A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pai vs. Karachi for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pai or Karachi?

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 Karachi. 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 Karachi?

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.

Karachi

Karachi is the capital of the Pakistani province of Sindh. It is the most populous city in Pakistan, and sixth most populous city proper in the world. Karachi, located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, is the financial and commercial center of the nation, as well as its largest port. The pace of life here is more hurried, and social attitudes are far more liberal than elsewhere in Pakistan. Locals call it the City of Lights, the City of The Quaid, and the City that Never Sleeps. The city credits its growth to the mixed populations of economic and political migrants along with refugees from different national, provincial, linguistic and religious origins, who generally come to the city to settle permanently.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Pakistan, and The Best Historical Tours in Pakistan.


Which place is cheaper, Karachi or Pai?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $64, while the average daily cost in Karachi is $26. 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 Karachi in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pai $14
    Karachi $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pai $28
    Karachi $22
Compare Hotels in Pai and Karachi

Looking for a hotel in Pai or Karachi? 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.

Hotels in Pai


Hotels in Karachi


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 Karachi Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pai $37
    Karachi $4.58

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Karachi?

Prices for flights to both Karachi 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Pai $21
    Karachi $11

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Karachi

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Karachi.

  • Private Karachi Street Food Tour: $94
  • Half-Day Karachi Burns Road Private Victoria Ride with Dinner: $100
  • Street Food Tour of Karachi: $199

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pai $40
    Karachi $5.07

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 Karachi

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Karachi are as follows:

  • Experience local village life in Sindh: $200
  • Full Day Private Tour in Karachi City: $161
  • Full Day Private Tour to Mohatta Palace Zainab and Burns road: $195
  • Karachi City Tour : $129
  • Karachi Sightseeing Private tour: $159
  • UNESCO World Heritage Tour Near Karachi : $150

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pai $13
    Karachi $3.35


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Karachi, we can see that Pai is more expensive. And not only is Karachi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Karachi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Karachi 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 Karachi.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pai Expensive? and Is Karachi Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Pai or Karachi?

Karachi 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 Karachi in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Pai as well as Karachi. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Pai is around the same temperature as Karachi in the summer. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Karachi fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).

In the summer, Pai often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Karachi. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Karachi receives 155 hours of full sun.

Pai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai usually gets more rain in July than Karachi. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Karachi receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Pai 29°C (85°F) 
    Karachi 30°C (86°F)

Should I visit Pai or Karachi in the Autumn?

Both Karachi and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year.

In the autumn, Pai is around the same temperature as Karachi. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pai in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Karachi averages at about 29°C (84°F).

It's quite sunny in Karachi. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives less sunshine than Karachi during autumn. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Karachi receives 284 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Pai. In October, Pai usually receives more rain than Karachi. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Karachi receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Pai 29°C (84°F) 
    Karachi 29°C (84°F)

Should I visit Pai or Karachi in the Winter?

Both Karachi 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.

In January, Pai is generally a little warmer than Karachi. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 24°C (74°F), and Karachi fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In Karachi, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Pai. In the winter, Pai often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Karachi. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Karachi receives 271 hours of full sun.

Pai usually gets more rain in January than Karachi. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Karachi receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Pai 24°C (74°F) 
    Karachi 19°C (66°F)

Should I visit Pai or Karachi in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Karachi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round.

It's very hot in Pai this time of the year. Pai is around the same temperature as Karachi in the spring. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 32°C (89°F) in April, and Karachi fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Karachi this time of the year. In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Karachi during spring. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Karachi receives 277 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Pai usually receives more rain than Karachi. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Karachi receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Pai 32°C (89°F) 
    Karachi 29°C (84°F)

Typical Weather for Karachi and Pai

Pai Karachi
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (74°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 19°C (66°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 25°C (77°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 22°C (72°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Mar 29°C (83°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 26°C (79°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Apr 32°C (89°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 29°C (84°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
May 31°C (88°F) 176 mm (6.9 in) 31°C (88°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Jun 30°C (86°F) 181 mm (7.1 in) 31°C (88°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Jul 29°C (85°F) 211 mm (8.3 in) 30°C (86°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Aug 29°C (84°F) 256 mm (10.1 in) 30°C (86°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Sep 29°C (85°F) 207 mm (8.1 in) 29°C (84°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Oct 29°C (84°F) 115 mm (4.5 in) 29°C (84°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 34 mm (1.3 in) 24°C (75°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Dec 24°C (76°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 21°C (70°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)