Which place is cheaper, Adelaide or El Nido?
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 El Nido or Adelaide?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Adelaide? 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: El Nido or Adelaide?
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.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the often overlooked capital city of the State of South Australia. It's also the fifth largest city in the country. Despite being skipped by most travelers, Adelaide is an interesting city to explore and has a decent amount to offer open minded travelers. It has some fascinating architecture, unique shopping, and wonderful cafes and restaurants. Part of the appeal of Adelaide is its location in the midst of Australia's wine regions, including McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, and Clare Valley. Any of these destinations could be visited as a day trip from Adelaide.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.
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El Nido Prices
Philippines PricesAdelaide Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $47Adelaide $133
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $47, while the average daily cost in Adelaide is $133. 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 El Nido and Adelaide in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Adelaide $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Adelaide $130
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Adelaide
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Adelaide? 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: El Nido Hotel Prices and Adelaide Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Adelaide $18
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: $170
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $170
- 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: $44
- El Nido Tour C with Lunch and Transfers: $44
- El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Adelaide
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Adelaide are as follows:
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Shuttle from the Train Station$3.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Adelaide
Also for Adelaide, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport & Houseboat Transfers Adelaide Bus: $298
- ADL Airport to City Centre | Port Private Transfer: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Adelaide?
Prices for flights to both Adelaide and El Nido 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 dayEl Nido $20Adelaide $54
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Adelaide
For Adelaide, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- HandleBar Bike Tour with Pub Stops & Dinner Option: $30
- Local Food Tour and Tastings with Guide: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.34Adelaide $14
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 Full Day Tour C with Buffet Lunch : $45
- 2 Days Private Cruise in El Nido on a 43-foot Sailing Yacht: $672
- All-Inclusive El Nido Island 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 Group Tour A with Beach Lunch: $45
- El Nido Group Tour B with Lunch (Full Day): $47
Tours and Activities in Adelaide
For Adelaide, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Barossa Tour from 4 Tastings & Lunch Included": $109
- 90 Minute Port River Dolphin & Ships Graveyard Cruise: $59
- Adelaide Central Market Tour with Lunch: $122
- Adelaide Central Markets: Food Walking Tour: $46
- Adelaide City Highlights Full-Day Tour: $152
- Adelaide City Highlights Tour: $58
- Adelaide City Highlights via Hahndorf Half-Day Tour: $107
- Adelaide City Highlights- Hahndorf and Mt. Lofty Half-Day Tour: $87
- Adelaide City and First Nations Cultural tour: $99
- Adelaide City and Hahndorf Full Day Tour: $127
- Adelaide Cruise Ship Tours: $208
- Adelaide Cruise Ship Tours to Hahndorf & Hills Wildlife Wonders: $245
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.31Adelaide $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Adelaide
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Adelaide:
- Half-day McLaren Vale & Glenelg Wine Tasting Tour: $59
- McLaren Vale and Glenelg Wine Tasting and Sightseeing (Half-day Afternoon): $60
- Highlights, Hahndorf & McLaren Vale Wine Tasting: $89
- Adelaide Highlights, Hahndorf & McLaren Vale Wine Tasting and Sightseeing Tour: $91
- Adelaide Food Odyssey: Food Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $105
- Barossa Day Out: Wines, Brewery, Chocolate & Lunch: $105
- Discover Barossa: 4 Wine Tastings, Gourmet Lunch, and Hidden Gems: $111
- Barossa Premium Wine Tasting tour & Winery Lunch: $118
- From Barossa Valley Food and Wine Tour: $118
- From Barossa Valley Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour: $118
- Barossa Premium Wine Tasting Tour & lunch Departs 7 days a week : $120
- Barossa Valley Full-Day Wine Tasting & Maggie Beers Farm Join Us: $120
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Adelaide, we can see that Adelaide is more expensive. And not only is El Nido much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since El Nido is in Asia and Adelaide is in Pacific, 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 Adelaide would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Adelaide 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 El Nido Expensive? and Is Adelaide Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Adelaide?
Adelaide has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Adelaide, 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.