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

Should you visit Zhangye 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 Zhangye 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: Zhangye or Paihia?

Zhangye

Zhangye, China is a city in the Gansu Province in the central north part of the country, close to Mongolia. This ancient city has often been used as a military strong hold, having been the headquarters of General Huo among many others. Zhangye is a fabulous day trip city to visit when staying in larger nearby cities.

Zhangye is privy to beautiful summer weather, with lots of sunshine and temperatures in the high 70's Fahrenheit. The best times to visit are between July and September, when temperatures and sunshine are at their highest. Autumn, Winter, and Spring tend to be a little chillier and rainier.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Paihia or Zhangye?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangye is $85, 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 Zhangye and Paihia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Zhangye $38
    Paihia $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Zhangye $76
    Paihia $66
Compare Hotels in Zhangye and Paihia

Looking for a hotel in Zhangye 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 Zhangye


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.
    Zhangye $38
    Paihia $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangye

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zhangye:

  • Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Hotel to Zhangye Airport (YZY): $59
  • Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Airport (YZY) to Zhangye Hotel: $59

Is it cheaper to fly into Zhangye or Paihia?

Prices for flights to both Paihia and Zhangye 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
    Zhangye $25
    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.
    Zhangye $10
    Paihia $34

Tours and Activities in Zhangye

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

  • Private day tour to Zhangye Danxia Landform the Rainbow Mountain: $150
  • Private Day Tour: Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes and Zhangye Danxia Landform: $299
  • Private Hiking Tour: Binggou Danxia and Zhangye Danxia Geopark from Zhangye: $299
  • Private Hiking Tour: Pingshanhu Grand Canyon and the Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes: $235
  • Private day tour to Zhangye Mati temple & Giant Buddha Temple start from Zhangye: $155
  • Zhangye Danxia Half Day tour: $195
  • Zhangye One Day City Tour: $77
  • Zhangye Rainbow Danxia Private Day Tour: $214

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: $49
  • 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 Cruise Kayaking Tour: $59
  • Bay of Islands Waterfall Explorer Kayaking Tour: $59
  • Thriller Tour - Bay of Islands, 30 mins (min 2): $60
  • Scenic Tour - Bay of Islands, 30 mins (min2): $60
  • Glass Bottom Boat Tour to the Hole in the Rock: $68
  • Parasailing Adventure Over the Bay of Islands: $70
  • Hole in the Rock 1.5-Hour Fast Boat Ocean Adventure: $71

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Zhangye $6.90
    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: $100
  • Private Tour: Bay of Islands Tour with Wine Tasting: $288
  • Private Shore Excursion: Bay of Islands Tour with Wine Tasting: $288


When comparing the travel costs between Zhangye and Paihia, we can see that Zhangye 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 Zhangye 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 Zhangye Expensive? and Is Paihia Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Zhangye or Paihia?

Zhangye has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Paihia. When comparing the sizes of Zhangye 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.