Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Doha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Doha or El Nido?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and El Nido can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Doha or El Nido?
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDoha $200El Nido $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $200, 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 Doha and El Nido in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDoha $119El Nido $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDoha $238El Nido $28
Compare Hotels in Doha and El Nido
Looking for a hotel in Doha 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: Doha Hotel Prices and El Nido Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Doha $23El Nido $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
- Sharing Arrival Transfer - West bay: $20
- Sharing Arrival Transfer - West Bay: $20
- Sharing Arrival Transfer - Pearl Qatar: $27
- Sharing Arrival Transfer - Doha city: $14
- Shared Departure Transfer in West Bay: $20
- Shared Departure Transfer from Doha: $14
- Shared Departure Transfer - Pearl Qatar: $27
- Shared Arrival Transfer - Doha City: $14
- Qatar: Private Airport Transfer From or To Doha Airport!: $59
- Qatar Doha Hamad Airport (DOH): Transfer to Doha city: $175
- Qatar Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) to Doha - Arrival Private Transfer: $66
- Qatar Doha Airport (DOH) to Doha - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $144
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $11
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $36
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $150
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or El Nido?
Prices for flights to both El Nido and Doha 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 dayDoha $61El Nido $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
- Private Dinner on Al Safliya Island: $76
- Private Souk Waqif with Lunch or Dinner Tour: $96
- Half Day Doha City Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $143
- BBQ Dinner in the desert resort; Dune bashing & camel ride: $165
- Doha Private Full Day Desert Safari Lunch | Dinner Included: $190
- Full Day Desert Safari with Camp Access, Buffet Dinner,Camel Ride: $195
- Doha : Full Day Desert Safari | BBQ Dinner | Inland sea: $197
- Private Desert Safari with BBQ Lunch/Dinner at Souk Al Wakra: $202
- Full Day Desert Private Safari with Lunch or Dinner: $214
- Private Overnight Desert Safari, Dune bashing, dinner & Breakfast: $220
- Full Day Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner: $234
- From Overnight Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner: $240
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Doha $18El Nido $5.38
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Doha City Tour And Dhow Boat Ride (Private Tour): $99
- Private Express Doha City Tour: $165
- Transit/Layover Tours from Doha Airport – Explore Doha City : $105
- (Private) Quickie to the Desert Safari Experience - Inland Sea Visit: $100
- 1 Hour Camel Ride Experience in Sealine Beach: $172
- 3-Hour Kayaking Eco Adventure - Mangrove Purple Island : $70
- 4 Hours-Doha City Private Tour: $74
- 4-Hour Private Group City Tour in Doha, Qatar: $72
- 4-Hour Private Group City Tour in Doha, Qatar: $70
- 4-Hour Private Tour to Msheireb Museums: $100
- 8-Hour Private Cultural Tour: $288
- Arabian Sands Half-Day Adventure in Qatar: $140
Tours and Activities in El Nido
For El Nido, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Island Hopping Tour A with lunch BEST PRICE!: $22
- Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches: $23
- Shared El Nido Tour A: $23
- Big Lagoon and Shimizu Island Tour with Kayaking: $23
- Hidden Beaches and Lagoons Boat Hopping Tour D: $23
- Island Hopping Tour B Cudognong Cave & More: $25
- El Nido Tour A: $27
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: $27
- El Nido Tour D Full Day w/ Beach Lunch: $28
- El Nido Island Tour B w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $28
- Island Hopping Tour C (Shared tour) BEST PRICE!: $28
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour C: Hidden Beaches & Shrine: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDoha $15El Nido $8.36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Doha and El Nido, we can see that Doha is more expensive. And not only is El Nido much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Doha 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 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 Doha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Doha 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 Doha Expensive? and Is El Nido Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Doha or El Nido?
Doha has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of Doha 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.