Which place is cheaper, Wellington 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 Wellington?
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 Wellington. 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 Wellington?
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.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital and second largest city in New Zealand. It sits on the southwestern edge of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It's a beautiful setting that is encircled by mountains giving it a beautiful backdrop. There are also many cultural sights and attractions around town. Wellington really is the perfect mix of New Zealand's natural beauty and a vibrant urban core. The film industry is also prevelant in the city. The city's production centers have helped create Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, Tin Tin, and District 9.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.
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Pai Prices
Thailand PricesWellington Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $91Wellington $124
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $91, while the average daily cost in Wellington is $124. 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 Wellington in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $16Wellington $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $32Wellington $120
Compare Hotels in Pai and Wellington
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Wellington? 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 Wellington Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $42Wellington $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Wellington
Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket + Transfer: $57
- WLG Airport to City Private RoundTrip Transfer: $93
- Wellington Airport(WLG) to Wellington-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $156
- Private Transfer from Wellington hotels to Wellington Cruise Port: $106
- Private Transfer from Wellington Port to Wellington Airport (WLG): $26
- Private Transfer from Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington Port: $26
- Private Large SUV Airport Transfers Wellington - Executive Travel: $58
- Private Airport Transfer Service Vice Versa in Wellington by SUV: $75
- Wētā Workshop Guided Transfers & Tour: $59
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Wellington?
Prices for flights to both Wellington 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 $42Wellington $51
Typical Food Prices in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner$8.87
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 3 Hour Walking Food Tour: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $46Wellington $16
Tours and Activities in Wellington
For Wellington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Auckland: Wētā Workshop Unleashed Creative Classes Ticket: $38
- Axe Throwing Lesson and Tournament: $33
- Craft beers & car museum - Half Day Tour incl beverage samples: $99
- Craft beers & car museums - Full Day Tour incl beverage samples: $168
- Discover Wellington 3 hour City Tour : $53
- From Half-Day Foodie Tour of the Wairarapa: $108
- From Kapiti Island Classic Guided Day Tour: $289
- From Martinborough Winery Tour: $111
- From Remutaka Rail Trail eBike Tour: $127
- Full Day Guided Wellington Tour including Cable Car: $150
- Full Day Lord of the Rings Tour: $177
- Full Day Tour of Wellington: $177
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $15Wellington $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington
Also in Wellington, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $99
- From Martinborough Wine Tasting Tour: $168
- Exclusive Martinborough Wine Tour: $210
- Chefs Private Martinborough wine tour with Gourmet Lunch: $391
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Wellington, we can see that Wellington 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 Wellington 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 Wellington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wellington 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 Wellington Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Wellington?
Wellington 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 Wellington in the Summer?
Both Wellington and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Wellington for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Pai is much warmer than Wellington. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Wellington averages at about 18°C (64°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Wellington. Pai usually receives less sunshine than Wellington during summer. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies, while Wellington receives 242 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Pai. In July, Pai usually receives more rain than Wellingtonin January. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPai 29°C (85°F)Wellington 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Pai or Wellington in the Autumn?
Both Wellington and Pai during the autumn 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 Wellington in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In October, Pai is generally much warmer than Wellingtonin April. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Wellington fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
It's quite sunny in Pai. In the autumn, Pai often gets more sunshine than Wellingtonin April. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wellington receives 163 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually gets more rain in October than Wellingtonin April. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPai 29°C (84°F)Wellington 15°C (58°F)
Should I visit Pai or Wellington in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Wellington. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Also, most visitors come to Wellington for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Pai is much warmer than Wellington in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Wellington fluctuates around 10°C (49°F)in July.
In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Wellington during winter. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Wellington receives 122 hours of full sun in the winter.
Wellington receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Pai usually receives less rain than Wellingtonin July. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPai 24°C (74°F)Wellington 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Pai or Wellington in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Pai as well as Wellington. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Wellington because of the beaches.
The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is much warmer than Wellington. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Wellington averages at about 13°C (55°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In the spring, Pai often gets more sunshine than Wellingtonin October. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wellington receives 180 hours of full sun.
Pai usually gets less rain in April than Wellingtonin October. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPai 32°C (89°F)Wellington 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Wellington and Pai
| Pai | Wellington | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 69 mm (2.7 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.