Which place is cheaper, Byron Bay or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit El Nido or Byron Bay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Byron Bay? 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 Byron Bay?
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.
Byron Bay
South of Brisbane, off the Pacific Highway, is the coastal town of Byron Bay. It is close to Cape Byron, which is the easternmost point in mainland Australia. Byron Bay makes its way onto most traveler's itineraries because of its wonderful beach activities. The area is world famous for its waves, making it popular with surfers, but it also has incredible scuba diving, whale watching, and a generally relaxed atmosphere. The area continues to rise in popularity with travelers and as such, amenities and facilities are popping up everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Byron Bay $146
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Byron Bay is $146. 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 Byron Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Byron Bay $70
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Byron Bay $140
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Byron Bay
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Byron Bay? 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 Byron Bay Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Byron Bay $34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
- 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 (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $150
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $150
- El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
- EXPEDITION HAPPINESS PRIVATE TRANSFER: $198
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Byron Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Byron Bay:
- Byron Bay Tandem Skydive with Transfer Options: $285
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Byron Bay?
Prices for flights to both Byron Bay 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 $12Byron Bay $50
Typical Food Prices in Byron Bay
Some typical examples of dining costs in Byron Bay are as follows:
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Dinner at Olivo (for 2)$62
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.43Byron Bay $37
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 Island Tour D: $21
- El Nido Island Tour A: $21
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH: $22
- One-Way Zipline Adventure with Sea & Cliff Views: $22
- El Nido Island Tour A: $22
- Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches: $23
- Tour A with Big Lagoon: $23
- Shared El Nido Tour A: $23
- Shared El Nido Tour D: $23
- El Nido Island Tour B: $24
- Hidden Beaches and Lagoons Boat Hopping Tour D: $24
- Island Hopping Tour B Cudognong Cave & More: $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Byron Bay
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Byron Bay are as follows:
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Buddha Gardens Spa (for 2)$130
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Surf Lesson$45
Tours and Activities in Byron Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Byron Bay are as follows:
- 3-Hour Small-Group Byron Bay Tour: $69
- Beyond Byron Hinterland Tour: $138
- Broken Head Aboriginal Tour: $48
- Broken Head Aboriginal Tour: $47
- Byron Bay Day Tour With Chinese Speaking Guide: $108
- Byron Bay Dolphin Tour - Ocean Safari: $66
- Byron Bay Half-Day Tour: $67
- Byron Bay Hinterland Tour Including Rainforest Walk to Minyon Falls: $117
- Byron Bay Hinterland: National Park and Waterfalls Tour: $115
- Byron Bay Lighthouse and Hinterland Tour: $69
- Byron Bay Whale Watching Cruise: $88
- Byron Bay Wild Koala Tour: $81
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.45Byron Bay $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Byron Bay
Also in Byron Bay, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Arvo Session Brewery and Distillery Tour: $101
- Afternoon Brewery and Distillery session : $103
- Full-Day Brewery and Distillery Tour with Lunch: $133
- Full Barrel Brewery and Distillery tour: $135
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Byron Bay, we can see that Byron Bay 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 Byron Bay 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 Byron Bay would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Byron Bay 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 Byron Bay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Byron Bay?
El Nido has a larger population, and is about 15% larger than the population of Byron Bay. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Byron Bay, 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.