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Delhi: $197
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Ahmedabad: $117
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Agra: $181
- Private One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer To Pushkar: $94
- Private One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Jaisalmer?
Prices for flights to both Jaisalmer 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 $40Jaisalmer $20
Typical Food Prices in Jaisalmer
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jaisalmer:
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Dinner$4.15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- off beat Desert safari with sunset and dinner: $10
- Jaisalmer Food Tour: Taste the Flavors of the Golden City!: $13
- Authentic Desert Farm Visit and Cooking Class: $24
- Jodhpur Camel & Jeep Safari with Sunset, Folk Dance, Dinner: $25
- Dinner on the Dunes & Camel Safari: $25
- Jaisalmer Heritage & Cultural Walking & Street Food Tour: $25
- Camel Trails Sunset Safari with Dinner: $32
- Pleasant Sunset Safari With Dinner On Dunes (From 2:00 PM to Approx. 10:00 PM): $35
- Sunset Safari With Dinner: $37
- Cooking Class with Local Family & Rooftop Meal: $37
- Shahi Half Day Sunset Camel ride & Cultural program & dinner: $37
- Shahi Half day non touristic sand dune camel safari with dinner: $37
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $44Jaisalmer $11
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Sam Sand Dunes for Two$3.11
Tours and Activities in Jaisalmer
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jaisalmer.
- 02 nights authentic wild camping & Luxury Camping Experience: $129
- 2 Days Sharing Group Thar Desert Safari Adventure Tour: $8.60
- 2 Days-1 Night Camel Tour: $108
- 2 Nights 3 Days Nomadic Thar Desert Adventure Safari Tour: $105
- 2-Night Desert Experience with Luxury Camp from Jaisalmer: $223
- 3 Days Private Jaisalmer Tour: $180
- 3 days Jaisalmer Private Tour with Desert Safari, Sightseeing and Accommodation: $176
- 4-day Jaisalmer And Jodhpur Combo Tour: $205
- 5 Days Udaipur Jodhpur & Jaisalmer Tour: $266
- 8 Days Private Tour Colors of Rajasthan from Jaisalmer: $213
- Adventure & Campfire Overnight Desert Safari: $32
- Adventure non touristic camel safari: $24
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $14Jaisalmer $8.01
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Jaisalmer, we can see that Pai is more expensive. And not only is Jaisalmer much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jaisalmer would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaisalmer 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 Jaisalmer.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pai Expensive? and Is Jaisalmer 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.