Which place is cheaper, Nadi (Port Denarau) or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit El Nido or Nadi (Port Denarau)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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 Nadi (Port Denarau)?
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.
Nadi (Port Denarau)
Nadi, pronounced "Nandi", is a city and transportation hub in the Fijian islands. It is on one of the main islands, Viti Levu, and has a population of about 42,000. Many inhabitants are Indian as well as Fijian, and the largest temple in the Southern hemisphere is located in the city center. It must be noted that Nadi and surrounding areas aren't known for the beaches. This is more of a cultural destination or starting point for your trip to Fiji. For the best beaches, you will want to venture out to the other, smaller, islands.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Nadi (Port Denarau) $174
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Nadi (Port Denarau) is $174. 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Nadi (Port Denarau) $110
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Nadi (Port Denarau) $220
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Nadi (Port Denarau)
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Nadi (Port Denarau) $9.08
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nadi (Port Denarau):
- Zip line Fiji ex Fiji Marriot w/private transfer dropoff Nadi Airport or resort : $172
- Treetops Zipline Tour with Drop off Transfer to Nadi Airport: $131
- Shuttle transfer to Nadi Airport : $50
- Shared Transfers from Airport to Denarau: $12
- Shared Transfer from Nadi Airport Fiji to Nadi area hotels: $9.35
- Shared Transfer To Nadi Airport from Denarau Resorts: $9.35
- Shared Departure Transfer : Hotel to Airport: $17
- Roundtrip transfer- Nadi Airport to Denarau island Fiji: $94
- Roundtrip Transfer Nadi Int Airport -Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay(CFC APPROVED): $54
- Round-trip Transfer Nadi To Intercontinental Fiji Resort And Spa: $60
- Round-trip Nadi Int Airport - Denarau Hotels (Private Transfer): $28
- Round trip Transfer Airport to Coral Coast /Denarau Hotels : $56
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Nadi (Port Denarau)?
Prices for flights to both Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 $12Nadi (Port Denarau) $41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nadi (Port Denarau)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nadi (Port Denarau).
- Robinson Crusoe Sunset Cruise Including Dinner, Cultural Show & Transfers: $124
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.43Nadi (Port Denarau) $33
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 Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nadi (Port Denarau) are as follows:
- ''Coral Coast Adventure: Biausevu Waterfall & Natadola Beach !'': $147
- "Coral Coast Adventure: Pottery, Kava, Meke, Dunes & Temple'': $107
- 16 Lines Zipline, Cave and Mud Spa Combo Tour with Lunch in Fiji: $168
- 6 Hours Giant Zipline Adventure Park in Fiji: $93
- Authentic Cultural and Historical Village Tour of Nadi Ex Fiji Marriott Resort: $128
- Authentic Fijian Day Tour: $85
- Barefoot Kuata Day Cruise from Denarau: $133
- Biausevu Waterfall Tour (Sigatoka) : $103
- Biausevu Waterfall with New Dawn Tours Fiji: $85
- CFC Hot Spring Mud Pool,Garden Of Sleeping Giant And Village Visit Half Day Tour: $108
- Colo-i-Suva Waterfall Tour (Suva): $196
- Coral Coast Heritage Tour: $161
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.45Nadi (Port Denarau) $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Nadi (Port Denarau), we can see that Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Nadi (Port Denarau)?
Nadi (Port Denarau) has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Nadi (Port Denarau), 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.