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

Should you visit Yangon or Paihia?

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

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

Yangon

Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is the largest city and economic center for the nation of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. The city is a mix of British, Burmese, Chinese, and Indian influences, and is host to beautiful 19th-century colonial architecture as well as modern skyscrapers. The people of Yangon mainly follow the Buddhist religion and it is common to see monks wandering along the busy streets amidst gilded temples.

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


Which place is cheaper, Paihia or Yangon?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Yangon is $63, 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 Yangon and Paihia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Yangon $31
    Paihia $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Yangon $62
    Paihia $66
Compare Hotels in Yangon and Paihia

Looking for a hotel in Yangon 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 Yangon


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: Paihia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Yangon $2.38
    Paihia $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yangon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Yangon:

  • Private Hotel Transfers to or from YIA Airport: $24
  • Yangon Airport Private Transfer : $27
  • Yangon Airport Private Arrival Transfer : $20
  • Yangon Airport (RGN): Private Transfer to/from Yangon City: $41
  • Private Yangon Departure Transfer: Hotel to Yangon Airport: $40
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Yangon International Airport (RGN): $23
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Yangon International Airport (RGN) to Hotel: $23
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Bagan Nyaung-U Airport (NYU) to Hotel: $14
  • Private Airport Transfer at Yangon Airport to Center of Yangon: $23
  • Bagan Airport Transfer with Private Car: $13
  • Bagan (Nyaung Oo) Airport Private Transfer : $8.54

Is it cheaper to fly into Yangon or Paihia?

Prices for flights to both Paihia and Yangon 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
    Yangon $9.70
    Paihia $28

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yangon

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Yangon.

  • Morning Yangon Food Tour: $24
  • Yangon Evening Food Tour and trishaw ride: $26
  • Yangon morning food tour with train ride : $27
  • Yangon Street Food Tours: $28
  • Cooking class in the down town of Yangon, half day tour (07:30 AM - 12:30 PM): $65
  • Cooking Class in Yangon,Myanmar: $67

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.
    Yangon -
    Paihia $34

Tours and Activities in Yangon

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yangon are as follows:

  • Adventure Full day visit to Thanlyin (Syriam): $70
  • All About Yangon Full Day City Tour: $87
  • Bagan Cultrue Tour : $50
  • Bagan Sightseeing Tour by Private Guide and Car: $42
  • Bagan Temples Tour by Private car and Tour guide.: $46
  • Bago Full-Day Private Tour from Yangon: $128
  • Bago Full-Day Private Tour from Yangon: $110
  • Bago Full-Day Tour from Yangon: $79
  • Bago by Train: Full-day sightseeing tour: $117
  • Best Yangon City Tour with Experience English Speaking Guide: $142
  • Burmese Antiques Heritage Shopping Tour: $87
  • Bus Ticket ( Yangon - Mandalay): $21

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Yangon -
    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 Yangon and Paihia, we can see that Paihia is more expensive. And not only is Yangon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Yangon 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 Yangon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Yangon 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 Yangon.

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


Which is Bigger, Yangon or Paihia?

Yangon has a larger population, and is about 2300 times larger than the population of Paihia. When comparing the sizes of Yangon 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.