Which place is cheaper, Nara or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit El Nido or Nara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Nara? 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 Nara?
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.
Nara
As Japan's first capital, Nara offers a world of tradition and culture second only to the city of Kyoto. It is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are largely concentrated in the area of Nara Park. Here, it is also common to see many deer wandering freely amongst the temples and shrines.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Nara $93
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Nara is $93. 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 Nara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Nara $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Nara $112
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Nara
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Nara? 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 Nara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Nara $6.28
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
- 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
- EXPEDITION HAPPINESS PRIVATE TRANSFER: $200
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nara:
- Kansai Airport (KIX)：Private One-Way Transfer to/from Nara: $241
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Nara?
Prices for flights to both Nara 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 $12Nara $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nara.
- Cooking class, learning how to make authentic sushi: $124
- Full Day Nara E bike Tour and Osaka History Food Tour: $202
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.46Nara $8.41
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
- Shared El Nido Tour D: $23
- Tour A with Big Lagoon: $23
- Shared El Nido Tour A: $23
- Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches: $23
- El Nido Island Tour B: $24
- Hidden Beaches and Lagoons Boat Hopping Tour D: $24
- Island Hopping Tour B Cudognong Cave & More: $26
- El Nido Island Tour C: $26
Tours and Activities in Nara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nara are as follows:
- Exploring the Highlights of Nara in 3 Hours Guided Tour : $62
- 1 Day Walking Tour in Nara Palace Deer and Inkstick: $179
- 1-Day Walking Tour in Palace, Deer and Inkstick: $164
- 2-Hour Discover Every Bit of Tohdaiji-Temple Private Tour: $56
- 3 Days Private Osaka Kyoto and Nara Tour With English Driver: $1,405
- All must-sees in 3 hours - Nara Park Classic Tour! From JR Nara!: $46
- Authentic Uji Matcha Experience in Kimono: $84
- Experience Authentic Sushi making in Nara: $123
- From Kyoto/Osaka: Nara Sightseeing Private Day Tour: $791
- From Nara:Half-Day Bus Tour to UNESCO Heritage&Mt. Wakakusa: $77
- From Osaka/Kyoto: Kyoto & Nara Private Sightseeing Day Trip.: $500
- From Osaka/Kyoto: Nara One Day Private Tour: $455
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.49Nara $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Nara, we can see that Nara 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 Nara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nara 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 Nara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Nara?
Nara has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Nara, 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.