Which place is cheaper, Nelson 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 Nelson?
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 Nelson. 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 Nelson?
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.
Nelson
Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.
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 New Zealand, and The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand.
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Pai Prices
Thailand PricesNelson Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $91Nelson $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $91, while the average daily cost in Nelson is $114. 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 Nelson in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $16Nelson $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $32Nelson $82
Compare Hotels in Pai and Nelson
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Nelson? 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 Nelson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $42Nelson $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Nelson?
Prices for flights to both Nelson 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 $42Nelson $47
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $46Nelson $23
Tours and Activities in Nelson
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:
- Abel Tasman National Park: Cruise and Hike Full-Day Tour: $347
- Abel Tasman National Park: Cruise, Kayak, & Hike Tour: $405
- Abel Tasman National Park: Waka & Walk Tour: $405
- Abel Tasman Vista Cruise: $62
- Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $55
- Cruise Abel Tasman to Golden Bay: $296
- Cruise, Walk, and Sail in Abel Tasman National Park: $122
- Full-Day Sailing Adventure in the Abel Tasman National Park: $160
- Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $77
- Half Day Guided Mountain Biking Adventure in Nelson: $74
- Half Day Nelson Electric Mountain Bike Rental Adventure: $82
- Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $74
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $15Nelson $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:
- Self-guided E-bike cycle tour with private wine tasting : $116
- Wine Tour with Tastings and Lunch: $231
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Nelson, we can see that Nelson is more expensive. And not only is Pai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Pai is in Asia and Nelson is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Nelson would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nelson 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 Nelson 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.