A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Paihia vs. Tainan City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Paihia or Tainan City?

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 Paihia and Tainan City. 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: Paihia or Tainan City?

Paihia

Paihia is a town on the North Island of New Zealand in the Bay of Islands region. It is about a three hours north of Auckland by car. For those visiting the Bay of Islands, it is the main town in the area and is located near the town of Russell and Kerikeri. There is a wharf in town where most ships depart from if you are planning on going out to explore the Bay of Islands. Paihia is a very small town with a population of about 1800 people. There is a fair climate all year round with temperatures ranging from sixty to seventy degrees Fahrenheit.

Tainan City

The oldest city in Taiwan, Tainan was once the nation's capital during imperial times and is today famous for its temples and historic buildings which speak to this distant past. Additionally Tainan has become known for its lively night markets and fantastic snack foods available from a large concentrate of street vendors located throughout the city.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Taiwan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Taiwan.


Which place is cheaper, Tainan City or Paihia?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Paihia is $99, while the average daily cost in Tainan City is $149. 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 Paihia and Tainan City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Paihia $33
    Tainan City $64
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Paihia $66
    Tainan City $128
Compare Hotels in Paihia and Tainan City

Looking for a hotel in Paihia or Tainan City? 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.

Hotels in Paihia


Hotels in Tainan City


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: Paihia Hotel Prices and Tainan City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Paihia $12
    Tainan City $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paihia

Also for Paihia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Bay Of Islands - Airport Transfers: $24

Is it cheaper to fly into Paihia or Tainan City?

Prices for flights to both Tainan City and Paihia 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Paihia $48
    Tainan City $72

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Paihia $34
    Tainan City $11

Tours and Activities in Paihia

For Paihia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Bay of Islands: 1 Hour Scenic Bay of Islands Tour: $29
  • 1 Hour Scenic Bay of Islands Tour: $30
  • Bay of Islands - Mini Tour (75-90 mins): $38
  • Bay of Islands - Mini Tour: (75-90mins): $45
  • Bay of Islands 30-minute Adventure Jet Boat Trip: $52
  • Bay of Islands 2-Hour Sundowner Evening Sailing Cruise: $55
  • Sundowner Evening Cruise - 2 hour evening sailing cruise with swim stop: $57
  • Bay of Islands: Late Afternoon Sailing Cruise: $57
  • Bay of Islands Waterfall Explorer Kayaking Tour: $58
  • Bay of islands Waterfall Cruise Kayaking Tour: $58
  • Bay of Islands Scenic Tour : $65
  • Hole in the Rock Fast Boat Ocean Adventure: $70

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Paihia $22
    Tainan City $6.14


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paihia and Tainan City, we can see that Tainan City is more expensive. And not only is Paihia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Paihia is in Pacific and Tainan City is in Asia, 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 Paihia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Paihia 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 Tainan City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tainan City than you might in Paihia.

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


Which is Bigger, Paihia or Tainan City?

Tainan City has a larger population, and is about 390 times larger than the population of Paihia. When comparing the sizes of Paihia and Tainan City, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.