Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit El Nido or Koh Tao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Koh Tao? 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 Koh Tao?
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.
Koh Tao
With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.
This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.
Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $39Koh Tao $37
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $39, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $37. 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 Koh Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Koh Tao $14
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Koh Tao $28
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Koh Tao? 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 Koh Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Koh Tao $8.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $140
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $36
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
-
Motorbike Rental$5.18
-
Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$18
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao 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 $12Koh Tao $9.21
Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
-
Sit Down Lunch (for One)$5.46
-
Breakfast$4.09
-
Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.27
-
Fancy Dinner (for Two)$13
-
Pancake$1.91
-
American Breakfast (for Two)$7.64
-
Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$7.36
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.38Koh Tao $26
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 Full Day Tour C with Buffet Lunch : $43
- El Nido Group Tour B - Cave Tour w/ Island Lunch: $47
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: $27
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour C: Hidden Beaches & Shrine: $29
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour C; Hidden Beach: $32
- El Nido Island Tour A w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $31
- El Nido Island Tour B w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $28
- El Nido Island Tour C w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $31
- El Nido Island Tour D w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $31
- El Nido Nacpan Day Tour: $63
- El Nido Palawan Private Tour C, with Lunch: $139
- El Nido Private Lagoon Tour - Tour A w/ Island Lunch: $139
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Kayak Rental (One Hour)$6.82
-
Snorkel Rental$2.73
-
Kayak and Snorkel (2)$2.73
Tours and Activities in Koh Tao
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $24
- Advanced Adventurer - 2 days ( Advanced Open Water): $278
- Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $125
- Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $22
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $23
- Koh Tao Cliff Jumping Snorkeling Experience: $135
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $29
- Koh Tao Snorkeling and Island Hopping Tour (Private) : $175
- Koh Tao Viewpoint and Snorkeling Tour: $55
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $33
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $22
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.36Koh Tao $7.14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
-
Beer$1.77
-
Bottle of Wine$10
When comparing the travel costs between El Nido and Koh Tao, we can see that El Nido is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Koh Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Koh Tao?
El Nido has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Koh Tao, 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.