Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Ayutthaya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ayutthaya or El Nido?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ayutthaya 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: Ayutthaya or El Nido?
Ayutthaya
Once the largest city in the world, Ayutthaya, is the example of an ancient capital within a modern city. Located in the central plains of Thailand, this spot is ideally located between China, India and the Malay Archipelago creating the perfect place for trade in Asia. Eighteenth century maps from Holland and France show golden palaces, large ceremony spots and trading vessels from all over the world. Suddenly, in 1767, Ayutthaya experienced a tragic fall from grace with a Burmese invasion burning much of the city to the ground.
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 Cultural Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in 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 dayAyutthaya $68El Nido $40
The average daily cost (per person) in Ayutthaya is $68, while the average daily cost in El Nido is $40. 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 Ayutthaya and El Nido in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAyutthaya $23El Nido $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAyutthaya $46El Nido $28
Compare Hotels in Ayutthaya and El Nido
Looking for a hotel in Ayutthaya 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: Ayutthaya Hotel Prices and El Nido Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ayutthaya $30El Nido $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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River Ferry Crossing$0.59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ayutthaya
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ayutthaya:
- Transfer from Bangkok: $108
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $37
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $150
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $150
- El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
- EXPEDITION HAPPINESS PRIVATE TRANSFER: $201
Is it cheaper to fly into Ayutthaya or El Nido?
Prices for flights to both El Nido and Ayutthaya 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 dayAyutthaya $22El Nido $12
Typical Food Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of dining costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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Lunch for 2$4.15
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Ice Cream$0.89
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Breakfast for 2$4.15
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Breakfast for 2$10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ayutthaya
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ayutthaya.
- Bangkok: VELA Dinner Cruise Ticket: $21
- Eat like a local Food tour with small group: $57
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ayutthaya $29El Nido $5.46
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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Temple Entrances (2)$5.93
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Wat Entrance$1.48
Tours and Activities in Ayutthaya
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ayutthaya are as follows:
- App self-guided: Tour Bangkok, Thailand: $4.43
- Ayutthaya 1-day Private Tour : UNESCO World Heritage Site: $156
- Ayutthaya City and Historical Park Bike Tour: $39
- Ayutthaya Full-Day Tour with Bang Pa In (Summer Palace): $60
- Ayutthaya’s Heritage Revealed A Day Tour from Bangkok: $655
- Ancient City Temple Tour: $180
- Private 1 hour Boat tour Pa Sak River: $90
- UNESCO Heritage Temples and Cafe Day Tour: $69
- BKK: Ayutthaya Old Capital with 4 Famous Temple Private Tour: $149
- Bangkok: Ayutthaya Night Tour (Join Tour): $77
- Colors of UNESCO Heritage 6 hour Bicycle Tour: $60
- From Bangkok: Ayutthaya Day Tour Small Group: $63
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 Island Tour A: $21
- El Nido Island Tour D: $21
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH: $22
- One (1) Way Zipline Adventure with Sea, Cliff Views: $22
- El Nido Island Tour A: $22
- Tour A with Big Lagoon: $23
- Shared El Nido Tour D: $23
- Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches: $23
- Shared El Nido Tour A: $23
- El Nido Island Tour B: $24
- Hidden Beaches and Lagoons Boat Hopping Tour D: $24
- Island Hopping Tour B Cudognong Cave & More: $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAyutthaya $20El Nido $8.49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ayutthaya and El Nido, we can see that Ayutthaya 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 Ayutthaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ayutthaya 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 Ayutthaya Expensive? and Is El Nido Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ayutthaya or El Nido?
Ayutthaya has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of Ayutthaya 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.