Which place is cheaper, Cairns or Pai?
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 Pai or Cairns?
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 Pai and Cairns. 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: Pai or Cairns?
Pai
As the lush green mountains adorn the blue horizon amidst its creamy clouds, Pai, in northern Thailand, works as one of the many hubs for some of the world's most exciting cultural adventures and natural wonders. Within this small town just north of the Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, Pai lays on the Pai River and holds a population of no more than 2,500. Despite its geographical insignificance, this town attracts a wide array of tourists. From breathtaking waterfalls to relaxing hot springs, you will find yourself astonished at how much this little city holds within its borders.
Cairns
Most travelers go to Cairns specifically to visit Great Barrier Reef. The city itself is surprisingly large and cosmopolitan with a population of approximately 140,000. The city's economy is almost exclusively based on tourism, although you will find some jobs centered around agriculture, or more specifically sugar cane, bananas, coffee, tea, wine, and some tropical fruits. The city itself is surrounded by rainforest and makes a great base for exploring Kuranda, with the Barron Gorge National Park and the Daintree offering a quieter tropical getaway than Cairns.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.
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Pai Prices
Thailand PricesCairns Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $91Cairns $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $91, while the average daily cost in Cairns is $116. 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 Pai and Cairns in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $16Cairns $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $32Cairns $86
Compare Hotels in Pai and Cairns
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Cairns? 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: Pai Hotel Prices and Cairns Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $42Cairns $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shuttle Bus Transfer - Kuranda to Cairns City: $20
- Shared Transfer Between Cairns and Port Douglas: $87
- Private Transfers - Cairns Airport to Palm Cove: $96
- Private Transfers - Cairns Airport to Cairns City: $69
- Private Transfer from Cairns hotels to Port Douglas Cruise Port: $161
- Private Transfer from Cairns Cruise Port to Port Douglas hotels: $180
- Private Transfer from Cairns Cruise Port to Cairns Airport (CNS): $87
- Private Transfer from Cairns City Hotels to Cairns Cruise Port: $72
- Private Transfer from Cairns Airport (CNS) to Port Douglas Port: $161
- Private Transfer from Cairns Airport (CNS) to Cairns Cruise Port: $87
- Private Transfer From Cairns Cruise Port to Cairns City Hotels: $72
- Private Transfer - Cairns Airport to/from Cairns CBD : $77
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Cairns?
Prices for flights to both Cairns and Pai 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 dayPai $42Cairns $49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairns
For Cairns, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour with optional 3 Course Dinner : $66
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour with optional 2 Course Dinner: $66
- Dinner Cruise Experience: $92
- Cairns Catamaran Harbour and Dinner Cruise: $93
- Night at the Aquarium Guided Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $96
- Aquarium Guided Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner: $118
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour with 3 Course Dinner in Cairns: $124
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour with 2 Course Dinner in Cairns: $124
- City Sights Tour with Evening Dinner Cruise: $171
- Small-Group Afternoon Cairns City Tour with Harbour Dinner Cruise: $174
- Paronella Park Rainforest Full-Day Tour with Dinner: $66,130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $46Cairns $37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairns
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cairns's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Scuba Diving$36
Tours and Activities in Cairns
For Cairns, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Kuranda Rainforestation Nature Park Ticket (BNP): $47
- 1 Hour Jetski Tour Cairns: $134
- 2 Days Tour on Atherton Tablelands and Cape Tribbin: $288
- 2-Day Daintree & Outback Tour from Cairns & Port Douglas: $261
- 2-Day Paronella Park & Tablelands Tour+Cape Tribulation Tour: $324
- 2-Day Waterfall and Daintree Tour: $191
- 30 min Jetski Tour Cairns: $74
- All Inclusive Day Tour to Frankland Islands Great Barrier Reef: $168
- All Inclusive Waterfalls and Rainforest Tour from Cairns : $120
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour in the heart of Cairns: $65
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour in the heart of Cairns: $65
- Atherton Tablelands: Lakes, Waterfalls, Rainforest Day Tour: $112
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $15Cairns $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairns
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cairns:
- Cairns Party Bus Pub Crawl Night Out Experience: $44
- From Atherton Tablelands Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $169
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Cairns, we can see that Cairns is more expensive. And not only is Pai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Pai is in Asia and Cairns 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 Pai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pai 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 Cairns would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cairns than you might in Pai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pai Expensive? and Is Cairns Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Cairns?
Cairns has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Pai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Pai or Cairns in the Summer?
Both Cairns and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Cairns for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Pai is generally around the same temperature as Cairnsin January. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (85°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Cairns. It's quite rainy in Pai. In July, Pai usually receives less rain than Cairnsin January. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 429 mm (16.9 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Cairns is November to March.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPai 29°C (85°F)Cairns 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Pai or Cairns in the Autumn?
Both Cairns and Pai during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many visitors come to Cairns in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
Pai is around the same temperature as Cairns in the autumn. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in April.
Cairns gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually gets less rain in October than Cairnsin April. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 273 mm (10.8 in) of rain this time of the year. April to October is the dry season in Cairns.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPai 29°C (84°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Pai or Cairns in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Cairns. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Cairns for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Pai is around the same temperature as Cairns. Typically, the winter temperatures in Pai in January average around 24°C (74°F), and Cairns averages at about 23°C (73°F)in July.
In January, Pai usually receives less rain than Cairnsin July. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPai 24°C (74°F)Cairns 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Pai or Cairns in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Pai as well as Cairns. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to Cairns because of the beaches.
Pai can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Pai is generally a little warmer than Cairnsin October. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 32°C (89°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
Pai usually gets more rain in April than Cairnsin October. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, April to October in Cairns is the dry season. November to March in Cairns is the rainy season.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPai 32°C (89°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Cairns and Pai
| Pai | Cairns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
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.