Which place is cheaper, Fraser Island or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit El Nido or Fraser Island?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Fraser Island? 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 Fraser Island?
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.
Fraser Island
Fraser Island, located off Australia's eastern Queensland coast, is the world's largest sand island. It is best known as a camping and ecotourism destination, with a number of panoramic viewpoints, beaches, lakes, and freshwater pools. Hervey Bay, a beachside city on the nearby mainland, is a primary gateway to the island.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia, and The Best Walking Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Fraser Island $217
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Fraser Island is $217. 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 Fraser Island in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Fraser Island $107
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Fraser Island $214
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Fraser Island
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Fraser Island? 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 $19Fraser Island $97
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
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Fraser Island?
Prices for flights to both Fraser Island 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 $12Fraser Island $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.43Fraser Island $47
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
Tours and Activities in Fraser Island
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Fraser Island are as follows:
- 2 Hours Hervey Bay Funset Cruise: $55
- Discovery K'gari (Fraser Island) Day Tour - From Noosa: $209
- Discovery K'gari (Fraser Island) Day Tour - From Rainbow Beach: $193
- Hervey Bay Ultimate Whale Watching Cruise: $76
- Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise: $103
- Hervey Bay to K'gari/Fraser Island 2-Day Tour (Beach House): $360
- Hervey Bay: Best Value Half Day Whale Watching Cruise : $83
- K'gari (Fraser Island) All Inclusive Day Tour: $189
- K'gari (Fraser Island) Full-Day Tour From Noosa: $203
- K'gari Island Cruise Tour with Whale Search and Lunch - 5 hours: $84
- Remote Fraser Island Experience: $173
- Remote K'gari (Fraser Island) & Whale Experience: $173
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.45Fraser Island $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Fraser Island, we can see that Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island 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.