Which place is cheaper, Wellington or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit El Nido or Wellington?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Wellington? 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 Wellington?
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.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital and second largest city in New Zealand. It sits on the southwestern edge of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It's a beautiful setting that is encircled by mountains giving it a beautiful backdrop. There are also many cultural sights and attractions around town. Wellington really is the perfect mix of New Zealand's natural beauty and a vibrant urban core. The film industry is also prevelant in the city. The city's production centers have helped create Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, Tin Tin, and District 9.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines, The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Wellington $110
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Wellington 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 Wellington in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Wellington $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Wellington $128
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Wellington
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Wellington? 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 Wellington Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Wellington $12
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 Wellington
Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Wētā Workshop Experience with Guided Transfers: $65
- Wellington Transfer: Airport（WLG）to/from City Center: $90
- Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington - Arrival Private Transfer: $29
- Private Transfer with Wellington Dial a Driver: $76
- Private Transfer from Wellington hotels to Wellington Cruise Port: $27
- Private Transfer from Wellington Cruise Port to Wellington Hotels: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Wellington?
Prices for flights to both Wellington 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 $12Wellington $31
Typical Food Prices in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner$9.51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 3 Hour Walking Food Tour: $136
- Capital Bites, A food tour of Wellington: $143
- Walking Food Tour Of Wellington: $159
- A Taste Of Wellington Food Tour (half Day): $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.43Wellington $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 Wellington
For Wellington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 30 Mins Lamborghini Supercar Passenger Experience: $140
- 5 hour Wellington City Heights Shared tour: $96
- Discover Maori and explore Wellington - Full Day Tour: $175
- Discover Wellington - 3hr City Tour: $56
- Discover Wellington 3 hour City Tour : $57
- Easy Rider Two-Hour Wellington eBike Tour: $73
- Filming locations of Lord of The Rings Tour with Guide: $185
- From Cave to Coast Wellington Highlights Tour: $124
- From Half-Day Foodie Tour of the Wairarapa: $112
- From Kapiti Island Classic Guided Day Tour: $316
- From Taste Buds Tour of Petone: $176
- Full Day Lord of the Rings Tour: $188
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.45Wellington $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington
Also in Wellington, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $101
- 1/2 day Martinborough Chefs Wine Tour with lunch from Wellington: $159
- Martinborough Full Day Wine Tour: $178
- From Martinborough Wine Tasting Tour: $184
- 6hr Martinborough Chefs private wine tour ŵ lunch from Wellington: $255
- Chefs Private Martinborough wine tour with Gourmet Lunch: $380
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Wellington, we can see that Wellington 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 Wellington 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 Wellington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wellington 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 Wellington Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Wellington?
Wellington has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Wellington, 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.