Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Dubai?
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 Dubai 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 Dubai and El Nido can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or El Nido?
Dubai
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.
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 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.
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Dubai Prices
UAE PricesEl Nido Prices
Philippines Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $289El Nido $45
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $289, while the average daily cost in El Nido is $45. 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 Dubai and El Nido in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170El Nido $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340El Nido $26
Compare Hotels in Dubai and El Nido
Looking for a hotel in Dubai 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: Dubai Hotel Prices and El Nido Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13El Nido $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
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Taxi Ride$12
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Airport Taxi$12
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Sea Taxi$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yellow Boat Tour Dubai With Transfer Option: $90
- Xline Dubai Marina Zipline Adventure with Transfers Options: $245
- X Line Ride in Dubai Marina with Optional Private Transfers: $270
- Wild Wadi Dubai water park Ticket with 1 way transfer in Dubai: $96
- Wild Wadi - Dubai Theme Water Park Tickets With Transfers Option: $159
- Top of Burj Khalifa & Sky Views Dubai Tour with Transfers: $185
- Skip the Line Ticket to Dubai Miracle Garden and Transfer Option: $33
- Ski Dubai Admission Ticket with Optional Transfer: $66
- Sharjah hotel to Dubai Airport (DXB) - Departure Private Transfer: $53
- Sharjah hotel to Dubai Airport (DXB) - Departure Private Transfer: $35
- Scuba Diving at Jumeirah Dubai with Private Transfers: $167
- Real Madrid World Park Ticket with Optional Transfer: $75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $193
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $193
- El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
- El Nido Beginner Surf Lesson with Lunch and Round-Trip Transfers: $74
- Island Hopping TOUR A with Lunch, Transfer & EDTF: $53
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- El Nido Tour C with Lunch and Transfers: $49
- El Nido Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $49
- Island Hopping Tour B Snake Island with transfer: $39
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $35
- To Puerto Princesa 1-Way Shared Van Transfer: $14
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or El Nido?
Prices for flights to both El Nido and Dubai 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 dayDubai $96El Nido $19
Typical Food Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
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French bread$0.95
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Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice$10
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Lemon Mint Tea$4.36
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Coffee & Cake$6.53
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Smoothie$5.45
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Shawarma$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dubai Desert Safari with Dune Bashing, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $8.75
- Desert Safari Dubai with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $15
- Dhow Cruise with Dinner and Live Entertainment at Dubai Al Seef: $16
- Dubai Creek Dhow Cruise Dinner: $18
- Vip Red Dune Desert Safari Dubai, Camel Ride, BBQ Dinner, Shows: $18
- Vip Desert Safari Dubai With BBQ Buffet Dinner: $19
- VIP RED DUNE SAFARI with Pick/drop,Quad,Camel, BBQ Dinner & Shows: $19
- Dubai Dhow Cruise Dinner in Deira Creek: $20
- Evening Desert Safari Dubai with Camel Ride & BBQ dinner: $21
- Dubai Desert Safari With4x4 Pick/Drop camel ride BBQ dinner shows: $21
- Dubai Creek Dhow Dinner Cruise with Buffet & Live Entertainment: $21
- Vip Desert Safari Dubai with BBQ dinner&shows-Pick&Drop(Optional): $22
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.Dubai $19El Nido $5.01
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Visit to the Dubai Museum$0.82
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
- "Explore Dubai's Highlights: 6-Hour Guided City Tour: $41
- 1 HR - Dubai Marina Luxury Yacht Tour: $20
- 1 Hour Private Luxury Yacht Experience in Dubai: $70
- 1 hour Dubai Marina Riviera Leisure Cruise: $111
- 1-Hour Jet Ski Tour – Burj Al Arab, Atlantis, & Dubai Skyline: $155
- 10 Hours Private Abu Dhabi City Tour: $181
- 12 mins Helicopter Tour & The View at The Palm Observatory Deck: $282
- 1Hour 2000cc Dune Buggy Adventure: Ultimate Milehah Desert Thrill: $215
- 2Hrs private Sea escape Cruise, Swim, Tan & Sightsee!: $229
- 30 Minutes Flyboard Experience in Dubai JBR: $125
- 30 minutes Private Jet Car Experience with Burj Al Arab View: $259
- 3000cc,V6 (Automatic) Dune Buggy+Sandboarding - Private Adventure: $295
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 dayDubai $23El Nido $7.79
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
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A Couple Drinks$25
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubai
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubai:
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tours: $42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and El Nido, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is El Nido much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai 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 Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai 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 Dubai Expensive? and Is El Nido Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubai or El Nido?
Dubai has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of Dubai 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.