Which place is cheaper, Tokyo or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit El Nido or Tokyo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Tokyo? 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 Tokyo?
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.
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan.
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El Nido Prices
Philippines PricesTokyo Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $47Tokyo $190
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $47, while the average daily cost in Tokyo is $190. 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 Tokyo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Tokyo $79
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Tokyo $158
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Tokyo
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Tokyo? 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 Tokyo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Tokyo $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $170
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $170
- Island Hopping TOUR A with Lunch, Transfer & EDTF: $55
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- El Nido Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $44
- El Nido Tour C with Lunch and Transfers: $44
- Island Hopping Tour B Snake Island with transfer: $40
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $36
- To Puerto Princesa 1-Way Shared Van Transfer: $15
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 【Haneda Airport】Luxury Private Transfer : $89
- Yokohama Private Arrival Transfer : Tokyo Hotels to Yokohama Port or Hotels: $231
- Yokohama Port: Private Customizable Tour with Transfer: $351
- Private Transfers to/from Narita Airport(NRT): $79
- Private Transfer to/from Haneda Airport 7 Seater: $124
- Private Transfer from/to Yokohama Port: $191
- Private Transfer from Haneda/Narita Airport to Hotel: $309
- Private One-Way Transfers to/from Yokohama Port: $67
- Private One-Way Transfers to/from Hakone or Mt.Fuji: $157
- Private One-Way Transfer From/To Haneda Airport(HND): $97
- Private Customize Day Tour With Hotel Transfer: $200
- One-Way Private Transfer from Haneda Airport: $149
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Tokyo?
Prices for flights to both Tokyo 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 $20Tokyo $67
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Nido
For El Nido, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- El Nido, Sibaltan: Family Dinner, Bonfire and Karaoke: $15
Typical Food Prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
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Late Night Noodles$5.41
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Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$5.41
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Meal at Airport$7.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tsukiji Food Tour Explore Markets and Temples in Tokyo: $18
- Hide's Table A Unique Dinner Gathering Every Wednesday Night: $21
- Tokyo Ramen Dojo: Authentic Ramen Cooking Class & Tasting: $34
- Guided Tsukiji’s Local Food Tour : $34
- Tokyo : Vintage, Music & Food Tour in Shimokitazawa with a Local: $34
- For First Time Visitor：Tsukiji Food Tour with Tokyo Travel Advice: $34
- Authentic Homestyle Japanese Cooking Class near Tokyo with Risa: $39
- Tokyo Bay Yakatabune Dinner/Day Cruise with Japan Show and Drinks: $44
- Weekend Japanese Cooking Demonstration with a Tokyo Mom, Toshiko: $49
- Japanese Sushi Cooking Class: $51
- Tokyo private hidden food tour: $55
- Mastering the Grill A Ninja Yakiniku A5 Wagyu Dinner in Nippori : $56
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.34Tokyo $71
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
- 2 Days Private Cruise in El Nido on a 43-foot Sailing Yacht: $673
- All-Inclusive El Nido Island Hopping Private Tour: $153
- Private Island Hopping Tour A with BUFFET LUNCH: $131
- Private Island Hopping Tour B: $135
- Private Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH: $135
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH: $22
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour B: $28
- El Nido Advanced Enduro Tour: $200
- El Nido Big Lagoon & Tropical Island Private Tour: $356
- El Nido Group Tour A with Beach Lunch: $45
- El Nido Group Tour B with Lunch (Full Day): $47
Tours and Activities in Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- 4 Hours Shibuya - Shinjuku Night Tour: $102
- Knife Sharpening Experience in Tokyo : $23
- Kyu-Yasuda, Kiyosumi and Hama-Rikyu Tokyo Garden Tour: $159
- Manga Artist Experience with Professional Guidance in Tokyo: $114
- Mount Fuji and Iconic Scenic Spots Day Tour : $99
- Mt. Fuji Roundtrip Tours From Shinjuku, Japan: $84
- Pick the Hours That Suit You In A Flexible Tokyo Guided Tour: $70
- Private Walking Tour Tokyo's Fukagawa Edo Museum: $102
- Shibuya Tokyo Private Photo Tour Activity: $277
- Shinjuku Mini Ramen Tour: Shoyu, Tonkotsu & Miso: $98
- Tokyo Skytree Private Walking Tour Experience With cafe inside: $184
- Akihabara Otaku Tour - 1.5h Guided Shopping: $94
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.31Tokyo $34
Typical Alcohol Prices in Tokyo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
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Sake$4.06
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
- Low-cost local pub & bar crawling: $34
- 3 Hours Pub Crawl Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $35
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $38
- 3-Hour Tokyo Pub Crawl Weekly Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $46
- Private Shinjuku Nightlife Walking Tour & Golden-Gai Bar Crawl: $114
- Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and jump into historic town: $116
- Private Sake Tasting at 300 Years Old Sake Brewery in Tokyo : $132
- Sake Brewery and Spiritual Nature Tour in Okutama Tokyo: $142
- Cultural Sake Brewery Private Tour & Unlimited Tasting Near Tokyo: $172
- From Tokyo：Mt.fuji /Museum/Sake brewery/ 1DAY BUS TOUR: $201
- Private tour: Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and riverside walk.: $242
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Tokyo, we can see that Tokyo 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 Tokyo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tokyo 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 Tokyo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Tokyo?
Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 1070 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Tokyo, 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.