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

Should you visit Pai or Tianjin?

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 Tianjin. 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 Tianjin?

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.

Tianjin

Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.

Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.

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


Which place is cheaper, Tianjin or Pai?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $91, while the average daily cost in Tianjin is $92. 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 Tianjin in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pai $16
    Tianjin $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pai $32
    Tianjin $70
Compare Hotels in Pai and Tianjin

Looking for a hotel in Pai or Tianjin? 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.

Hotels in Pai


Hotels in Tianjin


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pai $42
    Tianjin $37

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin

Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • [Airport Transfer] Tianjin Airport ⇔ Tianjin City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service <Charter charter>: $13
  • Tianjin Railway Station Private Transfer to Cruise Port: $32
  • Tianjin Private Transfer to Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall: $196
  • Tianjin Private Transfer from Railway Station to Cruise Port: $80
  • Tianjin Private Transfer from Cruise Port to Railway Station: $80
  • Tianjin Private Round-Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Great Wall: $112
  • Tianjin Private Round Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Pass and Eastern Qing Tombs: $132
  • Tianjin International Cruise Port Private Transfer to City Hotels : $80
  • Tianjin Cruise Port to Hotels in Beijing Downtown Shared Transfer: $95
  • Tianjin Cruise Port Transfer To Tianjin Airport one way private transfer: $50
  • Tianjin Cruise Port Private Transfer to Binhai Railway Station: $32
  • Tianjin Binhai International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29

Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Tianjin?

Prices for flights to both Tianjin 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Pai $42
    Tianjin $36

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pai $46
    Tianjin $10

Tours and Activities in Tianjin

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.

  • Private Tour to Uncover Tianjin’s Must-Visit Bucket-List Spots : $248
  • 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
  • 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion to Shijia Mansion with Bullet Train Experience: $210
  • 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
  • All-inclusive Day Tour: China House, Five Avenues, Ancient Street & Tianjin Eye: $224
  • All-inclusive Tianjin Day Tour to Qing Emperor's Tomb & Huangyaguan Great Wall : $278
  • Bullet Train Private Tour: Beijing Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall: $239
  • From Beijing: Tianjin Highlights Day Tour by High-Speed Rail: $289
  • Huangyaguan Great Wall Layover Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $265
  • Private Great Wall Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $248
  • Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
  • Private Tianjin City Night Tour with Haihe River Cruise: $176

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pai $15
    Tianjin $11


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



When is the best time to visit Pai or Tianjin?

Tianjin 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 Tianjin in the Summer?

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

Pai is around the same temperature as Tianjin in the summer. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Tianjin fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tianjin this time of the year. Pai usually receives less sunshine than Tianjin during summer. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies, while Tianjin receives 224 hours of full sun in the summer.

Tianjin 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 Tianjin. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Tianjin receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Pai 29°C (85°F) 
    Tianjin 27°C (80°F)

Should I visit Pai or Tianjin in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Pai as well as Tianjin. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the autumn, Pai is much warmer than Tianjin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pai in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Tianjin averages at about 15°C (58°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tianjin. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In the autumn, Pai often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Tianjin. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tianjin receives 227 hours of full sun.

Pai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pai usually gets more rain in October than Tianjin. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Tianjin receives 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Pai 29°C (84°F) 
    Tianjin 15°C (58°F)

Should I visit Pai or Tianjin in the Winter?

Both Tianjin and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year.

Tianjin can be very cold during winter. In January, Pai is generally much warmer than Tianjin. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 24°C (74°F), and Tianjin fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).

It's quite sunny in Tianjin. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Tianjin during winter. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Tianjin receives 201 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Pai usually receives more rain than Tianjin. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Tianjin receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Pai 24°C (74°F) 
    Tianjin -3°C (27°F)

Should I visit Pai or Tianjin in the Spring?

Both Tianjin 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.

It's very hot in Pai this time of the year. Pai is much warmer than Tianjin in the spring. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 32°C (89°F) in April, and Tianjin fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).

In Tianjin, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Pai. In the spring, Pai often gets more sunshine than Tianjin. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tianjin receives 247 hours of full sun.

Pai usually gets more rain in April than Tianjin. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Tianjin receives 25 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Pai 32°C (89°F) 
    Tianjin 14°C (58°F)

Typical Weather for Tianjin and Pai

Pai Tianjin
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (74°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) -3°C (27°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Feb 25°C (77°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) -1°C (31°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
Mar 29°C (83°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 6°C (43°F) 9 mm (0.3 in)
Apr 32°C (89°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 14°C (58°F) 25 mm (1 in)
May 31°C (88°F) 176 mm (6.9 in) 21°C (69°F) 33 mm (1.3 in)
Jun 30°C (86°F) 181 mm (7.1 in) 25°C (77°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Jul 29°C (85°F) 211 mm (8.3 in) 27°C (80°F) 185 mm (7.3 in)
Aug 29°C (84°F) 256 mm (10.1 in) 26°C (79°F) 155 mm (6.1 in)
Sep 29°C (85°F) 207 mm (8.1 in) 21°C (70°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
Oct 29°C (84°F) 115 mm (4.5 in) 15°C (58°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 34 mm (1.3 in) 6°C (43°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)
Dec 24°C (76°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) -1°C (31°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)