A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pai vs. Hefei for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pai or Hefei?

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 Hefei. 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 Hefei?

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.

Hefei

While most would consider the city of Hefei a pass-through destination, there are plenty of things to see in the capital city of China's Anhui province.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Adventure Tours to China, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in China.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Hefei, we can see that Pai is more expensive. And not only is Hefei much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hefei would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hefei 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 Hefei.

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

When is the best time to visit Pai or Hefei?

Hefei 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 Hefei in the Summer?

Both Hefei 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.

In the summer, Pai is around the same temperature as Hefei. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Hefei averages at about 29°C (83°F).

Hefei gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually gets more rain in July than Hefei. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Hefei receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Hefei in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Hefei. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round.

In October, Pai is generally much warmer than Hefei. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Hefei fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Pai usually receives more rain than Hefei. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Hefei receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Pai or Hefei in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Pai as well as Hefei. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Hefei can be very cold during winter. Pai is much warmer than Hefei in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Hefei fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Pai usually gets less rain in January than Hefei. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Hefei receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Hefei in the Spring?

Both Hefei and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year.

The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is much warmer than Hefei. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Hefei averages at about 16°C (61°F).

In April, Pai usually receives less rain than Hefei. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Hefei receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hefei and Pai