Which place is cheaper, Nanjing or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit El Nido or Nanjing?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Nanjing? 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 Nanjing?
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.
Nanjing
Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu Province on the central eastern coast of China, just north of Shanghai. This historically and culturally rich city lies at the lower end of the Yangtze river, resulting in lush and scenic landscapes. Nanjing is well-known for having many popular historical sites, some of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Nanjing $98
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Nanjing is $98. 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 Nanjing in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Nanjing $47
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Nanjing $94
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Nanjing
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Nanjing? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Nanjing $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- EXPEDITION HAPPINESS PRIVATE TRANSFER: $198
- 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: $46
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $37
- 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
- Yangzhou Private Transfer Service from Nanjing City or Lukou Airport : $80
- Tangshan Hot Spring Resorts Private Transfer from Nanjing Railway Station: $44
- Private Transfer to Zhenjiang from Nanjing City Center: $94
- Private Transfer to Yangzhou from Nanjing City Center: $89
- Private Transfer to Nanjing Railway Station from Lukou Airport : $45
- Private Transfer to Nanjing Railway Station from City Hotels: $33
- Private Transfer to Gaochun City from Nanjing : $88
- Private Transfer between Nanjing Olympic Stadium and City Hotel: $33
- Private Transfer Between Tangshan Hot Spring Resort and Nanjing Lukou Airport: $49
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Yangzhou Attractions from Nanjing: $89
- Private NKG Airport Transfer to Nanjing Railway Station: $45
- Private NKG Airport Transfer from Nanjing Railway Station: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Nanjing?
Prices for flights to both Nanjing 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 $12Nanjing $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nanjing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.
- 3-Hour Nanjing Authentic Local Food Tour by Public Transportation: $93
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Night Tour with Dinner Option : $112
- Nanjing Tangshan Mountain Hot Spring Experience and Hot Pot Dinner: $175
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.43Nanjing $9.52
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 Nanjing
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half-Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour : $109
- 2-Day Unlimited Nanjing Private Flexible Tour with Lunch Option : $295
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour with Xiaoling Tomb and Sun Yatsen Mausoleum : $124
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Sun Yatsen Mausoleum, Xiaoling Tomb and City Wall: $190
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Xiaoling Tomb, Ming City Wall and Memorial Hall : $115
- All Inclusive Amazing Nanjing City Highlights Private Day Tour: $193
- All Inclusive Nanjing City Private Day Tour with Tailor-Made Highlights: $213
- All-Inclusive Nanjing Purple Mountain Scenic Area Private Day Tour: $187
- By round way bullet train from Shanghai to Nanjing city tour: $650
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Highlights Day Tour: $164
- Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour : $63
- Flexible Private Nanjing Layover Tour: $171
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.45Nanjing $9.73
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Nanjing, we can see that Nanjing 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 Nanjing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nanjing 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 Nanjing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Nanjing?
Nanjing has a larger population, and is about 400 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Nanjing, 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.