Which place is cheaper, Arrowtown or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit El Nido or Arrowtown?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Arrowtown? 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 Arrowtown?
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.
Arrowtown
Historically, Arrowtown is an old gold mining town that is located on the South Island of New Zealand. The town was established during the Otago gold rush of 1862. It is very close to Queenstown, which is a very popular destination among travelers, and it is definitely worth visiting if you are in the Otago region of New Zealand. It is a very tiny town, with a population of just over 2,000 people. The town has a lot of character and history and is a perfect place to go if you wish to get out of the touristy areas like Queenstown.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Arrowtown $122
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Arrowtown is $122. 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 Arrowtown in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Arrowtown $72
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Arrowtown $144
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Arrowtown
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Arrowtown? 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 Arrowtown Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Arrowtown $29
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: $150
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $150
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $37
- Island Hopping TOUR A with Lunch, Transfer & EDTF: $46
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
- El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- EXPEDITION HAPPINESS PRIVATE TRANSFER: $198
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Arrowtown?
Prices for flights to both Arrowtown 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
-
Food Meals for one dayEl Nido $12Arrowtown $32
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.43Arrowtown $16
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 Arrowtown
For Arrowtown, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Queenstown: 'Valley of the Vines' Wine and Bike Tour: $92
- Queenstown: Arrowtown To Queenstown Biking Adventure: $59
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.45Arrowtown $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Arrowtown, we can see that Arrowtown 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 Arrowtown 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 Arrowtown would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arrowtown 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 Arrowtown Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Arrowtown?
El Nido has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Arrowtown. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Arrowtown, 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.