Which place is cheaper, Nanjing or Pai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pai or Nanjing?
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 Nanjing. 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 Nanjing?
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.
Nanjing
Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu Province on the central eastern coast of China, just north of Shanghai. This historically and culturally rich city lies at the lower end of the Yangtze river, resulting in lush and scenic landscapes. Nanjing is well-known for having many popular historical sites, some of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $64Nanjing $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $64, while the average daily cost in Nanjing is $96. 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 Nanjing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $14Nanjing $46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $28Nanjing $92
Compare Hotels in Pai and Nanjing
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Nanjing? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $37Nanjing $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pai
Also for Pai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Mai City to/from Pai Hotel: Private Transfer: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $149
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to or from Pai(Mae Hong Son): $107
- Pa Pae Meditation: Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $70
- Transfer and Tour to Pai / Chiang Mai: $149
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
- Zhenjiang Private Transfer Service from Nanjing City or Lukou Airport : $78
- Yangzhou Private Transfer Service from Nanjing City or Lukou Airport : $80
- Tangshan Hot Spring Resorts Private Transfer from Nanjing Railway Station: $44
- Private Transfer to Yangzhou City from Nanjing Lukou Airport : $109
- Private Transfer to Nanjing Railway Station from Lukou Airport : $45
- Private Transfer to Gaochun City from Nanjing Lukou Airport: $88
- Private Transfer to Gaochun City from Nanjing : $88
- Private Transfer between Nanjing Olympic Stadium and City Hotel: $33
- Private Transfer between Nanjing Jinniuhu Wild Animal Park and City Hotels: $62
- Private Transfer Between Tangshan Hot Spring Resort and Nanjing Lukou Airport: $49
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Zhenjiang from Nanjing: $94
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Yangzhou Attractions from Nanjing: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Nanjing?
Prices for flights to both Nanjing 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 $21Nanjing $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nanjing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.
- 3-Hour Nanjing Authentic Local Food Tour by Public Transportation: $93
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Night Tour with Dinner Option : $112
- Nanjing City Private Night Tour with Qinghuai River Cruise and Dinner Option: $114
- Nanjing Tangshan Mountain Hot Spring Experience and Hot Pot Dinner: $175
- Private Amazing Nanjing Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $181
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $40Nanjing $9.27
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 Nanjing
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half-Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour : $109
- 2-Day Unlimited Nanjing Private Flexible Tour with Lunch Option : $295
- 4-Hour Nanjing City Private Tailor-Made Tour in Your Way : $109
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Xiaoling Tomb, Ming City Wall and Memorial Hall : $115
- All Inclusive Amazing Nanjing City Highlights Private Day Tour: $193
- All Inclusive Nanjing City Private Day Tour with Tailor-Made Highlights: $213
- All-inclusive Customized Nanjing Layover Tour: $201
- Beijing Great Wall Tour from Nanjing by Bullet Train with Private Car Service: $282
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Highlights Day Tour: $164
- Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour : $63
- Flexible Zhenjiang Private Day Tour from Nanjing: $197
- Half Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour with Night River Cruise: $165
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $13Nanjing $9.46
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Nanjing, we can see that Nanjing 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 Nanjing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nanjing 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 Nanjing Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Nanjing?
Nanjing 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 Nanjing in the Summer?
Both Nanjing and Pai during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Pai is around the same temperature as Nanjing. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Nanjing averages at about 28°C (83°F).
Nanjing gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually gets more rain in July than Nanjing. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPai 29°C (85°F)Nanjing 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Pai or Nanjing in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Nanjing. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round.
In October, Pai is generally much warmer than Nanjing. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Nanjing fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Pai usually receives more rain than Nanjing. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPai 29°C (84°F)Nanjing 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Pai or Nanjing in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Pai as well as Nanjing. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Nanjing can be very cold during winter. Pai is much warmer than Nanjing in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Nanjing fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
Pai usually gets less rain in January than Nanjing. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPai 24°C (74°F)Nanjing 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Pai or Nanjing in the Spring?
Both Nanjing and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year.
The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is much warmer than Nanjing. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Nanjing averages at about 15°C (60°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Nanjing. In April, Pai usually receives less rain than Nanjing. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPai 32°C (89°F)Nanjing 15°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Nanjing and Pai
| Pai | Nanjing | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 25 mm (1 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.