Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Beirut?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Beirut or El Nido?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Beirut and El Nido. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Beirut or El Nido?
Beirut
Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.
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 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.
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Beirut Prices
Lebanon PricesEl Nido Prices
Philippines Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeirut $2.78El Nido $44
The average daily cost (per person) in Beirut is $2.78, while the average daily cost in El Nido is $44. 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 Beirut and El Nido in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeirut $1.26El Nido $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeirut $2.52El Nido $26
Compare Hotels in Beirut and El Nido
Looking for a hotel in Beirut 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: Beirut Hotel Prices and El Nido Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beirut $0.44El Nido $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut
Also for Beirut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Beirut International Airport: $18
- Private Departure Transfer | Beirut Hotel to Airport: $10
- Private Arrival Transfer | Beirut Airport to Your Hotel: $10
- Departure Transfer:From Hotel To Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY): $10
- Beirut-Rafic Hariri Airport Luxury Car Transfer: $70
- Beirut Airport one Way Private Transfer to the hotel: $25
- BEY Airport to Hotel, Private Arrival Transfer: $13
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: $218
- To Puerto Princesa 1-Way Shared Van Transfer: $14
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $35
- Island Hopping Tour B Snake Island with transfer: $39
- Island Hopping TOUR A with Lunch, Transfer & EDTF: $53
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
- El Nido Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $49
- El Nido Tour C with Lunch and Transfers: $49
- El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
- El Nido Beginner Surf Lesson with Lunch and Round-Trip Transfers: $74
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Beirut or El Nido?
Prices for flights to both El Nido and Beirut 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 dayBeirut $1.23El Nido $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut
For Beirut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Lebanese Virtual Cooking Class Live from Lebanon: $35
- Beirut Street Food Tour, Lebanon: $74
- Authentic Lebanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with Tania's Family in Beirut: $100
- Beirut Street Food Tour | 4 Neighbourhoods · All Inclusive: $150
- Private Beirut Street Food Tour with Lunch | Max 6 People: $150
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Nido
For El Nido, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- El Nido, Sibaltan: Family Dinner, Bonfire and Karaoke: $39
- El Nido Fishing with Local Fisherman with Sunset Dinner: $136
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Beirut $0.26El Nido $4.97
Tours and Activities in Beirut
For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3 Days Lebanon Holiday Tour Package: $264
- 3-Day Tour of Beirut with Pick Up: $264
- ATV (2 Seat) Full Day Off-Road Tour & Scenic Adventure: $195
- ATV Adventure Half Day Guided Tour: $120
- Afternoon Tour | Beiteddine Palace & Deir el Qamar | Small Group: $75
- Anjar baalback & Ksara tour: $130
- Anjar, Baalbek & Ksara Semi-Private Tour | Max 10 · Lunch Incl: $55
- Anjar, Baalbek & Ksara Winery Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $55
- Anjar, Baalbek & Ksara Winery Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $55
- Anjar, Baalbek & Ksara Winery Small-Group Tour | Lunch included: $55
- Anjar, Baalbek & Ksara Winery | Budget Small-Group Tour Beirut: $45
- BEYOND CHOUF mountains - Hidden Gems Mountains Day Tour: $250
Tours and Activities in El Nido
For El Nido, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Days Private Cruise in El Nido on a 43-foot Sailing Yacht: $672
- All-Inclusive El Nido Beach Hopping Private Tour: $153
- Private Island Hopping Tour A with BUFFET LUNCH: $128
- Private Island Hopping Tour B: $132
- Private Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH: $132
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH: $21
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour B: $28
- El Nido Advanced Enduro Tour: $200
- El Nido Big Lagoon & Tropical Island Private Tour: $356
- El Nido Island Hopping Day Tour from Puerto Princesa City: $120
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: $27
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour C: Hidden Beaches & Shrine: $28
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeirut $0.23El Nido $7.72
Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut
Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Private Wine Tour | Chateau Musar, Ixsir & Batroun Day Trip: $75
- Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour From Beirut (Entrance Fee Included): $91
- Private Wine Tour | Chateau Musar, Ixsir & Batroun from Beirut: $100
- Private Bekaa Valley Wine Tour | 3 Wineries from Beirut: $100
- Private tour to Jeita Grotto with Wine Tasting in Faqra Ruins: $110
- PRIVATE Wine Tour in Central Bekaa Valley: $113
- Private Cedar Hike & Bekaa Wine Tour | Kefraya & Ksara: $150
- Discover Wine Tasting Lebanese Tour Experience: $170
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beirut and El Nido, we can see that El Nido is more expensive. And not only is Beirut much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beirut is in Middle East and El Nido is in Asia, 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 Beirut would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beirut 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 El Nido would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in El Nido than you might in Beirut.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beirut Expensive? and Is El Nido Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beirut or El Nido?
Beirut has a larger population, and is about 250 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of Beirut 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.