What to budget in Pai, 2026–27
Written by Nolo Hub Pai
Updated by the Nolo team, October 2026
tl;dr
Plenty of what people come to Pai for costs nothing to see, from Pai Canyon at sunset to the White Buddha above town. What your trip costs comes down to your bed, how you get around and how you spend your evenings. These are the prices around town this high season, 2026–27.
Quick answers
- A day
- 620–1,430 baht with a dorm bed, three meals, one waterfall and four drinks; 420–1,110 without the drinks
- Chiang Mai to Pai
- 150–350 baht by minivan, 2,800–3,200 by private taxi
- A scooter
- 100–300 baht a day for a 125cc, plus a deposit you get back
- Entry
- Free at most places, 20–100 baht at a few, and 200–300 for foreign adults where there’s a park or sanctuary ticket
- Cash
- For almost everything, except perhaps at hostels and hotels
- Christmas and New Year
- Beds cost around 20% more
A day in Pai, added up
A dorm bed, three meals between street stalls and Thai restaurants, one waterfall and four drinks:
| Baht | |
|---|---|
| A dorm bed | 200–550 |
| Three meals | 120–360 |
| One waterfall, Mor Pang or Pam Bok | 100–200 |
| Four small beers, hostel or bar | 200–320 |
| The day | 620–1,430 |
| The day without the drinks | 420–1,110 |
Riding yourself? Add 100–300 baht for a 125cc scooter, and petrol on top.
Beds
| A night in high season | Baht |
|---|---|
| A bed in a dorm of 8 or more | 200–350 |
| A bed in a dorm of 7 or fewer | 350–550 |
| A private room in a hostel | 600–1,200 |
| A guesthouse room, basic | 400–700 |
| A guesthouse room, mid-range | 800–1,400 |
| A guesthouse room, fancy | 1,500–2,500 |
| A hotel room, standard | 1,000–1,800 |
| A hotel room, upscale | 2,500–4,500 |
| A hotel room, luxury | 5,000–9,000 and up |
Over Christmas and New Year, expect around 20% more.
At Nolo Hub Pai, live from our booking system:
Beds from 320 to 520 baht a night, 520 in December and January
Getting to Pai
The minivan from Chiang Mai is 150–220 baht one way if you buy your seat at the station counter, and 250–350 baht if you book online or take one that picks you up at your hostel. Fares change, so check the operator’s own booking page for today’s price. Our guide to getting to Pai links both companies.
A private taxi is 2,800–3,200 baht from Chiang Mai, the airport included, and stops wherever you like on the way. For a bigger group, a private van is 3,000–4,000 baht for the lot of you.
Staying with us? We’ll pick you up free from Walking Street any time between 9am and 9.30pm.
Getting around
| Bike | A day, baht |
|---|---|
| 125cc scooter | 100–300 |
| 150cc scooter | 300–450 |
| Dirt or street bike | 600–1,500 |
With scooters, you get what you pay for. A mid-range bike is a better bet than the cheapest one going: the 100-baht scooters often have problems, and you want decent brakes and a bike that performs, so try the brakes before you ride off. The shop takes a deposit of 2,000–3,000 baht in cash, or your passport, and you get it back with the bike, so keep that money aside from your spending. You’ll need a licence that covers motorcycles.
Petrol from a roadside bottle is 60–80 baht a litre. Filling up a scooter costs 140–200 baht, and a dirt or street bike 200–400.
Not riding? A motorbike taxi from town to most of the landmarks is 70–150 baht. Before you go, work out how you’re getting back, because a ride out doesn’t come with a ride home. Our guide to getting around Pai without a scooter has the options.
Bicycles on Walking Street are 100–300 baht a day. Our sunset taxi to Pai Canyon or Two Huts is 100 baht a person, there and back: it normally leaves at 4.30pm, once four people are booked. On our Pai Landmarks trip, the taxi and the entry fees come to 420 baht in all, or 120 if you follow on your own scooter. Anyone can join, wherever you’re staying.
