Which place is cheaper, Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau)?
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 Nadi (Port Denarau). 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 Nadi (Port Denarau)?
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.
Nadi (Port Denarau)
Nadi, pronounced "Nandi", is a city and transportation hub in the Fijian islands. It is on one of the main islands, Viti Levu, and has a population of about 42,000. Many inhabitants are Indian as well as Fijian, and the largest temple in the Southern hemisphere is located in the city center. It must be noted that Nadi and surrounding areas aren't known for the beaches. This is more of a cultural destination or starting point for your trip to Fiji. For the best beaches, you will want to venture out to the other, smaller, islands.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket.
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Pai Prices
Thailand PricesNadi (Port Denarau) Prices
Fiji Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $91Nadi (Port Denarau) $198
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $91, while the average daily cost in Nadi (Port Denarau) is $198. 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $16Nadi (Port Denarau) $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $32Nadi (Port Denarau) $212
Compare Hotels in Pai and Nadi (Port Denarau)
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $42Nadi (Port Denarau) $8.81
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nadi (Port Denarau):
- Zip line Fiji ex Fiji Marriot w/private transfer dropoff Nadi Airport or resort : $168
- Treetops Zipline Tour with Drop off Transfer to Nadi Airport: $128
- Shuttle transfer to Nadi Airport : $49
- Shared transfer- Nadi Airport to Denarau island Fiji: $92
- Shared Transfer from Nadi Airport Fiji to Nadi area hotels: $9.15
- Shared Departure Transfer : Hotel to Airport: $18
- Roundtrip Transfer Nadi Int Airport -Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay(CFC APPROVED): $53
- Roundtrip Transfer :Nadi Airport to Crowne Plaza Hotel Nadi bay: $27
- Roundtrip Nadi Airport -Sofitel Resort & Spa(Private Transfer]: $30
- Round trip Transfer Airport to Coral Coast /Denarau Hotels : $55
- Round Trip Private Transfer From Nadi Airport To Your Resort : $23
- Private Transfers Nadi Airport Fiji to Intercontinental Resort / Yatule Resort: $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Nadi (Port Denarau)?
Prices for flights to both Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 $42Nadi (Port Denarau) $69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $46Nadi (Port Denarau) $32
Tours and Activities in Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nadi (Port Denarau) are as follows:
- "Coral Coast Adventure: Pottery, Kava, Meke, Dunes & Temple'': $118
- 16 Lines Zipline, Cave and Mud Spa Combo Tour with Lunch in Fiji: $164
- Authentic Fijian Day Tour: $83
- Best Sightseeing Tour : $132
- Biausevu Waterfall Tour (Sigatoka) : $100
- CFC Hot Spring Mud Pool,Garden Of Sleeping Giant And Village Visit Half Day Tour: $105
- Coral Coast Heritage Tour : $99
- Coral Coast Sightseeing & Pottery Village Tour: $80
- Cultural Night Tour: $80
- Discover Coral Coast & Natadola Beach Tour: $114
- Fiji Adventure: Biausevu Waterfall & Dunes hiking Combo Tour!: $135
- Fiji Island Cultural Experience with Lunch : $184
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $15Nadi (Port Denarau) $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Nadi (Port Denarau), we can see that Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) Expensive?.
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.