Which place is cheaper, Dunedin or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit El Nido or Dunedin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Dunedin? 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 Dunedin?
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.
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second largest city on the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the southeast coast and is largely Scottish in its heritage. It is part of the Otago region and has mild temperatures during the spring and summer, but extremely cold temperatures during the end of fall and winter. Dunedin is a university town; The University of Otago is the oldest in New Zealand, established in 1869. The students make up over a tenth of the entire city's population.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Adventure Tours to Philippines, The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Dunedin $109
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Dunedin is $109. 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 Dunedin in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Dunedin $55
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Dunedin $110
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Dunedin
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Dunedin? 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 Dunedin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Dunedin $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 (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
- 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
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $150
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $150
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dunedin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dunedin:
- Private Transfer from Chalmers Port to Dunedin Airport (DUD): $45
- Private Transfer from Chalmers Cruise Port to Dunedin City Hotels: $45
- ONE WAY MOMONA: Transfer from /to Dunedin Airport: $125
- Momona Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Momona: $90
- Dunedin to Dunedin Int Airport (DUD) - Departure Private Transfer: $37
- Dunedin Intl Airport (DUN) to Dunedin - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Dunedin?
Prices for flights to both Dunedin 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 $12Dunedin $30
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.43Dunedin $18
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 A: $21
- El Nido Island Tour D: $21
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH: $22
- El Nido Island Tour A: $22
- One-Way Zipline Adventure with Sea & Cliff Views: $22
- Tour A with Big Lagoon: $23
- Shared El Nido Tour A: $23
- Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches: $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
Tours and Activities in Dunedin
Here are a few actual costs in Dunedin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Shore Excursion: V8 Trike, Peninsula and City Tour: $51
- A 2 hour Small Group Dunedin City Highlights Tour: $60
- Albatross, seals, and sea birds-Wildlife Cruise: $108
- All in Dunedin - Nature & City Tour: $539
- Brews and Views: Private Tour of Dunedin’s Craft Beer Scene: $1,063
- Captivating Side of Dunedin Walking Tour for Couples: $281
- Castle, Coast & City Small Group Tour (8 pax max): $127
- Clearwater Wildlife - Small Guided Tours (10 max) Otago Peninsula: $124
- Cruise Dunedin City and Castle Tour: $118
- Dunedin Adventure: Family Heritage & Nature Walk: $179
- Dunedin Castle to Cruise Tour: $105
- Dunedin City Highlight & Otago Peninsula Day Tour(City半岛一日游）: $123
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.45Dunedin $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Dunedin
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dunedin:
- Emerson's Brewery Tour: $25
- Speight's Brewery Tour & Guided Tasting: $29
- Speight's Brewery Guided Tour with Tasting: $29
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Dunedin, we can see that Dunedin 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 Dunedin 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 Dunedin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dunedin 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 Dunedin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Dunedin?
Dunedin has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Dunedin, 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.