A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pai vs. Sado for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pai or Sado?

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 Sado. 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 Sado?

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.

Sado

Sado Island, Japan is located just off the coast of Niigata and is an old gold mining town that has since developed into a quiet summer holiday destination. The island is home to two mountain ranges, O-Sado in the north and Ko-sado in the south, with the popular Kuninaka plain in between the mountain ranges. With the remoteness of the island, it has become a popular destination for tourists to experience old Japan and get away from the busy mainland.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.

When comparing the travel costs between Pai and Sado, we can see that Pai 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 Sado Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Pai or Sado?

Sado 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 Sado in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Pai as well as Sado. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Sado for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Pai is a little warmer than Sado in the summer. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Sado fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

In the summer, Pai often gets less sunshine than Sado. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 198 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sado. Pai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai usually gets more rain in July than Sado. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Sado in the Autumn?

Both Sado and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Sado in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Pai is much warmer than Sado. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pai in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Sado averages at about 16°C (60°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Sado during autumn. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 155 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. It's quite rainy in Pai. In October, Pai usually receives less rain than Sado. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Pai or Sado in the Winter?

Both Sado and Pai during the winter 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 Sado for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Sado can be very cold during winter. In January, Pai is generally much warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 24°C (74°F), and Sado fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

It's quite sunny in Pai. In the winter, Pai often gets more sunshine than Sado. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 65 hours of full sun.

Sado gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pai usually gets less rain in January than Sado. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Sado in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Sado. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round.

It's very hot in Pai this time of the year. Pai is much warmer than Sado in the spring. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 32°C (89°F) in April, and Sado fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Sado during spring. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.

Sado receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Pai usually receives less rain than Sado. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sado and Pai