Which place is cheaper, Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) 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 Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)? 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 Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)?
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.
Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)
The Australian countryside is a large and vast area just waiting to be explored. Located in the north of Australia, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a part of the Red Centre of the country. It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and, according to the Aborigines, it is a very sacred space. Amazing geological wonders and fascinating wildlife are just waiting for your visit.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia.
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El Nido Prices
Philippines PricesUluru National Park (Ayers Rock) Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $47Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) $186
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $47, while the average daily cost in Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) is $186. 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 Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) $116
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)? 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 $19Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) $75
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: $170
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $170
- To Puerto Princesa 1-Way Shared Van Transfer: $15
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $36
- Island Hopping Tour B Snake Island with transfer: $40
- Island Hopping TOUR A with Lunch, Transfer & EDTF: $55
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
- El Nido Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $44
- El Nido Tour C with Lunch and Transfers: $44
- El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)
Also for Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock), here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Uluru (Ayers Rock) to Alice Springs Coach Transfer: $171
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)?
Prices for flights to both Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) 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 $20Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) $81
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)
For Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock), here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Uluru (Ayers Rock) Base and Sunset Half-Day Trip with Opt Outback BBQ Dinner: $134
- Uluru (Ayers Rock) Sunset + Outback Barbecue Dinner & Star Talk : $197
- Uluru Experience with BBQ Dinner: $219
- Mt Conner 4WD Small Group Tour from Ayers Rock Resort inc Dinner: $258
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.34Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) $37
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 Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)
For Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock), here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Aboriginal Homelands Experience: $261
- Afternoon Kata Tjuta Small Group Tour: $117
- Alice Springs Highlights Tour : $120
- Best of Alice Springs Full Day Tour: $178
- Kata Tjuta Small-Group Tour Including Sunrise and Breakfast: $160
- Palm Valley 4WD Tour from Alice Springs: $174
- Small Group Uluru Sunset Viewing Tour: $73
- Uluru (Ayers Rock) Field of Light Sunrise Tour: $73
- Uluru (Ayers Rock) Sunset Tour: $70
- Uluru Audio Tour App: $13
- Uluru Small Group Tour including Sunset: $160
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.31Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock), we can see that Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) 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 Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) 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 Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) 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 Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) Expensive?.
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.