Which place is cheaper, Ubud 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 Ubud?
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 Ubud. 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 Ubud?
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.
Ubud
Made popular by the film Eat Pray Love, Ubud is located in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia. Beautiful Hindu temples and iconic rice fields are the sight to see in this popular cultural, artistic and religious hub on the island.
Though Ubud is hot and humid during the day, it is still cooler than coastal areas. Still, temperatures linger between mid-70's and low 90's year-round, so it is likely you'll experience warm weather, regardless of when you visit.
Ubud's wet season is from November to June, which makes it an unpopular time for travelers. January and February are when Ubud experiences the heaviest rainfall, so it may be wise to avoid visiting at this time, especially since weather will limit activities, bring out insects, and cause landslides and possible flooding.
Dry season runs from July through October, which is high season for travel. Even during dry season, Ubud is extremely humid, so pack lightweight clothing that breathes and lots of sunblock.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Indonesia, and The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia.
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Pai Prices
Thailand PricesUbud Prices
Indonesia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $91Ubud $153
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $91, while the average daily cost in Ubud is $153. 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 Ubud in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $16Ubud $128
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $32Ubud $256
Compare Hotels in Pai and Ubud
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Ubud? 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 Ubud Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $42Ubud $1.75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ubud
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ubud:
- White Water Rafting Ubud Bali With Hotel Transfer: $30
- Waterbom Bali Day Pass with Hotel Transfer: $76
- Water Rafting With Private Transfer And Lunch: $85
- Vip Airport Transfer : $32
- Kecak Fire Dance with Transfer & Optional Day Tour: $16
- Ayung River Rafting & Jungle Swing Ticket with Transfer: $69
- 3 Spectacular Waterfalls In Ubud With Transfer: $56
- 1 Hour Beach Horse Riding with Transfer: $56
- Ubud Wos River Tubing Adventure with Lunch & Hotel Transfers: $28
- Ubud White Water Rafting with Private Transfer & Lunch: $33
- Ubud Rafting with Hotel Transfers and Lunch: $31
- Ubud Cultural and Historical Guided Tour with Transfer: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Ubud?
Prices for flights to both Ubud 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 $42Ubud $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ubud
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ubud.
- Balinese Cooking Class, Rice Field & Market Tour: $16
- Ubud Mystic Dinner at Oracle of Spice Lemuria The Lost City: $17
- Oracle of Spice Mystic Dinner Experience in Bali: $17
- Uluwatu Sunset & Romantic Dinner: $20
- Cooking Class with Transfers and Optional Market Visit: $22
- Balinese Cooking Class and Market Tour: $22
- Ubud : Regular or Vegetarian cooking class with market visit: $22
- Ubud Cooking : All Inclusive Cooking Class: $23
- Dinner Show Lost City - Story of Humanity Experience: $24
- Cooking Class with Market Visit and Hotel Pickup: $25
- Cooking Class and Dinner in Traditional House by Food Lover Tour: $25
- Ubud Cooking Class by Lemon Grass Cooking Class: $26
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $46Ubud $9.84
Tours and Activities in Ubud
Here are a few actual costs in Ubud for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Balaji Adventure Bali Quad Bike 350cc and Ayung Rafting: $48
- Bali Rafting and ATV Private Tour Adventure: $105
- Barong Dance and Waterfall tour in Bali: $35
- Best Ubud Tours -All inclusive with private driver: $35
- Explore Bali with Private ATV Ride + Tour with VW Car: $80
- Full Day Private Tour from Tegenungan Waterfall to Tanah Lot: $55
- Full Day Ubud Tour: $95
- Lembongan Snorkeling Swim With Manta Rays and Island Tour: $55
- Mount Batur Jeep Tour and Hot Spring: $24
- Mount Batur Sunrise Jeep Tour & Natural Hot Spring: $40
- Nusa Penida Island West Tour - All Inclusive: $37
- One Day Tour Nusa Penida East & West Part : $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $15Ubud $6.62
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Ubud, we can see that Ubud 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 Ubud would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ubud 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 Ubud 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.