Which place is cheaper, Katoomba or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit El Nido or Katoomba?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Katoomba? 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 Katoomba?
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.
Katoomba
Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.
This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.
The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Australia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Katoomba $141
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Katoomba is $141. 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 Katoomba in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Katoomba $82
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Katoomba $164
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Katoomba
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Katoomba? 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 Katoomba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Katoomba $52
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: $36
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- Island Hopping TOUR A with Lunch, Transfer & EDTF: $52
- 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: $196
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Katoomba?
Prices for flights to both Katoomba 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 $12Katoomba $18
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.43Katoomba $56
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
- 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: $23
- Hidden Beaches and Lagoons Boat Hopping Tour D: $23
- Island Hopping Tour B Cudognong Cave & More: $25
Tours and Activities in Katoomba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Katoomba are as follows:
- 4Hrs at Wolgan Valley Birdwatching Experience: $134
- Army Truck Adventures - 3 Hour Guided Tour: $102
- Army Truck Adventures - 90 Minute Guided Tour: $68
- Beauty of the Blue Mountains Private Tour: $871
- Blue Labyrinth PRIVATE Tour: Sydney Blue Mountains by E-Bike : $257
- Blue Mountains 1-Hour Trike Tour of Three Sisters: $111
- Blue Mountains 3 Hour Army Truck Adventures: $101
- Blue Mountains 90 Minute Army Truck Adventures: $67
- Blue Mountains BarNSW Local Produce Tasting Experience: $39
- Blue Mountains Full Day Guided Tour : $199
- Blue Mountains Hop On Hop Off Tour: $34
- Blue Mountains Private Tour From Sydney, & Featherdale Aussie Animal Park Option: $271
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.45Katoomba -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba 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 Katoomba 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 Katoomba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Katoomba 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 Katoomba Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Katoomba?
Katoomba has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Katoomba, 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.