Which place is cheaper, Aoraki Mount Cook or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit El Nido or Aoraki Mount Cook?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Aoraki Mount Cook? 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 Aoraki Mount Cook?
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.
Aoraki Mount Cook
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is located on the South Island of New Zealand. It was declared a national park in 1953 to protect and preserve the landscape. The park is home to the country's highest peak, Aoraki/Mount Cook. In Maori, Aoraki means, "cloud piercer", and the English name, Mt Cook, refers to the navigator James Cook, who discovered New Zealand in the 18th century. Mt Cook was the training location for Sir Edmund Hillary, who was the first person to summit Everest in 1953. Other peaks in the park include Mount Tasman, Mount Sefton, and Mount Hicks. Not only can you find lush greenery all over the park, but also, glaciers cover 40% of the parks area.
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 New Zealand, and The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Aoraki Mount Cook $112
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Aoraki Mount Cook is $112. 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 Aoraki Mount Cook in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Aoraki Mount Cook $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Aoraki Mount Cook $126
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Aoraki Mount Cook
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Aoraki Mount Cook? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Aoraki Mount Cook $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- EXPEDITION HAPPINESS PRIVATE TRANSFER: $198
- El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $150
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $150
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- Island Hopping TOUR A with Lunch, Transfer & EDTF: $46
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $37
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aoraki Mount Cook
Also for Aoraki Mount Cook, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Dunedin City Hotels to Chalmers Cruise Port: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Aoraki Mount Cook?
Prices for flights to both Aoraki Mount Cook 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 $12Aoraki Mount Cook $28
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.43Aoraki Mount Cook $25
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
- All-Inclusive El Nido Island Hopping Private Tour: $153
- Private Island Hopping Tour A with BUFFET LUNCH: $132
- Private Island Hopping Tour B: $136
- Private Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH: $136
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH: $22
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour B: $27
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH: $29
- El Nido Big Lagoon & Tropical Island Private Tour: $199
- El Nido Group Tour B - Cave Tour w/ Island Lunch: $48
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour ( Private & All-Inclusive ): $170
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: $28
Tours and Activities in Aoraki Mount Cook
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Aoraki Mount Cook.
- (MT) Mount Cook & Lake Tekapo Day Tour from Christchurch: $216
- Day Tours from Mount Cook: $175
- From Christchurch: Mount Cook One-Way Discovery Tour: $123
- Half-Day Guided Sea Kayaking Tour from Anakiwa: $69
- Half-Day Self-Guided Ride and Wine Bike Tour from Arrowtown: $63
- Mount Cook to Queenstown Day Tour: $169
- Mt Cook & Hooker Valley Hike Small Group Tour from Queenstown: $159
- Mt Cook Small Group Tour from Queenstown with Optional Activities : $159
- Mt Cook Tour: Finish at Christchurch, Queenstown or Dunedin: $923
- Mt Cook Tour: Finish at Queenstown, Christchurch or Dunedin: $923
- Mt Cook to Christchurch One-Way Small Group Tour via Lake Tekapo: $127
- Mt Cook to Lake Tekapo One-Way Small Group Tour: $127
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.45Aoraki Mount Cook $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Aoraki Mount Cook
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Aoraki Mount Cook:
- Kinross Winery: Pinot Noir Wine Tasting Experience: $29
- Kinross Winery: Valli Wine Tasting Experience: $29
- Kinross Winery: Wild Irishman Wine Tasting Experience: $48
- Kinross Winery: Premium Central Otago Wine Tasting Experience: $48
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Aoraki Mount Cook, we can see that Aoraki Mount Cook 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 Aoraki Mount Cook 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 Aoraki Mount Cook would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aoraki Mount Cook 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 Aoraki Mount Cook Expensive?.
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.