Which place is cheaper, Auckland or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit El Nido or Auckland?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Auckland? 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 Auckland?
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.
Auckland
Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand on an isthmus between the Northland Peninsula and the other parts of the North Island. Auckland is not only a city but also a region. In 2010 New Zealand combined what had previously been four separate cities into one region. These cities include the southern city of Manukau, the western city of Waitakere, the North Shore in the north, and Auckland City. The City of Auckland is the largest city in Polynesia and is very diverse with many expatriates from elsewhere in Polynesia. This diversity becomes most apparent in Auckland's many festivals and sporting events.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Auckland $149
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Auckland is $149. 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 Auckland in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Auckland $93
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Auckland $186
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Auckland
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Auckland? 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 Auckland Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Auckland $17
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Auckland
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Auckland:
-
Bus from Airport$10
-
Airport Shuttle$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Auckland
Also for Auckland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- [Stevong] 24 HRs Auckland Airport Transfer (Hotel <-> Airport): $38
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Auckland HTL-APT (AKL): $58
- Skip the Wait: Direct Auckland Airport Transfer to Your Hotel-SUV: $75
- Seamless Auckland Airport Transfers to Auckland CBD: $96
- Private Van Transfer From Auckland City To Auckland Airport: $89
- Private Van Transfer From Auckland Airport To Auckland City: $108
- Private Transfer from Auckland city to Bay Of Islands Cruise Port: $118
- Private Transfer from Auckland Port to Auckland Airport (AKL): $56
- Private Transfer from Auckland Airport AKL to Bay Of Islands Port: $118
- Private Transfer from Auckland Airport (AKL) to Tauranga Port: $149
- Private Transfer North Shore or Henderson to Auckland Airport AKL by Luxury Van: $120
- Private Transfer North Shore or Henderson to Auckland Airport AKL by Luxury Car: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Auckland?
Prices for flights to both Auckland 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 $12Auckland $28
Typical Food Prices in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Breakfast$5.07
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Auckland:: Japanese Home Cooking: $81
- Auckland Harbour 3-Course Dinner Cruise with Welcome Drink: $99
- Auckland Harbour Sailboat Cruise Including Three Course Dinner: $102
- Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour: $108
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.43Auckland $29
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Auckland
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Auckland's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Auckland Sky Tour (for 2)$35
-
Waiheke Island Tour (for 2)$128
Tours and Activities in Auckland
For Auckland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Auckland Best Top 5 Spots Half day Tour with small group: $138
- "City of Sails" highlights - private tour with German tour guide: $195
- 2-Hour Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Tour to Lucas Creek Waterfall: $70
- 4 Hours Private Tour in Auckland : $255
- 6 Hours Sightseeing Tour in Auckland: $134
- Afternoon Piha Beach and Rainforest Tour from Auckland: $124
- All Auckland City Hotels to Cruise Ship / Port: $51
- America’s Cup 2-Hour Sailing Experience Waitemata Harbour: $120
- Auckland CBD: Escape Game Adventure: $25
- Auckland Canyoning Rainforest Adventure: $151
- Auckland City & Native Forest Experience - Fully Guided Day Tour: $223
- Auckland City & West Coast Luxury Tour: $212
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.45Auckland $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Auckland
Also in Auckland, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ultimate Late Night Bar Crawl: $19
- Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour in Auckland with 3-Course Vineyard Lunch: $108
- Waiheke Island: Scenic Wine Tour Tasting Wines on Waiheke: $114
- Waiheke Island: The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour: $145
- Waiheke Island: Tour with Wine Tastings and Restaurant Lunch: $154
- From Waiheke Island Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch: $157
- Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch: $169
- Kumeu Wine Tour: $175
- Kumeu Wineries / Brewery : $181
- From Small Group Kumeu Wine Tour with Lunch: $185
- Small-Group Kumeu Wine Country Tour with Wine Tastings & Lunch: $191
- Scenic Wine Tastings Tour with Lunch: $216
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Auckland, we can see that Auckland 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 Auckland 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 Auckland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Auckland 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 Auckland Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Auckland?
Auckland has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Auckland, 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.