Which place is cheaper, Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou?
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 Guangzhou. 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 Guangzhou?
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.
Guangzhou
With a population of more than 12 million, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Though it has a long history, founded in 214 BC, the city has also many modern attractions, a mix of the old and new with temples and parks as well as skyscrapers and shopping centers. Its location on the Pearl River has contributed to this growth, making Guangzhou a major port and commercial hub.
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 in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
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Pai Prices
Thailand PricesGuangzhou Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $91Guangzhou $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $91, while the average daily cost in Guangzhou is $104. 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 Guangzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $16Guangzhou $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $32Guangzhou $116
Compare Hotels in Pai and Guangzhou
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Guangzhou? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $42Guangzhou $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- [Airport transfer] Guangzhou Airport - Guangzhou city transfer service with a good reputation! <Private charter: $27
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Guangzhou HTL-APT (CAN): $62
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Guangzhou APT-HTL (CAN): $62
- Shenzhen Day Tour from Guangzhou by Round Way Private Transfer: $255
- Private Transfer: Guangzhou hotel to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport: $33
- Private Transfer: Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou hotel: $33
- Private Transfer in Guangzhou with Fluent English Speaking Driver: $90
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou city hotels to Shekou Cruise Port: $176
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou South Railway Station to Baiyun Airport : $53
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN) to Shekou Port: $194
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou City Center to South Railway Station: $49
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Hotel: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Guangzhou?
Prices for flights to both Guangzhou 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 $42Guangzhou $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
- Old Town Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $79
- Food Tour - Eat Like Local + Rice Roll Workshop: $96
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour VIP Cruise and Dim-Sum Dinner Option: $146
- Guangzhou walking tour with dimsum dinner&Zhujiang river cruise: $160
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner: $176
- Pearl River Night Cruise and Karaoke Tour with Buffet Dinner in Guangzhou: $179
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Michelin Restaurant&Local Food Market: $180
- Morning Tea, Cantonese Opera, and Food Tour: $183
- Cantonese Dim Sum Dinner with Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou: $199
- Guangzhou Pearl River Night Cruise and Din Tai Feng Dinner: $199
- Guangzhou Private Night Tour: Lychee Bay, Beijing Road, Cruise, Dinner: $204
- Private Cooking Canton Cuisine Cooking Class in Guangzhou : $266
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $46Guangzhou $18
Tours and Activities in Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guangzhou Self-Guided Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $75
- Liuxihe National Forest Park Private Day Tour from Guangzhou: $266
- 1 Day Historical Guangzhou Layover Tour from Airport: $260
- 1-Day Guangzhou Airport Layover Visa-Free Private City Tour: $185
- 3-Hour Private Tour to Museum of Nanyue King Tomb in Guangzhou: $91
- 4-Hour Baiyun Mountain Yuntai Garden Private Guangzhou City Tour: $180
- 4-Hour Flexible Private Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Options: $153
- 4-Hour Private Flexible Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Option: $100
- 4-Hour Private Tour to Museum of Nanyue King & Academy of Clan Chen in Guangzhou: $91
- 5-Hour Private Guangzhou Yumcha Tasting with Local Food Market Experience : $118
- 5-Hour Sai Kwan Walking Tour with Unique Food Tasting: $72
- 6-Day Guangzhou to Guilin Scenic Tour: $1,598
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $15Guangzhou $14
When comparing the travel costs between Pai and Guangzhou, we can see that Guangzhou 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pai Expensive? and Is Guangzhou Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Guangzhou?
Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou in the Summer?
Both Guangzhou and Pai during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Pai is around the same temperature as Guangzhou in the summer. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Guangzhou fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
In Guangzhou, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Pai often gets less sunshine than Guangzhou. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Guangzhou receives 220 hours of full sun.
Guangzhou gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Guangzhou. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPai 29°C (85°F)Guangzhou 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Pai or Guangzhou in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Guangzhou. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round.
In the autumn, Pai is a little warmer than Guangzhou. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pai in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Guangzhou averages at about 25°C (76°F).
In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Guangzhou during autumn. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Guangzhou receives 192 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Pai usually receives more rain than Guangzhou. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPai 29°C (84°F)Guangzhou 25°C (76°F)
Should I visit Pai or Guangzhou in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Pai as well as Guangzhou. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Pai is generally much warmer than Guangzhou. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 24°C (74°F), and Guangzhou fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In the winter, Pai often gets more sunshine than Guangzhou. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Guangzhou receives 133 hours of full sun.
Pai usually gets less rain in January than Guangzhou. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPai 24°C (74°F)Guangzhou 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Pai or Guangzhou in the Spring?
Both Guangzhou and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year.
It's very hot in Pai this time of the year. Pai is a little warmer than Guangzhou in the spring. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 32°C (89°F) in April, and Guangzhou fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Guangzhou during spring. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Guangzhou receives 78 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Guangzhou. In April, Pai usually receives less rain than Guangzhou. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 182 mm (7.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPai 32°C (89°F)Guangzhou 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Guangzhou and Pai
| Pai | Guangzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.1 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 221 mm (8.7 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 24 mm (0.9 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.