Which place is cheaper, Paihia or Siem Reap?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Siem Reap or Paihia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Siem Reap 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: Siem Reap or Paihia?
Siem Reap
Located in northern Cambodia, Siem Reap is the closest town to Cambodia's famous Angkor Wat. It is a comfortable and laid back town and most visitors use it as a base to explore the country's most visited destination. Although Siem Reap was once a quaint village, it has continued to grow and change to meet the needs of the many tourists who visit every year. Siem Reap has become a very touristy town with easy access to restaurants, hotels, and shops. It also has a large expatriate community and the western influences are unavoidable. Although prices remain quite low, they are higher than you might find elsewhere in Cambodia.
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 Phnom Penh, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Siem Reap, The Best 10-Day Tours in New Zealand, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySiem Reap $81Paihia $80
The average daily cost (per person) in Siem Reap is $81, 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 Siem Reap and Paihia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSiem Reap $51Paihia $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSiem Reap $102Paihia $66
Compare Hotels in Siem Reap and Paihia
Looking for a hotel in Siem Reap 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: Siem Reap Hotel Prices and Paihia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Siem Reap $8.79Paihia $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Siem Reap
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Siem Reap:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$13
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Bike Rentals$1.93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Siem Reap
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Siem Reap:
- Tonle Sap Sunset Boat Cruise with Transfers: $23
- Phare, Cambodian Circus with Tuk-Tuk Transfers: $27
- Kampong Phluk Floating Village Tour with Transfer: $75
- Kampong Phluk Floating Village Tour with Transfer: $75
- Angkor Airport (SAI) Private or Shared Transfers: $10
- Angkor Airport (SAI) Private or Shared Transfers: $9.00
- Airport Arrivals Private Transfer to Siem Reap: $45
- Siem Reap Transfer airport to Hotel: $58
- Siem Reap Taxi Transfer from Town to Airport: $35
- Siem Reap International Airport Transfer: $58
- Siem Reap Angkor International Airport private transfer: $30
- Siem Reap Angkor Airport Transfer or Pick-up: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Siem Reap or Paihia?
Prices for flights to both Paihia and Siem Reap 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 daySiem Reap $16Paihia $28
Typical Food Prices in Siem Reap
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Siem Reap:
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Breakfast for Two$5.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Siem Reap
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Siem Reap.
- Pupulars Apsara show Including Buffet Dinner & Hotel Pick up: $15
- Apsara Dance Show with Dinner by Tuk-Tuk Roundtrip Transfer: $17
- Apsara Performance Including Buffet Dinner & Hotel Pick up: $19
- Apsara Dinner Show with Hotel Transfer: $20
- Apsara Dance Show & Dinner with Tuk-Tuk Transfers: $26
- Apsara Performance Including Buffet Dinner & Hotel Pick up: $26
- Apsara Performance Including Buffet Dinner & Hotel Pick up: $27
- Cooking Class and Market Shopping: $29
- Khmer Cooking Class at a Local's Home: $29
- Morning Cooking Class & Market Tour: $29
- Half-Day Cambodian Cooking Class: $32
- Cambodian Cooking Class from Siem Reap: $32
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Siem Reap $30Paihia $34
Typical Entertainment Prices in Siem Reap
Here are a few typical costs in Siem Reap for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Angkor Tour Guide$8.24
Tours and Activities in Siem Reap
Here are a few actual costs in Siem Reap for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Kulen Mountain Entrance Ticket and Explore the Holy Mountain : $45
- 03 Hours Countryside tours: $88
- 1 Day Angkor Wat Tour from Siem Reap,Cambodia: $50
- 1 Day Angkor Wat Tour with Tour Guide: $60
- 1 Day Private Group of Angkor Wat Tour with Tuk Tuk only: $33
- 1-Day Small Circuit Tour: Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm: $65
- 1-Day private Angkor Temple Tour from Siem Reap: $27
- 2 Day Angkor Wat Private Tour: $245
- 2 Day Private Guided Tour in Angkor Temples, Cambodia: $35
- 2 Days Angkor Wat Sunrise and Sunset Private Tour: $134
- 2-Day Angkor Small-Group Tour & Banteay Srei from Siem Reap: $69
- 2-Day Angkor Temple Tour With Kbal Spean: $285
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 2-Hour Sundowner Evening Sailing Cruise: $48
- Sundowner Evening Cruise - 2 hour evening sailing cruise with swim stop: $48
- Bay of Islands 30-minute Adventure Jet Boat Trip: $53
- Bay of Islands Trike Tour Experience: $53
- Bay of Islands: Late Afternoon Sailing Cruise: $59
- Bay of Islands Waterfall Explorer Kayaking Tour: $59
- Glass Bottom Boat Tour to the Hole in the Rock: $68
- Parasailing Adventure Over the Bay of Islands: $69
- Hole in the Rock 1.5-Hour Fast Boat Ocean Adventure: $71
- Bay of Islands: 4.5 Hour Day Cruise and Island Getaway Tour: $74
- Paihia/Russell: Hole in the Rock & Bay of Islands Cruise: $74
- From Scenic Cruise with Roberton Island Stopover: $74
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySiem Reap $11Paihia $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Siem Reap
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Siem Reap:
- Mad Monkey Siem Reap Pub Crawl: $10
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 comparing the travel costs between Siem Reap and Paihia, we can see that Siem Reap is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Siem Reap is in Asia and Paihia is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Siem Reap Expensive? and Is Paihia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Siem Reap or Paihia?
Siem Reap has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Paihia. When comparing the sizes of Siem Reap 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.