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

Should you visit Pai or Torquay?

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 Torquay. 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 Torquay?

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.

Torquay

Located on the eastern end of the Great Ocean Road, Torquay is a seaside town of Victoria famous for its surfing and beaches. Surf town through and through, it is also the headquarters for the Quiksilver and Rip Curl surf gear companies, and home to the Rip Curl Easter Pro, the world's longest running surf contest held on Bells Beach.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Budget Tours to Australia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Torquay, we can see that Torquay 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 Torquay 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 Torquay would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Torquay 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 Torquay Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Pai or Torquay?

Torquay 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 Torquay in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Torquay. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Also, most visitors come to Torquay for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Pai is a little warmer than Torquay. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Torquay averages at about 26°C (78°F)in January.

Torquay 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 Torquayin January. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Torquay receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Pai or Torquay in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Pai as well as Torquay. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Torquay because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Pai is generally a little warmer than Torquayin April. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Torquay fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

Pai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pai usually gets more rain in October than Torquayin April. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Torquay receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Torquay in the Winter?

Both Torquay 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, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Torquay this time of year.

Pai is much warmer than Torquay in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Torquay fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in July.

In January, Pai usually receives less rain than Torquayin July. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Torquay receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Pai or Torquay in the Spring?

Both Torquay 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. Furthermore, many travelers come to Torquay for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is a little warmer than Torquay. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Torquay averages at about 21°C (71°F)in October.

Pai usually gets less rain in April than Torquayin October. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Torquay receives 75 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Torquay and Pai