Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Ao Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ao Nang or El Nido?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ao Nang or El Nido? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Ao Nang or El Nido?
Ao Nang
If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.
El Nido
El Nido is a coastal destination on the Philippine island of Palawan. It consists of about 45 islands and islets all with beautiful beachfront scenery and plenty of opportunities for experiencing nature above and below the water. Some of the island's best features include limestone karst cliffs, coral reefs, lagoons, coves, and waterfalls.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAo Nang $107El Nido $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $107, while the average daily cost in El Nido is $39. 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 Ao Nang and El Nido in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAo Nang $52El Nido $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAo Nang $104El Nido $28
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and El Nido
Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or El Nido? 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: El Nido Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ao Nang $56El Nido $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Krabi to Phuket: $106
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $22
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Statation: $22
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $18
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Station, Krabi: $18
- Phuket: Speedboat Transfer to Ao Nang or Railay via Ko Yao: $41
- Krabi:Speedboat Transfer to Phi Phi Islands: $41
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Phuket: $31
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $23
- Krabi Airport Private One-Way SUV Transfer: $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $140
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $36
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $11
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or El Nido?
Prices for flights to both El Nido and Ao Nang 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 dayAo Nang $24El Nido $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Krabi: Ya's Cookery Late Afternoon Thai Cooking Class: $39
- Krabi : Authentic Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour: $40
- Krabi: Morning/Afternoon Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $47
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi: $50
- Krabi 7 Island Sunset by Luxury Vintage Boat With BBQ Dinner: $128
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ao Nang $11El Nido $5.38
Tours and Activities in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- ATV adventure 1hour drive: $43
- ATV adventure 30 mins drive: $27
- ATV adventure and achery (1้hour ): $35
- ATV adventure and shooting range: $57
- Kayak Tour in Krabi Mangrove Forest with Lunch: $27
- From Hong Islands Day Tour by Boat with Lunch: $33
- From Phi Phi Islands Day Tour by Boat with Lunch: $46
- From Private Gondola Cruise with Lunch and Picnic: $60
- From Krabi: James Bond Island One-Day Tour by Speedboat: $124
- Half-Day Krabi Four Islands Tour with Amazing long-tail Boat: $88
- James Bond Island: Sightseeing Tour by Longtail Boat & Kayak: $43
- Kayaking klongroot and atv adventure: $32
Tours and Activities in El Nido
For El Nido, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- El Nido Full Day Tour C with Buffet Lunch : $43
- El Nido Group Tour B - Cave Tour w/ Island Lunch: $47
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: $27
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour C: Hidden Beaches & Shrine: $29
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour C; Hidden Beach: $32
- El Nido Island Tour A w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $31
- El Nido Island Tour B w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $28
- El Nido Island Tour C w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $31
- El Nido Island Tour D w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $31
- El Nido Nacpan Day Tour: $63
- El Nido Palawan Private Tour C, with Lunch: $139
- El Nido Private Lagoon Tour - Tour A w/ Island Lunch: $139
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAo Nang $15El Nido $8.36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and El Nido, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is El Nido much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Nido would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Nido 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 Ao Nang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ao Nang than you might in El Nido.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ao Nang Expensive? and Is El Nido Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or El Nido?
Ao Nang has a larger population, and is about 3% larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and El Nido, 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.
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.