Which place is cheaper, Guangzhou or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit El Nido or Guangzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Guangzhou? 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 Guangzhou?
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.
Guangzhou
With a population of more than 12 million, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Though it has a long history, founded in 214 BC, the city has also many modern attractions, a mix of the old and new with temples and parks as well as skyscrapers and shopping centers. Its location on the Pearl River has contributed to this growth, making Guangzhou a major port and commercial hub.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Guangzhou $90
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Guangzhou is $90. 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 Guangzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Guangzhou $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Guangzhou $116
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Guangzhou
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Guangzhou? 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 $19Guangzhou $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- EXPEDITION HAPPINESS PRIVATE TRANSFER: $201
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
- 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 Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- Zhuhai City Private Arrival Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Int'l Airport : $108
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Guangzhou APT-HTL (CAN): $62
- Private Transfer: Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou hotel: $33
- Private Transfer: Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Nan Railway Station: $38
- Private Transfer in Guangzhou with Luxury Vehicle: $89
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou city hotels to Shekou Cruise Port: $63
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou South Railway Station to Baiyun Airport : $53
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Int Airport to Shekou Port: $63
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN) to Shekou Port: $70
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Hotel to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport: $88
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou City Center to South Railway Station: $49
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Hotel: $88
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Guangzhou?
Prices for flights to both Guangzhou 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 $12Guangzhou $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
- Evening Food Tour Through Local Neighborhood: $65
- Guangzhou Evening Food Tour Through Local Neighborhood: $65
- Private Evening Food Tour with Pearl River Cruise: $110
- Private Guangzhou Evening Food Tour with Pearl River Night Cruise: $119
- World 8th Tallest Building (one of Best View point & dinner): $120
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour VIP Cruise and Dim-Sum Dinner Option: $146
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Michelin Restaurant&Local Food Market: $153
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Yumcha and Local Food Market Explore: $153
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner: $176
- Guangzhou Private Night Tour: Lychee Bay, Beijing Road, Cruise, Dinner: $204
- Private City Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $220
- Private Cooking Canton Cuisine Cooking Class in Guangzhou : $266
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.46Guangzhou $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 D: $21
- El Nido Island Tour A: $21
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH: $22
- El Nido Island Tour A: $22
- One (1) Way Zipline Adventure with Sea, Cliff Views: $22
- Tour A with Big Lagoon: $23
- Shared El Nido Tour D: $23
- Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches: $23
- Shared El Nido Tour A: $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 Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Day Tour From Kaiping Garden, Watchtowers, and Chikan Old Town: $274
- Guangzhou Self-Guided Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $75
- 1 Day Guangzhou City Highlight Layover Tour from Airport: $276
- 4 Hours Half Day Guangzhou Airport Layover Visa-Free Private Tour: $170
- 4-Hour Baiyun Mountain Yuntai Garden Private Guangzhou City Tour: $153
- 4-Hour Chinese Tea Culture Tea Ceremony Tea Market Private Tour: $153
- 4-Hour Private Flexible Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Option: $100
- 5-Hour Flexible Private Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Options: $153
- 5-Hour Sai Kwan Walking Tour with Unique Food Tasting: $72
- 6-Hour Half Day Private Tour to Guangdong Romance Park: $187
- 6-Hour Private Tour for Layover Travellers via Guangzhou Airport: $170
- 7-Hour Customised Private Guangzhou Sightseeing and Shopping Tour: $153
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.49Guangzhou $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Guangzhou, we can see that Guangzhou is more expensive. And not only is El Nido much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Guangzhou would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Guangzhou?
Guangzhou has a larger population, and is about 400 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Guangzhou, 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.