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

Should you visit Pai or Okinawa?

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 Okinawa. 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 Okinawa?

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.

Okinawa

Okinawa is the southernmost prefecture of Japan and includes hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands. The chain of islands is off the southern mainland portion of the country and is made up of 49 inhabited islands and over one hundred uninhabited islands. Naha is Okinawa's capital, which is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Okinawa, we can see that Okinawa is more expensive. And not only is Pai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Okinawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Okinawa 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 Okinawa Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Pai or Okinawa?

Okinawa 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 Okinawa in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Pai as well as Okinawa. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Okinawa this time of year.

In July, Pai is generally around the same temperature as Okinawa. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (85°F), and Okinawa fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Okinawa. In the summer, Pai often gets less sunshine than Okinawa. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Okinawa receives 258 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Okinawa. Pai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai usually gets more rain in July than Okinawa. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Okinawa receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Okinawa in the Autumn?

Both Okinawa and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Okinawa for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Pai is a little warmer than Okinawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Okinawa fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Okinawa during autumn. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Okinawa receives 174 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Okinawa. It's quite rainy in Pai. In October, Pai usually receives less rain than Okinawa. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Okinawa receives 152 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Pai or Okinawa in the Winter?

Both Okinawa and Pai during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Okinawa in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Pai is a little warmer than Okinawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Pai in January average around 24°C (74°F), and Okinawa averages at about 16°C (61°F).

It's quite sunny in Pai. In the winter, Pai often gets more sunshine than Okinawa. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Okinawa receives 96 hours of full sun.

Okinawa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pai usually gets less rain in January than Okinawa. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Okinawa receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Okinawa in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Okinawa. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Also, most visitors come to Okinawa for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

Pai can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Pai is generally a little warmer than Okinawa. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 32°C (89°F), and Okinawa fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Okinawa during spring. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Okinawa receives 149 hours of full sun in the spring.

Okinawa receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Pai usually receives less rain than Okinawa. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Okinawa receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Okinawa and Pai