A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers El Nido vs. Rockhampton for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit El Nido or Rockhampton?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit El Nido or Rockhampton? 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 Rockhampton?

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.

Rockhampton

Rockhampton is a city in Queensland, Australia with a population of around 75,000. It dates back to 1855 and historically the economy was driven by gold, mining, and agriculture. Today it feels more bustling than you would expect in an "outback town." There's traffic, suburban sprawl, and continuing growth and development. The city sits on the Fitzroy River about 45 kilometers from the river's mouth.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Eco Tours in Australia, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Rockhampton or El Nido?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Rockhampton is $179. 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 Rockhampton in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    El Nido $14
    Rockhampton $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    El Nido $28
    Rockhampton $212
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Rockhampton

Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Rockhampton? 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.

Hotels in El Nido


Hotels in Rockhampton


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 Rockhampton Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    El Nido $19
    Rockhampton $20

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: $36
  • Island Hopping TOUR A with Lunch, Transfer & EDTF: $52
  • El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
  • El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
  • El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
  • EXPEDITION HAPPINESS PRIVATE TRANSFER: $196

Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Rockhampton?

Prices for flights to both Rockhampton 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 day
    El Nido $12
    Rockhampton $52

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    El Nido $5.43
    Rockhampton $42

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
  • Private Island Hopping Tour A with BUFFET LUNCH: $131
  • Private Island Hopping Tour B: $134
  • Private Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH: $134
  • Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH: $22
  • Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour B: $26
  • 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: $47
  • El Nido Island Hopping Tour ( Private & All-Inclusive ): $170
  • El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: $27

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    El Nido $8.45
    Rockhampton $13


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Rockhampton, we can see that Rockhampton 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 Rockhampton 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 Rockhampton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rockhampton 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 Rockhampton Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, El Nido or Rockhampton?

Rockhampton has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Rockhampton, 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.