Which place is cheaper, Kanazawa or Pai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pai or Kanazawa?
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 Kanazawa. 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 Kanazawa?
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.
Kanazawa
An important city of the Edo-period, Kanazawa is a well preserved city from a time when samurai, merchants, geisha, and lords made up the core of its culture. Though it is often overlooked by foreigners, the city is a gem of Japanese tourism with a number of preserved historic districts, temples, regional handicrafts, art museums, and some of the best food to be had in Japan.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $64Kanazawa $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $64, while the average daily cost in Kanazawa is $103. 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 Kanazawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $14Kanazawa $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $28Kanazawa $128
Compare Hotels in Pai and Kanazawa
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Kanazawa? 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 Kanazawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $37Kanazawa $9.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pai
Also for Pai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $149
- Transfer and Tour to Pai / Chiang Mai: $149
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $132
- Chiang Mai City to/from Pai Hotel: Private Transfer: $132
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to or from Pai(Mae Hong Son): $107
- Pa Pae Meditation: Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanazawa
Also for Kanazawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Noto Airport to/from Kanazawa City Private Transfer: $308
- Kanazawa City to/from Wakura City Private transfer: $247
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Kanazawa?
Prices for flights to both Kanazawa 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 $21Kanazawa $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kanazawa
For Kanazawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sneaking into a Cooking Class for Japanese: $57
- Private Japanese Cooking Classes in Kanazawa: $76
- Private Japanese Cooking Classes in Kanazawa: $78
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $40Kanazawa $9.74
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 Kanazawa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kanazawa.
- “Be a Local” Kanazawa Izakaya Hop Tour: $78
- 1 Day Tour from Kurobe Gorge and Unazuki Onsen: $223
- 1-Day Shirakawago & Takayama Tour (Round Trip from Kanazawa): $165
- 4 Hour Unique Kanazawa Cherry Blossom Sakura Private Experience: $218
- Afternoon Round Trip Tour from Kanazawa: $87
- E-Bike Cycling with Guided Tour of KANAZAWA Main & KENROKUEN: $82
- E-Bike Cycling with Guided Tour of Kanazawa Main and Ninja Temple: $78
- Full-Day Tour from Samurai, Matcha, Gardens and Geisha: $148
- Guided Night Tour to Feel the Samurai Culture in Kanazawa: $56
- Hidden Gems Of Private & Personalized Walking Experience: $102
- Kanazawa ⇒ Takayama (one way) Including Shirakawago (Private Tour): $266
- Kanazawa Custom Full Day Tour: $207
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $13Kanazawa $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Kanazawa, we can see that Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Kanazawa?
Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Kanazawa. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Also, many visitors come to Kanazawa in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
Pai is a little warmer than Kanazawa in the summer. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Kanazawa fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
Pai usually receives less sunshine than Kanazawa during summer. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies, while Kanazawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the summer.
Kanazawa receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Pai usually receives less rain than Kanazawa. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Kanazawa receives 251 mm (9.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPai 29°C (85°F)Kanazawa 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Pai or Kanazawa in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Pai as well as Kanazawa. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Kanazawa for the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Pai is much warmer than Kanazawa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pai in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Kanazawa averages at about 17°C (62°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In the autumn, Pai often gets more sunshine than Kanazawa. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kanazawa receives 155 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Kanazawa. Pai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pai usually gets less rain in October than Kanazawa. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Kanazawa receives 203 mm (8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPai 29°C (84°F)Kanazawa 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Pai or Kanazawa in the Winter?
Both Kanazawa and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Kanazawa because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Kanazawa can be very cold. In January, Pai is generally much warmer than Kanazawa. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 24°C (74°F), and Kanazawa fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Kanazawa during winter. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Kanazawa receives 67 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kanazawa. In January, Pai usually receives less rain than Kanazawa. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Kanazawa receives 294 mm (11.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPai 24°C (74°F)Kanazawa 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Pai or Kanazawa in the Spring?
Both Kanazawa and Pai during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's very hot in Pai this time of the year. Pai is much warmer than Kanazawa in the spring. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 32°C (89°F) in April, and Kanazawa fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
It's quite sunny in Pai. In the spring, Pai often gets more sunshine than Kanazawa. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kanazawa receives 183 hours of full sun.
Kanazawa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pai usually gets less rain in April than Kanazawa. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Kanazawa receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPai 32°C (89°F)Kanazawa 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Kanazawa and Pai
| Pai | Kanazawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 202 mm (8 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 251 mm (9.9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 248 mm (9.8 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 203 mm (8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 306 mm (12 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.