Which place is cheaper, Lake Tekapo or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit El Nido or Lake Tekapo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Lake Tekapo? 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 Lake Tekapo?
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.
Lake Tekapo
Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Tours for Seniors to New Zealand, and The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Lake Tekapo $80
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Lake Tekapo is $80. 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 Lake Tekapo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Lake Tekapo $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Lake Tekapo $126
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Lake Tekapo
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Lake Tekapo? 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 Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Lake Tekapo -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- EXPEDITION HAPPINESS PRIVATE TRANSFER: $196
- 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: $52
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $36
- 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
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Lake Tekapo?
Prices for flights to both Lake Tekapo 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 $12Lake Tekapo $14
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.43Lake Tekapo -
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 Lake Tekapo
Here are a few actual costs in Lake Tekapo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Lake Tekapo Tour Scenic 4WD Mountains & Glaciers: $186
- 45 Minutes Virtual Stargazing Experience in Lake Tekapo: $57
- Chameleon Stargazing Shared Tour: $62
- Crater Experience at Cowan's Observatory: $82
- Dark Sky Indoor Cultural Astronomy Experience: $40
- From Christchurch: 1 Way Tour to Queenstown via Mt Cook: $226
- From Queenstown: 1 Way to Tour Christchurch via Mt Cook: $229
- High Country Farm Tour - Lake Tekapo: $60
- Lake Tekapo Farm Tours: $62
- Lake Tekapo Fishing Tour: $201
- Lake Tekapo Guided 4WD Tours: $183
- Lake Tekapo Scenic 4WD Cass Valley Wilderness Tour: $183
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.45Lake Tekapo -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Lake Tekapo?
El Nido has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Lake Tekapo, 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.