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

Should you visit Shenzhen or Paihia?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Shenzhen and Paihia can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Shenzhen or Paihia?

Shenzhen

Located in the Guangdong Province of southeastern China, Shenzhen is a metropolis that connects Hong Kong to China's mainland. It is one of China's most populous cities, inhabited by vast array of people from other Chinese regions.  It is perhaps best known for it shopping, collection of amusement parks, green parks, museums and galleries, and a few historic sites. It is on UNESCO's Creative Cities list.

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.

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


Which place is cheaper, Paihia or Shenzhen?

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 Shenzhen is $140, while the average daily cost in Paihia is $99. 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 Shenzhen and Paihia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Shenzhen $91
    Paihia $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Shenzhen $182
    Paihia $66
Compare Hotels in Shenzhen and Paihia

Looking for a hotel in Shenzhen or Paihia? 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 Shenzhen


Hotels in Paihia


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Shenzhen $15
    Paihia $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen

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

  • shenzhen airport private transfer: $31
  • [Airport Transfer] Shenzhen Airport 送 迎 Shenzhen City Transfer High reputation for service! : $32
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Hong Kong HTL-APT (HKG): $78
  • Transfer Hong Kong Airport to Hong Kong by Luxury Van or Sedan: $112
  • Stress-Free Hong Kong Airport Transfer to HK downtown: Meet&Greet: $57
  • Private Transfers to/from Bao'an Airport(SZX): $20
  • Shenzhen Private Transfer from Shenzhen central to Shenzhen Bao'an Airport (SZX): $86
  • Shenzhen Private Transfer from Shenzhen Bao'an Airport (SZX) to central Shenzhen: $86
  • Shenzhen Private Transfer and Ongoing Travel Assistance: $39
  • Shenzhen Customized Local Tour with Transfer : $299
  • Shenzhen Baoan Airport to Shenzhen Hotel Private Transfer: $73
  • Shenzhen Bao'an Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Center: $49

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 Shenzhen or Paihia?

Prices for flights to both Paihia and Shenzhen 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
    Shenzhen $35
    Paihia $48

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen

For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Locals - Dim Sum, Wonton & more: $53
  • Wet market tour & cooking class with local mum: $98
  • Explore Hong Kong: Mid-Autumn Festival Food Tour: $103
  • Discover Hong Kong’s Hidden Eats on a Tin Hau Food Tour: $109
  • Small-Group Hong Kong Island Food Tour: $116
  • Traditional Chinese Pun Choi cooking class in Hong Kong: $146
  • Private Food Tour in Hong Kong: $148
  • Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $149
  • The 10 Tastings of Hong Kong With Locals: Private Street Food Tour : $176
  • Hong Kong Private & Personalized Food Tour with a Local: $177
  • Asian Favorites Cooking Class in Hong Kong (4-Course Meal): $184
  • Hong Kong Style Noodles Cooking Class (Includes 4-Course Meal): $184

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Shenzhen $17
    Paihia $34

Tours and Activities in Shenzhen

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

  • Custom private tour of Hong Kong Island - Half day: $228
  • Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car Ticket in Hong Kong: $24
  • Seat-in-Coach: Macau Day Tour with Simple Lunch from Hong Kong: $185
  • Shenzhen Self-Guided Flexible Tour with Private Car and Driver : $87
  • (Private class) Hong Kong gourmet baking experience class: Hong Kong-style egg tart + custard mooncake: $89
  • 4-Hour Private Hong Kong Layover Tour: $280
  • 4-Hour Small Group Kowloon Sightseeing Tour: $103
  • Aberdeen Fishing Village Private Tour by Minivan: $232
  • Aberdeen fisherman cultural tour+dim sum by local: $140
  • Afternoon Hiking Tour Sharp Island Geopark: $40
  • Aqua Luna: Symphony of Lights Cruise in Hong Kong: $49
  • Best Seller: VIP Lantau Tai O Tour Priority Cable Car, Big Buddha: $95

Tours and Activities in Paihia

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

  • Adrenalin Junkie Tour - 60 mins (min 2): $140
  • *Popular Tour* - Bay of Islands: Nature Adventure - 4hrs: $143
  • 1 Hour Scenic Bay of Islands Tour: $30
  • 3 Hours // Hole in the Rock Cruise & Bay of Islands Tour: $87
  • Bay Combo Tour - 60 mins (min 2): $140
  • Bay of Islands - Explorer Tour: $136
  • Bay of Islands - Mini Tour (75-90 mins): $38
  • Bay of Islands - Mini Tour: (75-90mins): $45
  • Bay of Islands 2-Hour Sundowner Evening Sailing Cruise: $55
  • Bay of Islands Cruise & Island Tour - Snorkel, Hike,Swim,Wildlife: $95
  • Bay of Islands Scenic Tour : $65
  • Bay of Islands Waterfall Explorer Kayaking Tour: $58

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Shenzhen $19
    Paihia $22

Sample the Local Flavors in Shenzhen

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Shenzhen:

  • Hong Kong Pub Crawl at Lan Kwai Fong (LKF): $46


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


Which is Bigger, Shenzhen or Paihia?

Shenzhen has a larger population, and is about 520 times larger than the population of Paihia. When comparing the sizes of Shenzhen and Paihia, 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.