Which place is cheaper, Te Anau 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 Te Anau?
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 Te Anau. 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 Te Anau?
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.
Te Anau
Te Anau is a town on the South Island of New Zealand, best-known as a gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. The region is a major destination for ecotourism as it is home to rare species like the endangered flightless takahe bird and natural features like caves, waterfalls, forests, lakes, glacial valleys, and mountains.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.
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Pai Prices
Thailand PricesTe Anau Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $91Te Anau $118
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $91, while the average daily cost in Te Anau is $118. 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 Te Anau in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $16Te Anau $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $32Te Anau $88
Compare Hotels in Pai and Te Anau
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Te Anau? 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 Te Anau Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $42Te Anau $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Te Anau
Also for Te Anau, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kepler Water Taxi Transfer across Lake Te Anau: $17
- Te Anau to Invercargill Small Group Transfer: $53
- Lake Marian Guided Hike with Transfers, Lunch & Morning Tea: $184
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Te Anau?
Prices for flights to both Te Anau 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 $42Te Anau $46
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $46Te Anau $47
Tours and Activities in Te Anau
For Te Anau, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Award Winning Milford Sound Full Day Tour & Cruise from Te Anau: $128
- Champagne Sightseeing Cruise on Lake Te Anau: $98
- Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Te Anau: $214
- Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri: $201
- Epic Milford Guided Tour from Te Anau: $142
- Evening Champagne Cruise on Historic 1935 Motor Yacht.: $84
- Fiordland: Jet Boat & Nature Walk Experience from Te Anau: $119
- From Doubtful Sound Coach & Cruise: $216
- From Milford Sound Coach Tour and Cruise: $119
- From Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, and Walks: $173
- From Milford Sound Cruise & Scenic Coach Tour: $126
- From Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip: $133
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $15Te Anau $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Te Anau, we can see that Te Anau 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 Te Anau 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 Te Anau would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Te Anau 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 Te Anau 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.