Which place is cheaper, Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads?
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 Noosa Heads. 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 Noosa Heads?
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.
Noosa Heads
A town and suburb located on Queensland, Australia's Sunshine Coast, Noosa is best known as a destination of pleasant weather, beautiful beachside scenery, shopping, dining, and outdoor adventure. Some of the top attractions of the area include Noosa National Park and Sunshine Beach.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Australia, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia.
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Pai Prices
Thailand PricesNoosa Heads Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $91Noosa Heads $135
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $91, while the average daily cost in Noosa Heads is $135. 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 Noosa Heads in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $16Noosa Heads $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $32Noosa Heads $116
Compare Hotels in Pai and Noosa Heads
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Noosa Heads? 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 Noosa Heads Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $42Noosa Heads $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Noosa Heads
Also for Noosa Heads, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfers from Sunshine Coast Airport to Noosa (2pax): $97
- Private Transfer from Sunshine Coast Airport to Hotels 13 pax: $262
- Private Transfer from Sunshine Coast Airport to Hotels 11 pax: $238
- Private Morning Transfer From Noosa to Rainbow Beach: $91
- Eumundi Markets Bus Transfer: Mooloolaba Sunshine Coast & Noosa : $32
- Australia Zoo Transfer from Noosa and Sunshine Coast: $91
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Noosa Heads?
Prices for flights to both Noosa Heads 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 $42Noosa Heads $58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Noosa Heads
For Noosa Heads, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Classes on Witta Maleny Sunshine Coast: $121
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $46Noosa Heads $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Noosa Heads
For Noosa Heads, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Surf Lesson$43
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Sea Kayak Tour (for 2)$85
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Sunset Cruise (for 2)$13
Tours and Activities in Noosa Heads
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Noosa Heads.
- AAA NOOSA Whale watching experience in Noosa Whalesongsnoosa: $64
- Noosa Queen Sunset Cruise River: $22
- 1 Hour Tour Mooloolaba Sunset Cruise: $24
- AAA Noosa National Park tour and Dolphin Safari Whalesongsnoosa: $60
- Aquaduck Sunshine Coast - 1hr Mooloolaba Amphibious Tour: $34
- Booloumba Falls & Booloumba Creek Adventure, Conondale Nat. Park: $235
- Buderim Forest Flight Owl Encounter and Tour: $77
- Epic Kayak With Dolphins & Wildlife - 4WD Beach Adventure Noosa: $108
- Eumundi Markets and Noosa Everglades Tour with Eco Safari: $214
- Everglades Explorer - Noosa Everglades Tour: $111
- Fliteboard eFoil Group Experience in Noosa: $151
- From Noosa: Stand Up Paddle Wildlife & Beach 4X4 Adventure: $108
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $15Noosa Heads $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Noosa Heads
Also in Noosa Heads, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Sunshine Coast Bar Crawl Sippin on Sunshine: $15
- Sunshine Coast Brewery Tour with Lunch: $164
- Hinterland Cheese & Wine Tasting Tour - with 2 course lunch included: $188
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Noosa Heads, we can see that Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Noosa Heads?
Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Noosa Heads. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Noosa Heads because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Pai is a little warmer than Noosa Heads. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Noosa Heads averages at about 20°C (67°F)in January.
Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Headsin January. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPai 29°C (85°F)Noosa Heads 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Pai or Noosa Heads in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Pai as well as Noosa Heads. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Noosa Heads this time of year.
In October, Pai is generally much warmer than Noosa Headsin April. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Noosa Heads fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
Pai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pai usually gets more rain in October than Noosa Headsin April. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPai 29°C (84°F)Noosa Heads 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Pai or Noosa Heads in the Winter?
Both Noosa Heads 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 travelers come to Noosa Heads for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Pai is much warmer than Noosa Heads in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Noosa Heads fluctuates around 7°C (44°F)in July.
In January, Pai usually receives less rain than Noosa Headsin July. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 57 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPai 24°C (74°F)Noosa Heads 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Pai or Noosa Heads in the Spring?
Both Noosa Heads 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. Also, many visitors come to Noosa Heads in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.
The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is much warmer than Noosa Heads. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Noosa Heads averages at about 14°C (57°F)in October.
Pai usually gets less rain in April than Noosa Headsin October. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPai 32°C (89°F)Noosa Heads 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Noosa Heads and Pai
| Pai | Noosa Heads | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 117 mm (4.6 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.