Which place is cheaper, Kobe 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 Kobe?
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 Kobe. 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 Kobe?
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.
Kobe
Located between the sea and the Rokko mountain range, Kobe is a port city in Japan also considered to be one of the country's most attractive. Though it was devastated by a historic earthquake in 1995, known locally as the Great Hanshin Earthquake, Kobe has fully recovered to its cosmopolitan splendor with plenty for visitors to see and do.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan.
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Pai Prices
Thailand PricesKobe Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $91Kobe $130
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $91, while the average daily cost in Kobe is $130. 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 Kobe in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $16Kobe $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $32Kobe $126
Compare Hotels in Pai and Kobe
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Kobe? 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 Kobe Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $42Kobe $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kobe
Also for Kobe, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Kobe Port to Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX): $176
- Private Transfer from Kobe Port to Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX): $71
- Private Transfer from Kobe Cruise Port to Kobe Airport (UKB): $71
- Private Transfer from Kobe Cruise Port to Kobe Airport (UKB): $91
- Private Transfer from Kobe Airport (UKB) to Kobe Cruise Port: $71
- Private Transfer Kobe Airport UKB to Osaka and Kobe City: $58
- Private Arrival Transfer From Kobe Airport to Kobe City: $155
- Kobe to Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX) - Departure Private Transfer: $76
- Kobe hotels to Kobe Airport (UKB) - Departure Private Transfer: $71
- Kobe City: Private transfer to/from Kansai Airport: $176
- Kobe City: Private transfer to/from Itami Airport: $115
- Kobe Airport Transfers : Kobe City to Kobe Airport UKB in Business Van: $178
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Kobe?
Prices for flights to both Kobe 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 $42Kobe $54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kobe
For Kobe, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Okonomiyaki Cooking Class: Create Your Own Savory Pancake: $55
- Kobe Home Cooking Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class: $61
- Shinkaichi Evening Food Tour with Local Guide: $71
- Shinkaichi Evening Food Tour with Local Guide: $72
- Discover Kobe's Flavors On A Cooking Class: $76
- Kobe Private Food Tour with Local Guide: $95
- Cooking Class with Kobe Beef Sukiyaki and Origami: $101
- Eat Like a Local Private & Personalized Food Tour: $223
- Private tour in Kobe with beef dinner: $487
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $46Kobe $24
Tours and Activities in Kobe
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kobe.
- Kobe to Setouchi Triennale Art Festival Day Tour : $264
- 1-Day Kobe Highlights Tour including Sake Tasting: $178
- 1-Day Walking Tour around Kobe : Mountains, Sea and Sake: $143
- 4-Hour Multicultural Kobe Walking Tour with Genuine Kobe Beef : $177
- Arima Onsen History Tour: $46
- Classic Kobe GPS App Walking Tour Mobile Game: $14
- Cruise Shore Excursion: Kobe Sake Tasting with Local Guide: $108
- Full Day Walking Tour Around Kobe Mountains Sea and Sake: $159
- KOBE Sake Tasting Tour at Breweries (tasting fee included): $103
- KOBE Sake Tasting Tour at Breweries (tasting fee included): $108
- KOBE Sake Walking Tour in Japan's Top Sake Breweries: $88
- KOBE, SHIOYA, a quaint fishing town walking tour : $97
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $15Kobe $8.87
Sample the Local Flavors in Kobe
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kobe:
- Private Sake Tour and Tasting at a Kobe Brewery: $82
- Sake Brewery and Japanese Life Experience Tour in Kobe: $87
- Sake Brewery Tour with Tasting Sake: $88
- KOBE Sake brewery PRIVATE walking tour with Local guide: $89
- Sake Brewery Tour with Tasting and Kobe Beef Bites: $108
- 5-Hour Nadagogo Sake Brewery Private Guided Experience: $186
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Kobe, we can see that Kobe 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 Kobe would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kobe 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 Kobe Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Kobe?
Kobe 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 Kobe in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Kobe. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Kobe this time of year.
In July, Pai is generally around the same temperature as Kobe. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (85°F), and Kobe fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
Pai usually receives less sunshine than Kobe during summer. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies, while Kobe receives 183 hours of full sun in the summer.
Kobe receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Pai usually receives more rain than Kobe. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Kobe receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPai 29°C (85°F)Kobe 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Pai or Kobe in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Pai as well as Kobe. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Kobe for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Pai is much warmer than Kobe in the autumn. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Kobe fluctuates around 18°C (65°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 Kobe. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kobe receives 159 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Kobe. Pai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pai usually gets more rain in October than Kobe. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Kobe receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPai 29°C (84°F)Kobe 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Pai or Kobe in the Winter?
Both Kobe 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, many visitors come to Kobe in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Pai is much warmer than Kobe. Typically, the winter temperatures in Pai in January average around 24°C (74°F), and Kobe averages at about 5°C (42°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Kobe during winter. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Kobe receives 140 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Pai usually receives less rain than Kobe. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Kobe receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPai 24°C (74°F)Kobe 5°C (42°F)
Should I visit Pai or Kobe in the Spring?
Both Kobe 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. Furthermore, most visitors come to Kobe for the activities around the city during these months.
Pai can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Pai is generally much warmer than Kobe. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 32°C (89°F), and Kobe fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
It's quite sunny in Pai. In the spring, Pai often gets more sunshine than Kobe. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kobe receives 176 hours of full sun.
Kobe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pai usually gets less rain in April than Kobe. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Kobe receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPai 32°C (89°F)Kobe 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Kobe and Pai
| Pai | Kobe | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 219 mm (8.6 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 65 mm (2.5 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 38 mm (1.5 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.