Which place is cheaper, Pattaya or Pai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pai or Pattaya?
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 Pattaya. 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 Pattaya?
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.
Pattaya
Go where the locals go. If that is your vacation motto, you will want to take a look at the popular weekend getaway of Pattaya, Thailand. This seaside resort on the Eastern Gulf Coast of Thailand is just outside of Bangkok, and full of resorts, beer bars and beaches.
Hosting more than five million visitors a year, Pattaya is easily accessed from the capital and the airport. Keep in mind, the sex tourism industry is still a large money earner for this city, but efforts by local authorities have created resorts and attractions for families and vacationers from all around the world.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best 3-Day Tours from Bangkok, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Chiang Mai.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $64Pattaya $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $64, while the average daily cost in Pattaya is $66. 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 Pattaya in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $14Pattaya $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $28Pattaya $48
Compare Hotels in Pai and Pattaya
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Pattaya? 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 Pattaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $37Pattaya $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pai
Also for Pai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $149
- Transfer and Tour to Pai / Chiang Mai: $149
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $132
- Chiang Mai City to/from Pai Hotel: Private Transfer: $132
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to or from Pai(Mae Hong Son): $107
- Pa Pae Meditation: Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pattaya
Also for Pattaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Pattaya HTL-APT (BKK): $59
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Pattaya HTL-APT (DMK): $67
- Tiffany's Show Pattaya Admission Ticket with Return Transfer (SHA Plus): $61
- Tiffany Show Pattaya with Transfer: $64
- Tiffany Show Pattaya with Transfer: $64
- Tiffany Show Pattaya Admission with Transfer: $42
- The Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya Admission Ticket with Return Transfer: $35
- The Sanctuary of Truth at Pattaya Admission Ticket with Return Transfer: $35
- Teddy Bear Museum in Pattaya with Return Transfer: $22
- Teddy Bear Museum in Pattaya with Return Transfer: $19
- Surat Thani Hotel Transfer: to/from Bangkok Hotel Transfer: $419
- Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum at Pattaya with Return Transfer: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Pattaya?
Prices for flights to both Pattaya 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 $21Pattaya $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pattaya
For Pattaya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- All Star Dinner Cruise, Cabaret Show & Beer Buffet: $32
- Pattaya Night Guided Tour with Dinner: $47
- Thai Cooking Class in Pattaya: $67
- Islands Hopping Tour by Catamaran with Dinner Buffet in Chon Buri: $97
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $40Pattaya $21
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 Pattaya
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Pattaya.
- Amazing Pattaya Experience Tour to All Famous Points in One Day: $53
- 1 Hour ATV Off Road Adventure In Pattaya: $62
- 2 Islands Full Day Tour Catamaran with Lunch in Pattaya: $103
- 3 Days Thailand Motorcycle Coastal Tour: $1,054
- 5 Days – Motorcycle tour to River Kwai and Khao Yai: $1,757
- A Superstar Model Experience in Pattaya with Photo Expert: $112
- ATV & Buggy Adventures Pattaya - Novice Rider 27km Basic Track: $99
- ATV & Buggy Off-Road Adventures in Pattaya: $97
- Admission Ticket to Ramayana Water Park in Pattaya: $33
- Alcazar Cabaret Show Tickets: $21
- All Star Cabaret Cruise Pattaya with Indian Buffet Lunch: $42
- Amazing Discovery Pattaya Tours with Floating Market & Lunch : $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $13Pattaya $8.18
When comparing the travel costs between Pai and Pattaya, we can see that Pattaya is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pai Expensive? and Is Pattaya Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Pattaya?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Pai or Pattaya in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Pattaya. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Pattaya attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Pai usually receives more rain than Pattaya. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Pai usually receives less sunshine than Pattaya during summer. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies, while Pattaya receives 176 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Pai is around the same temperature as Pattaya. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Pattaya averages at about 29°C (84°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPai 29°C (85°F)Pattaya 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Pai or Pattaya in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Pai as well as Pattaya. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pattaya throughout the year.
Also, December to April in Pattaya is the dry season. June to October in Pattaya is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Pattaya. Pai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pai usually gets less rain in October than Pattaya. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 258 mm (10.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pattaya. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In the autumn, Pai often gets more sunshine than Pattaya. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pattaya receives 206 hours of full sun.
In October, Pai is generally around the same temperature as Pattaya. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Pattaya fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPai 29°C (84°F)Pattaya 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Pai or Pattaya in the Winter?
Both Pattaya and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Pattaya because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Pai usually receives less rain than Pattaya. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Pattaya. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Pattaya during winter. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Pattaya receives 276 hours of full sun in the winter.
Pai is cooler than Pattaya in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Pattaya fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPai 24°C (74°F)Pattaya 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Pai or Pattaya in the Spring?
Both Pattaya 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pattaya year-round.
December to April is the dry season in Pattaya. June to October is the rainy season in Pattaya. Pai usually gets less rain in April than Pattaya. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Pattaya, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Pai. In the spring, Pai often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Pattaya. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pattaya receives 262 hours of full sun.
The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is around the same temperature as Pattaya. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Pattaya averages at about 30°C (86°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPai 32°C (89°F)Pattaya 30°C (86°F)
Typical Weather for Pattaya and Pai
| Pai | Pattaya | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 202 mm (7.9 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 232 mm (9.1 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 16 mm (0.6 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.