Which place is cheaper, Can Tho 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 Can Tho?
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 Can Tho. 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 Can Tho?
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.
Can Tho
Can Tho is the largest city of Vietnam's Mekong Delta, and is best known for its canal network of floating markets, restaurants, bars, and hotels, Buddhist pagodas, and the beauty of the delta, which is illuminated in the evenings.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Hanoi.
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Pai Prices
Thailand PricesCan Tho Prices
Vietnam Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $91Can Tho $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $91, while the average daily cost in Can Tho is $66. 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 Can Tho in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $16Can Tho $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $32Can Tho $52
Compare Hotels in Pai and Can Tho
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Can Tho? 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 Can Tho Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $42Can Tho $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Can Tho
Also for Can Tho, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: Can Tho Airport to/from Can Tho City Center: $35
- Private Transfer: Can Tho Airport - Can Tho City Center: $35
- Private Transfer from Can Tho City to Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport: $123
- Private Transfer from Can Tho City to Can Tho (VCA) Airport: $51
- Private Transfer from Can Tho (VCA) Airport to Can Tho City: $135
- PRIVATE CAR: Can Tho AIRPORT <=> CanTho Hotels (one way transfer): $30
- From 3-Day Nam Du Archipelago Tour with Transfers: $278
- Private Transfer from Can Tho Airport to Hotel: $30
- Can Tho To Ho Chi Minh Private Car Transfer: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Can Tho?
Prices for flights to both Can Tho 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 $42Can Tho $28
Typical Food Prices in Can Tho
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Can Tho:
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Restaurant Dinner (for Two)$4.93
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Coconut$0.27
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Mango$1.02
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Hot Pot Dinner (for Two)$6.60
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Two Vietnamese Iced Coffees$0.61
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Casual Lunch (for One)$2.65
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Can Tho
For Can Tho, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Floating Market, Canals, Garden & Cooking Class: $24
- Premium Can Tho Food Tour – “Wrap & Roll”: $29
- Boat tour on Mekong river see the sunset, small canal, Vegan dinner, street food: $29
- Biking and Cooking Class in Can Tho Rural: $32
- Explore Can Tho City tour combine Local Food tour - in afternoon: $35
- Biking and cooking class in the rural tour at Can Tho: $36
- Can Tho food tour voted by local - Vegan option is available: $38
- Street food tour back of the bike in Can Tho: $39
- Authentic Vietnamese Cooking Class in Can Tho: $39
- Walking street food tour designed by local chef: $41
- Vietnamese Cooking Class with Lunch: $48
- Cooking Class - Flavors of the Delta: $52
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $46Can Tho $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Can Tho
For Can Tho, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Sunset Boat Ride$1.90
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Half Day Floating Market Tour$7.96
Tours and Activities in Can Tho
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Can Tho.
- Private ecotour in floating market-nature reserved: $93
- Victoria Sunset Cruise on Hau River: $35
- 1 day-Tra Su cajuput forest tour pick up from Chau Doc or Can Tho: $155
- Bicycle Tour Through Peaceful Villages: $37
- Boat tour visit 3 pagodas, Ancient house, see sunset on mekong river: $59
- CASA Authentic Bicycle Tour: $89
- CASA Authentic Mekong Motorbike Tour: $89
- Cai Rang Floating Market - My Tho & Ben Tre - VIP Private Tour: $125
- Cai Rang Floating Market Tour & Rural Cycling: $63
- Cai Rang Floating Market Tour -Amazing Can Tho : $78
- Cai Rang Floating Market Tour with Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve: $92
- Can Tho Countryside Bike Tour with Fruit Garden Visit: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $15Can Tho $6.26
Typical Alcohol Prices in Can Tho
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Can Tho from other travelers:
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Beer$3.03
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Can Tho, we can see that Pai is more expensive. And not only is Can Tho much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Can Tho would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Can Tho 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 Pai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pai than you might in Can Tho.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pai Expensive? and Is Can Tho Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Can Tho?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Pai or Can Tho in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Can Tho. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Can Tho attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Can Tho receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Pai usually receives less rain than Can Tho. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Can Tho receives 313 mm (12.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Pai usually receives less sunshine than Can Tho during summer. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies, while Can Tho receives 168 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Pai is around the same temperature as Can Tho. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Can Tho averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPai 29°C (85°F)Can Tho 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Pai or Can Tho in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Pai as well as Can Tho. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Can Tho throughout the year.
Also, December to April in Can Tho is the dry season. May to November in Can Tho is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Can Tho. Pai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pai usually gets less rain in October than Can Tho. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Can Tho receives 343 mm (13.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In the autumn, Pai often gets more sunshine than Can Tho. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Can Tho receives 158 hours of full sun.
In October, Pai is generally around the same temperature as Can Tho. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Can Tho fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPai 29°C (84°F)Can Tho 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Pai or Can Tho in the Winter?
Both Can Tho and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Can Tho because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Pai usually receives less rain than Can Tho. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Can Tho receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Can Tho. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Can Tho during winter. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Can Tho receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
Pai is around the same temperature as Can Tho in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Can Tho fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPai 24°C (74°F)Can Tho 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Pai or Can Tho in the Spring?
Both Can Tho and Pai during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Can Tho year-round.
December to April is the dry season in Can Tho. May to November is the rainy season in Can Tho. Can Tho gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pai usually gets less rain in April than Can Tho. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Can Tho receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Can Tho, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Pai. In the spring, Pai often gets more sunshine than Can Tho. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Can Tho receives 235 hours of full sun.
The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is around the same temperature as Can Tho. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Can Tho averages at about 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPai 32°C (89°F)Can Tho 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Can Tho and Pai
| Pai | Can Tho | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 332 mm (13.1 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 313 mm (12.3 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 365 mm (14.4 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 360 mm (14.2 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 343 mm (13.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 60 mm (2.4 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.