A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pyeongchang vs. Paihia for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pyeongchang or Paihia?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Pyeongchang or Paihia, 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: Pyeongchang or Paihia?

Pyeongchang

Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul, The Best 10-Day Tours in New Zealand, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Paihia or Pyeongchang?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Pyeongchang is $114, while the average daily cost in Paihia is $80. 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 Pyeongchang and Paihia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pyeongchang $62
    Paihia $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pyeongchang $124
    Paihia $66
Compare Hotels in Pyeongchang and Paihia

Looking for a hotel in Pyeongchang 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.

Hotels in Pyeongchang


Hotels in Paihia


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: Pyeongchang Hotel Prices and Paihia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pyeongchang $25
    Paihia $12

Is it cheaper to fly into Pyeongchang or Paihia?

Prices for flights to both Paihia and Pyeongchang 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
    Pyeongchang $27
    Paihia $28

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paihia

For Paihia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Private Modern Vegetarian Cooking Class with Anna in Northland: $195

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pyeongchang $51
    Paihia $34

Tours and Activities in Paihia

For Paihia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Adrenalin Junkie Tour - 60 mins (min 2): $108
  • *Popular Cruise Ship Tour* Bay of Islands and Glow Worm Caves Shore Excursion: $127
  • 3 Hours // Hole in the Rock Cruise & Bay of Islands Tour: $75
  • 3 Hours // Hole in the Rock Cruise & Island Stopover: $75
  • Bay Combo Tour - 60 mins (min 2): $108
  • Bay of Islands 2-Hour Sundowner Evening Sailing Cruise: $48
  • Bay of Islands Cruise & Island Tour - Snorkel, Hike,Swim,Wildlife: $90
  • Bay of Islands Discover the Bay cruise including Dolphins: $90
  • Bay of Islands Half-Day Private Tour: $196
  • Bay of Islands Waterfall Explorer Kayaking Tour: $59
  • Bay of Islands and Hole in the Rock Scenic Helicopter Tour: $173
  • Bay of Islands: 4.5 Hour Day Cruise and Island Getaway Tour: $74

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pyeongchang $8.79
    Paihia $22

Sample the Local Flavors in Paihia

Also in Paihia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Bay of Islands Wine Tour with Lunch: $106
  • Private Tour: Bay of Islands Tour with Wine Tasting: $287
  • Private Shore Excursion: Bay of Islands Tour with Wine Tasting: $287


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pyeongchang and Paihia, we can see that Pyeongchang is more expensive. And not only is Paihia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Pyeongchang 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 Paihia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Paihia 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 Pyeongchang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pyeongchang than you might in Paihia.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pyeongchang Expensive? and Is Paihia Expensive?.