Which place is cheaper, Shenzhen or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit El Nido or Shenzhen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Shenzhen? 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 Shenzhen?
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.
Shenzhen
Located in the Guangdong Province of southeastern China, Shenzhen is a metropolis that connects Hong Kong to China's mainland. It is one of China's most populous cities, inhabited by vast array of people from other Chinese regions. It is perhaps best known for it shopping, collection of amusement parks, green parks, museums and galleries, and a few historic sites. It is on UNESCO's Creative Cities list.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Shenzhen $126
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Shenzhen is $126. 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 Shenzhen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Shenzhen $91
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Shenzhen $182
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Shenzhen
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Shenzhen? 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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Shenzhen $15
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
- Island Hopping TOUR A with Lunch, Transfer & EDTF: $46
- 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: $201
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- [Airport Transfer] Shenzhen Airport 送 迎 Shenzhen City Transfer High reputation for service! : $32
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Hong Kong APT-HTL (HKG): $79
- Shenzhen to Shenzhen Airport (SZX) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
- Shenzhen Private Transfer from Shenzhen central to Shenzhen Bao'an Airport (SZX): $82
- Shenzhen Private Transfer from Shenzhen Bao'an Airport (SZX) to central Shenzhen: $82
- Shenzhen Int Airport (SZX) to Shenzhen - Arrival Private Transfer: $49
- Shenzhen Bao'an Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Center: $49
- Shenzhen Airport (SZX): Private Transfer to/from Shenzhen: $48
- Shenzhen Airport (SZX) to Round Trip Private Transfer: $98
- Shenzhen Airport (SZX) to Guangzhou - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
- Private Transfer: Hong Kong City to Hong Kong Airport HKG in Business Car: $120
- Private Transfer from Shenzhen city hotels to Shekou Cruise Port: $43
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Shenzhen?
Prices for flights to both Shenzhen 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 $12Shenzhen $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Vegetarian Food Tour: $79
- Wet market tour & cooking class with local mum: $93
- Hong Kong Guided Dinner + Laser Show Lounge Entry (2023) | 200+ booked : $101
- Hong Kong Food Tour: Sham Shui Po District: $108
- Hong Kong Food Tour: Central and Sheung Wan Districts: $108
- Secret Food Tour With the Locals in Tin Hau Hong Kong w/ Private Tour Option: $109
- Small Group Local Market Walking Tour and Chinese Cooking Class in Hong Kong: $132
- Traditional Chinese Pun Choi cooking class in Hong Kong: $146
- Private Food Tour With the Locals in Hong Kong: $148
- Hong Kong Food Tour with a Local: A Feast for Foodies 100% Personalized: $172
- Kowloon Street Food Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized & Private: $172
- Kowloon Night Street Food Tour with a Local: Private & Customized: $191
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.43Shenzhen $17
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: $134
- Private Island Hopping Tour B: $137
- 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 Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Shenzhen Self-Guided Flexible Tour with Private Car and Driver : $87
- (Private class) Hong Kong gourmet baking experience class: Hong Kong-style egg tart + custard mooncake: $89
- 2.5-Hour Shenzhen City-Village Walking Tour: Back In The 90's & TikTok Influence: $51
- 4-Hour Private Hong Kong Layover Tour: $280
- 4-Hour Small Group Kowloon Sightseeing Tour: $103
- A Magical Evening in Hong Kong: Private City Tour: $107
- Afternoon Hiking Tour Sharp Island Geopark: $38
- Aqua Luna: Evening Cruise at Victoria Harbour Hong Kong: $40
- Aqua Luna: Symphony of Lights Cruise in Hong Kong: $49
- Big Bus Hong Kong Open Top Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour: $50
- Big Bus Hong Kong Open-Top Night Tour: $40
- Boat Tour Through Four Sea Arches in Sai Kung, Hong Kong Geopark: $79
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.45Shenzhen $19
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Shenzhen, we can see that Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Shenzhen?
Shenzhen has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Shenzhen, 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.