Which place is cheaper, Tauranga or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit El Nido or Tauranga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Tauranga? 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 Tauranga?
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.
Tauranga
Tauranga is a city on the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the western side of the Bay of Plenty, which is on the east coast of the island. Its population of 130,000 makes it the fifth largest city in the country. Tauranga is a Maori word translated roughly to 'a sheltered anchorage'. This makes sense as the town is located near a very large harbor and protected by Matakana Island. Mount Maunganui is at the headland of the town and regarded as a suburb of Tauranga. The beach at Mt Maunganui is a surfing hot spot. The climate is mostly warm and dry because of the town's sheltered position.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Tauranga $110
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Tauranga is $110. 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 Tauranga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Tauranga $79
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Tauranga $158
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Tauranga
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Tauranga? 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 Tauranga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Tauranga $7.23
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
- Island Hopping TOUR A with Lunch, Transfer & EDTF: $46
- 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
- El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
- EXPEDITION HAPPINESS PRIVATE TRANSFER: $198
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Tauranga?
Prices for flights to both Tauranga 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 $12Tauranga $23
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.43Tauranga $11
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 Tauranga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tauranga are as follows:
- 2-Hour Tauranga & Mount Maunganui City & Scenic Local Tour: $49
- 2hr Tauranga City Scenic History Tour: $35
- 4hr Shore Excursion - History and Tasting Tour FREE Kiwifruit Tasting: $59
- 4hr Tauranga Scenic History and Tasting Tour FREE Kiwifruit Tasting: $59
- 6hr Hobbiton Movie Set Tour - Departs Tauranga: $149
- 6hr Rotorua Geothermal Wonderland Tour - Departs Tauranga: $151
- 7hr Waimangu Geothermal Valley & Lake Rotomahana Tour - Departs Tauranga: $145
- Boutique tour , Mt Maunganui, NZ farm, Rotorua lakes/geothermal : $138
- From Dolphin and Wildlife Cruise: $92
- From Half-Day Swimming with Dolphins Tour: $92
- Guided Māori History and Culture Tour to Rotorua and Tauranga: $139
- Half Day Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise - Tauranga: $111
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.45Tauranga $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Tauranga, we can see that Tauranga 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 Tauranga 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 Tauranga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tauranga 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 Tauranga Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Tauranga?
Tauranga has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Tauranga, 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.