Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Bali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bali or El Nido?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bali and El Nido can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bali or El Nido?
Bali
Known as the "Island of the Gods," it's not difficult to see why the Gods would want to set up shop in Bali. With a beautifully diverse landscape of hills, mountains, coastlines, beaches, vibrant rice fields and volcanic hillsides, you'll easily go into sensory overload.
Bali is home to 4 million people who all hold true to a deeply spiritual and unique culture. With champion surfing, world class resorts and challenging hiking trails, this Indonesian island accommodates travelers from every walk of life. It's often called, "paradise on earth, " and no one disagrees.
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 for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBali $72El Nido $38
The average daily cost (per person) in Bali is $72, while the average daily cost in El Nido is $38. 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 Bali and El Nido in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBali $41El Nido $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBali $82El Nido $26
Compare Hotels in Bali and El Nido
Looking for a hotel in Bali 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: Bali Hotel Prices and El Nido Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bali $8.96El Nido $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bali:
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Motorbike Rental$3.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bali
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:
- West Beach Nusa Penida Tour with Speedboat Transfer from Sanur: $99
- Unforgettable Batur Volcano Hiking With Private Transfer: $85
- Ubud: Sky Bike Adventure, Swing & Rice Terrace with Transfer: $51
- Sanur Bali to/from Lembongan: Speedboat Transfer: $15
- Private transfer: Uluwatu to Bali Airport (DPS): $15
- Private transfer: Nusa Dua to Bali Airport (DPS): $17
- Private Arrival Transfer: Denpasar International Airport to Nusa Dua Area: $15
- Private Airport Transfer and Others: $50
- Nusa Dua Departure transfer to Bali Airport International (DPS): $13
- Ngurah Rai Bali Airport Private Transfer: $16
- LuxMe Bali Four Hands massage with Hotel Transfer: $58
- Horse Riding on the Black Sand Beach and Free Hotel Transfers: $74
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: $11
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $35
- 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Bali or El Nido?
Prices for flights to both El Nido and Bali 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 dayBali $20El Nido $11
Typical Food Prices in Bali
Some typical examples of dining costs in Bali are as follows:
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Coffee$1.23
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Lunch for Two$14
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Bali Cafe for Two$27
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Lunch for Two$8.00
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Lunch for 2$8.86
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Dinner for 2$9.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bali
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bali.
- Romantic Seafood Dinner under sunset jimbaran Beach: $30
- Private Tour Uluwatu Sunset Kecak Dance and Dinner at Jimbaran: $31
- Ubud: Balinese Cooking Class at an Organic Farm: $32
- Pirate Dinner Cruise with Shows, Games, and Music: $33
- From Ubud: Authentic Cooking Class in a Local Village: $35
- Ubud Food Tour : Explore Traditional Night Market: $35
- Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran: $38
- Spice Garden, Jamu & Cooking Class in Bali Village: $45
- Seminyak: Balinese Cooking Class & Market Tour: $45
- Bali Famous Beach, Kecak Dance, Uluwatu Temple, Sunset, Dinner: $45
- Bali Street Food Tour: $45
- Bali's Best Sunset: Uluwatu Kecak Dance & Dinner Jimbaran Beach: $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bali $11El Nido $5.20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bali
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bali are as follows:
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Spa for Two$54
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Snorkelling Trip$12
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Cooking School$28
Tours and Activities in Bali
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bali are as follows:
- Nusa Penida Snorkeling Adventure (Private & All-Inclusive): $129
- Private Tour Bali Bird Park And Ubud Tour: $110
- Private Tours Tegenungan Waterfall Ubud Palace & Market: $80
- (BCR Rafting) Rafting Adventure in Telaga Waja River 18km: $55
- 2 Day Tours Ubud Art Village, Dance And Other Tourist Attractions: $186
- 3 Days Full Day Tours Tanah Lot Temple The Gate Of Heaven Temple: $300
- 3-Days Lombok,Gili island Tour Hopping around departure from Bali island: $300
- 30 minutes tandem Paragliding tours in Bali with free photo/video: $185
- 5 Hours Bali Blue Lagoon Snorkeling Tour Including Tanjung Jepun: $59
- 6-Hour White Water Rafting and Kanto Lampo Waterfall Private Tour: $79
- ATV Rock Adventure with Uluwatu Temple : $35
- ATV Tour Through Fun Zone and Scenic Trek: $35
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 D: $20
- El Nido Island Tour A: $20
- Island Hopping Tour A with lunch BEST PRICE!: $21
- Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches: $22
- Shared El Nido Tour A: $22
- Big Lagoon and Shimizu Island Tour with Kayaking: $22
- El Nido Island Tour B: $23
- Hidden Beaches and Lagoons Boat Hopping Tour D: $23
- Island Hopping Tour B Cudognong Cave & More: $25
- El Nido Island Tour C: $25
- El Nido Tour A: $27
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: $27
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBali $3.17El Nido $8.08
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bali and El Nido, we can see that Bali 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 Bali would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bali 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 Bali Expensive? and Is El Nido Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bali or El Nido?
Bali has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of Bali 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.