Which place is cheaper, Paihia or Pingyao?
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 Pingyao or Paihia?
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 Pingyao and Paihia. 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: Pingyao or Paihia?
Pingyao
Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.
Paihia
Paihia is a town on the North Island of New Zealand in the Bay of Islands region. It is about a three hours north of Auckland by car. For those visiting the Bay of Islands, it is the main town in the area and is located near the town of Russell and Kerikeri. There is a wharf in town where most ships depart from if you are planning on going out to explore the Bay of Islands. Paihia is a very small town with a population of about 1800 people. There is a fair climate all year round with temperatures ranging from sixty to seventy degrees Fahrenheit.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.
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Pingyao Prices
China PricesPaihia Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPingyao $69Paihia $99
The average daily cost (per person) in Pingyao is $69, while the average daily cost in Paihia is $99. 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 Pingyao and Paihia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPingyao $23Paihia $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPingyao $46Paihia $66
Compare Hotels in Pingyao and Paihia
Looking for a hotel in Pingyao or Paihia? 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: Paihia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pingyao $13Paihia $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:
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Taxi to Train Station$1.40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paihia
Also for Paihia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bay Of Islands - Airport Transfers: $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Pingyao or Paihia?
Prices for flights to both Paihia and Pingyao 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 dayPingyao $34Paihia $48
Typical Food Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for 2)$5.05
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Mango Juice$0.70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pingyao $19Paihia $34
Typical Entertainment Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:
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All Day Bike Rental (for 2)$2.80
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Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)$7.01
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Bike Parking Fee (for 2)$0.56
Tours and Activities in Pingyao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:
- Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $145
- Shuanglin Temple Tour or Entry Ticket Only Option: $18
Tours and Activities in Paihia
For Paihia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Bay of Islands: 1 Hour Scenic Bay of Islands Tour: $29
- 1 Hour Scenic Bay of Islands Tour: $30
- Bay of Islands - Mini Tour (75-90 mins): $38
- Bay of Islands - Mini Tour: (75-90mins): $45
- Bay of Islands 30-minute Adventure Jet Boat Trip: $52
- Bay of Islands 2-Hour Sundowner Evening Sailing Cruise: $55
- Sundowner Evening Cruise - 2 hour evening sailing cruise with swim stop: $57
- Bay of Islands: Late Afternoon Sailing Cruise: $57
- Bay of Islands Waterfall Explorer Kayaking Tour: $58
- Bay of islands Waterfall Cruise Kayaking Tour: $58
- Bay of Islands Scenic Tour : $65
- Hole in the Rock Fast Boat Ocean Adventure: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPingyao $14Paihia $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pingyao and Paihia, we can see that Paihia is more expensive. And not only is Pingyao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Pingyao is in Asia and Paihia 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 Pingyao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pingyao 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 Paihia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paihia than you might in Pingyao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pingyao Expensive? and Is Paihia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pingyao or Paihia?
Pingyao has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Paihia. When comparing the sizes of Pingyao and Paihia, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.