Which place is cheaper, Nagoya or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit El Nido or Nagoya?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Nagoya? 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 Nagoya?
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.
Nagoya
Nagoya is Japan's fourth-largest city after Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka, as well as one of the nation's major economic centers, being the home of auto giants like Toyota, Honda, and Mitsubishi Motors. With a history that dates back to samurai and ninja, Nagoya has evolved over the years into a trade center and hub for automobile and aircraft manufacturing. And it's also home to the Legoland resort!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Japan, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Nagoya $96
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Nagoya is $96. 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 Nagoya in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Nagoya $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Nagoya $100
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Nagoya
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Nagoya? 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 Nagoya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Nagoya $12
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: $150
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $150
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $37
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- EXPEDITION HAPPINESS PRIVATE TRANSFER: $200
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nagoya
Also for Nagoya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Nagoya hotels to Nagoya Cruise Port: $68
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya hotels: $68
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya City Hotels: $61
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya Airport (NGO): $88
- Private Transfer from Nagoya City Hotels to Kanazawa Cruise Port: $149
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Airport (NKM) to Toyama Cruise Port: $248
- Private Transfer - Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya Int Airport (NGO): $97
- Private Departure Transfer Nagoya City to Chubu Centrair International Airport: $194
- Private One-Way Transfers to/from Suzuka Circuit: $277
- Nagoya to Nagoya Int Airport NGO, Departure Private Transfer: $75
- Nagoya airport to/from LEGOLAND Private transfer: $208
- LEGOLAND Japan Resort Ticket with Private Transfer: $123
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Nagoya?
Prices for flights to both Nagoya 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 $12Nagoya $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nagoya
For Nagoya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Grandma’s Traditional Cooking Class: $71
- Grandma’s Home Cooking Cute Bento Workshop: $73
- Grandma’s Nagoya Specialties Cooking Class: $73
- Market Tour and Authentic Nagoya Cuisine Cooking Class With a Local in Her Home: $92
- Specialties of Nagoya Food Tour: $150
- Traditional Ukai Watching Private Tour from Nagoya With Dinner: $229
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.46Nagoya $14
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 : $45
- All-Inclusive El Nido Island Hopping Private Tour: $153
- Island Hopping Tour A with Lunch No Hidden Charges: $46
- Private Island Hopping Tour A with BUFFET LUNCH: $133
- Private Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH: $137
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH: $22
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour B: $27
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH: $29
- El Nido Big Lagoon & Tropical Island Private Tour: $199
- El Nido Group Tour B - Cave Tour w/ Island Lunch: $48
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour ( Private & All-Inclusive ): $170
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: $28
Tours and Activities in Nagoya
For Nagoya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Private Tour in Nagoya Hotspots Using Local Bus: $229
- 1 Day Samurai Swords and Japan Oldest Castle Tour from Nagoya: $201
- 1 Day Tour from Nagoya Hiking the Historic Nakasendo Trail: $229
- 1-Day Tour from Hiking the Historic Nakasendo Trail: $206
- 1-Day Tour: Eat Like a Local in Nagoya: $148
- 1-Day Tour: Garden Walk, Nagoya Castle, Gardens & Historic Estate: $164
- 1-Day Tour: Nagoya Castle, Gardens & Historic Estate: $148
- 1-Day Tour: Nagoya’s Industrial Legacy and Toyota's Innovation: $164
- A Fun Car Tour to Inuyama Castle and a Phallus: $160
- Authentic Samurai Experience: Discover Japanese Sword-smith Town: $245
- Autumn Leaves Private Tour in Nagoya: $178
- Day Tour: Nagoya’s Industrial Legacy and Toyota's Innovation: $148
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.49Nagoya $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Nagoya
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nagoya:
- The Nagoya Restaurant and Bar Crawl: $30
- Pub Crawl in Nagoya: $72
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Nagoya, we can see that Nagoya 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 Nagoya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nagoya 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 Nagoya Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Nagoya?
Nagoya has a larger population, and is about 280 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Nagoya, 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.