Which place is cheaper, Pai or Phuket?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Phuket or Pai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Pai, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Phuket or Pai?
Phuket
Phuket Island is the tourist mecca of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Bicycle Tours in Thailand, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhuket $105Pai $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $105, while the average daily cost in Pai is $64. 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 Phuket and Pai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $56Pai $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $112Pai $28
Compare Hotels in Phuket and Pai
Looking for a hotel in Phuket or Pai? 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: Phuket Hotel Prices and Pai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phuket $11Pai $37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
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Longtail Taxi (for Two)$8.18
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$6.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- Ziplining Hanuman Experience in Phuket with Roundtrip Transfer (SHA Plus): $86
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Phuket HTL-APT (HKT): $27
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Phuket APT-HTL (HKT): $27
- Transfer from Phuket Airport to Phuket Hotel: $21
- TAXI PHUKET AIRPORT Transfer to PHUKET TOWN (SHA Plus): $30
- TAXI PHUKET AIRPORT Transfer to LAGUNA Beach Area (SHA Plus): $25
- Simon Cabaret Phuket Show Included Tickets and Transfer: $28
- Similan Islands One Day Tour From Phuket Include Lunch & Pickup Transfer: $82
- Siam Niramit Phuket Admission Ticket with Transfer Option: $44
- Shared Transfer from Phuket to Koh Tao by Coach and Catamaran: $59
- Shared Transfer Phuket International Airport (HKT) To Phuket City - Arrival: $33
- RoundTrip Priva Transfer Phuket Airport to Talang, Kathu or Muang: $53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pai
Also for Pai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Mai City to/from Pai Hotel: Private Transfer: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $149
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to or from Pai(Mae Hong Son): $107
- Pa Pae Meditation: Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $70
- Transfer and Tour to Pai / Chiang Mai: $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or Pai?
Prices for flights to both Pai and Phuket 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 dayPhuket $22Pai $21
Typical Food Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$7.88
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.64
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Thai Noodles$2.45
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Bananas$0.68
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Pizza (for Two)$8.18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- Thai Cooking Class 1.5 Hrs ( 2 Dishes Menu): $36
- Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $43
- Coral Island Catamaran Cruise with Sunset Dinner: $43
- Thai Cooking Class 2 Hrs ( 4 Dishes Menu): $47
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $52
- Flavours of the South Guided Food Tour: $52
- Coral Island & Sunset Dinner by Sailing Catamaran: $53
- Phuket Coral Island Sunset with Dinner by Catamaran Yacht: $53
- Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $55
- Phuket Cooking Class Thai activity: $55
- Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour Option: $55
- Flavours of the South Food Tour: $57
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $42Pai $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket
Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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One Day Boat Tour$25
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$68
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Thai Oil Massage$17
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Surfboard Rental$8.18
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3 Khai Islands Snorkeling Tour by Speed Boat: $43
- Activities In & Around Full Day Customizable Tour: $90
- Khai Island Half Day Tour by Speedboat from Phuket (SHA Plus): $61
- Whitewater Rafting & ATV Adventure Tour from Phuket including Lunch: $119
- Zipline Adventure 32 Platforms + Roller + Skywalk: $108
- 2 Hours Phuket Old Town Street Food Walking Tour: $45
- 2-Hour ATV Tour from Phuket: $77
- 2x Snorkelling Phi Phi, Maiton, Maya Bay, khai islands tour: $58
- 4 Waters Eco Adventure: $96
- 4 Waters Eco Adventure Full Day Tour: $103
- 4 Waters Eco Adventure from Phuket Including Lunch: $145
- 4-Hours Phuket Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Tour with Lunch: $97
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $6.35Pai $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:
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Cocktails (for Two)$5.46
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Beer$2.32
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- All-Night Bar Crawl with Drinks & 4 Venues: $22
- Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $25
- Pub Crawl Tour: $25
- Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $78
- Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $97
- Phuket Sightseeing Tour with Rum Distillery : $97
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop And Wat Chalong Temple : $172
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop & Wat Chalong Temple: $213
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and Pai, we can see that Phuket is more expensive. And not only is Pai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Phuket would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phuket 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 Phuket Expensive? and Is Pai Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Phuket or Pai?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Phuket or Pai in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Pai. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Pai. Phuket receives a lot of rain in the summer. Phuket usually gets more rain in July than Pai. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Pai receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. In the summer, Phuket often gets more sunshine than Pai. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pai receives 146 hours of full sun.
In July, Phuket is generally around the same temperature as Pai. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 28°C (82°F), and Pai fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPhuket 28°C (82°F)Pai 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Pai in the Autumn?
Both Pai and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Phuket is December to March. The rainy season in Phuket is June to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Pai. It's quite rainy in Phuket. In October, Phuket usually receives more rain than Pai. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Pai receives 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
It's quite sunny in Pai. Phuket usually receives less sunshine than Pai during autumn. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Pai receives 226 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Phuket is around the same temperature as Pai in the autumn. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Pai fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPhuket 27°C (81°F)Pai 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Pai in the Winter?
Both Pai and Phuket during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round.
December to March is the dry season in Phuket. Phuket usually gets more rain in January than Pai. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Pai receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the winter, Phuket often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Pai. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pai receives 283 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Phuket is a little warmer than Pai. Typically, the winter temperatures in Phuket in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Pai averages at about 24°C (74°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPhuket 28°C (82°F)Pai 24°C (74°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Pai in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Pai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket. Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Phuket usually receives more rain than Pai. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Pai receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In Phuket, it's very sunny this time of the year. Phuket usually receives less sunshine than Pai during spring. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Pai receives 275 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's very hot in Pai this time of the year. In April, Phuket is generally around the same temperature as Pai. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 29°C (84°F), and Pai fluctuates around 32°C (89°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPhuket 29°C (84°F)Pai 32°C (89°F)
Typical Weather for Pai and Phuket
| Phuket | Pai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.