Entry fees
Free
| Place | Entry |
|---|---|
| Pai Canyon | Free. Toilets 5 baht, parking free |
| The White Buddha | Free. Sarongs for hire, 20 baht |
| Santichon | No ticket. Dressing up or the big wooden swing, 40–100 baht |
| Two Huts | No ticket. You order food or a drink |
| Mae Yen Waterfall | Usually free. Carry 300 baht in case rangers are collecting the park fee |
| Pai Memorial Bridge | Free |
| Doi Kiew Lom | Free |
| Muang Paeng Hot Spring | Free |
| Muang Rae | Free |
| Hua Chang Waterfall | Free |
| Ban Jabo | Free |
| Walking Street | Free |
| The Saturday market | Free |
| Doi Miang and Doi Thong | No ticket booth we’ve found. Check locally |
A small fee
| Place | Entry |
|---|---|
| Yun Lai viewpoint | 20 baht. The tea is extra |
| The Bamboo Bridge | 30 baht |
| Mor Pang Waterfall | 100 baht |
Park and sanctuary tickets, foreign adults
| Place | Entry |
|---|---|
| Pam Bok Waterfall | 200 baht |
| Sai Ngam Hot Spring | 200 baht, plus 30 a motorbike or 60 a car |
| Tha Pai Hot Spring | 300 baht, plus 20 a motorbike |
| Pong Dueat | 300 baht. Private tubs extra |
Pam Bok and Sai Ngam share the Lum Nam Pai Wildlife Sanctuary’s day pass, and it’s dated the day you buy it. Do both on the same day and you pay it once: 230 baht for one person on one scooter. Tha Pai and Pong Dueat don’t share a ticket, even though they’re in the same national park. The sanctuary gates take cash only.
Caves and the river
| Place | Entry |
|---|---|
| Tham Lod | 350–700 baht a group of up to 3 |
| Tipsy Tubing | 450 baht, plus about 1,000 in cash for the stops |
At Tham Lod the village cooperative charges by the group: 350 baht for the first cave, 400 for two and 700 for all three with the bamboo raft. Three people sharing the full route pay about 233 each.
The Land Split has been permanently closed since 2020. And our own pool at Nolo Hub Pai costs a drink: buy one at the bar and you’re welcome to swim.
Food
| Baht | |
|---|---|
| Street food, a dish | 40–80 |
| A dish at a Thai restaurant | 60–120 |
| A meal at a Western café | 150–280 |
| A fancy dinner, a main | 350–800 and up |
| A fruit shake | 40–60 |
| A coffee | 60–95 |
For khao soi, pad thai and mango sticky rice at street prices, go to Walking Street in the evening or the Saturday market.
Massage
An hour of Thai massage is 200–250 baht, and a foot massage the same. An hour with oil is 300–400 baht.
Drinks
| Baht | Shop | Hostel | Bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| A small beer | 30–50 | 50–70 | 60–80 |
| A local spirit and mixer | 60–80 | 60–100 | |
| An imported spirit and mixer | 80–120 | 100–150 | |
| A cocktail | 100–150 | 120–180 |
Questions
How much money do I need for a day in Pai?
About 620–1,430 baht for a dorm bed, three meals, one waterfall and four drinks, or 420–1,110 without the drinks. Add 100–300 baht if you rent a scooter.
How much is the minivan from Chiang Mai to Pai?
150–220 baht at the station counter, or 250–350 baht online or with a pickup from your hostel. Check the operator for today’s fare.
How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Pai?
100–300 baht a day for a 125cc and 300–450 for a 150cc, with a deposit of 2,000–3,000 baht in cash or your passport. Pay for a mid-range bike rather than the cheapest.
Do I need cash in Pai?
Yes. Expect to pay cash for almost everything, except perhaps at hostels and hotels.