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

Should you visit El Nido or Shijiazhuang?

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

Should I visit El Nido or Shijiazhuang? 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 Shijiazhuang?

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.

Shijiazhuang

Shijiazhuang is the capital city of Hebei Province in China. It is a fairly young city, acting as the regional transport hub and economic center, though there are a few sights worth seeing. The city is also the largest pharmaceutical hub in China, as well as an important center for textile, IT, manufacturing, and chemical industries.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Shijiazhuang 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 Shijiazhuang is $79. 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 Shijiazhuang in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    El Nido $14
    Shijiazhuang $45
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    El Nido $28
    Shijiazhuang $90
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Shijiazhuang

Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Shijiazhuang? 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 Shijiazhuang


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 $19
    Shijiazhuang $28

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

Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Shijiazhuang?

Prices for flights to both Shijiazhuang 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
    Shijiazhuang $19

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    El Nido $5.43
    Shijiazhuang $4.46

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    El Nido $8.45
    Shijiazhuang $5.27


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


Which is Bigger, El Nido or Shijiazhuang?

Shijiazhuang has a larger population, and is about 260 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Shijiazhuang, 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.