Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Hanoi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hanoi or El Nido?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hanoi and El Nido can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Hanoi or El Nido?
Hanoi
Hanoi is the chaotic capital of Vietnam, and it serves as a great introduction to the country for many travelers. It's the second largest city in the country after Saigon and is an interesting combination of East meets West. There's traditional Vietnamese culture with subtle influences brought by the French. The city continues to grow and change rapidly and it's easy to get lost amidst the chaos.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Vietnam, The Best G Adventures Tours to Vietnam, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHanoi $49El Nido $40
The average daily cost (per person) in Hanoi is $49, while the average daily cost in El Nido is $40. 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 Hanoi and El Nido in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHanoi $25El Nido $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHanoi $50El Nido $28
Compare Hotels in Hanoi and El Nido
Looking for a hotel in Hanoi or El Nido? 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: Hanoi Hotel Prices and El Nido Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hanoi $7.01El Nido $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hanoi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hanoi:
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Taxi to Bus Station$1.22
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Shuttle Bus From Airport (for Two)$3.25
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Local Bus Ride (for Two)$0.41
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Short Taxi Ride$1.38
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Short Motorbike Ride (10 Minutes)$0.81
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hanoi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hanoi:
- Wonderbay Luxury 1 Day Cruise from Hanoi with Expressway Transfer: $75
- Wonder Bay Cruise 1 Day Trip Transfer from Hanoi by Expressway: $89
- VIP LUXURY Sapa 2D1N -TRANSFER BY LUX LIMOUSINE CAR (Stay at 5* hotel): $189
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Ha Noi HTL-APT (HAN): $14
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Ha Noi APT-HTL (HAN): $14
- Transfer between Hanoi and Sapa : $14
- Transfer Hanoi to Halong Super Limousine Morning Bus: $33
- The Best Sapa Tour 2D1N Stay At 3* Hotel -Transfer by Sleep BUS : $159
- The Best Sapa Tour 2D1N At 3 Star Hotel by sleeping BUS TRANSFER : $129
- The Best 2D1N HALONG BAY- All Inclusive,Overnight on Boat By Expressway Transfer: $125
- Symphony Cruise- Luxury Day Trip From Hanoi With Express Transfer: $105
- Shuttle Bus Transfer from Hanoi to Halong Bay : $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- EXPEDITION HAPPINESS PRIVATE TRANSFER: $201
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
- 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 Hanoi or El Nido?
Prices for flights to both El Nido and Hanoi 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 dayHanoi $13El Nido $12
Typical Food Prices in Hanoi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hanoi:
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High End Dinner (for Two)$12
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.47
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Bowl of Pho$0.81
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Italian Dinner (for Food)$6.30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hanoi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hanoi.
- Private Traditional Vietnamese Food Cooking Class in Hanoi : $5.00
- (Group/Individual) HANOI STREET FOOD TOUR : $5.13
- Street Food Tour (Group/Individual): $5.29
- Street Food Tour with Train Street and Old Quarter: $14
- Best Hanoi Food Tour Visit Train Street Add Old Quarter: $18
- Guided Street Food Tour with Train Street Experience: $19
- Hanoi Street Food Tour with Train Street Visit Experience: $19
- Hanoi Walking Street Food Tour: $20
- Hanoi local street food tour: $20
- Hanoi Food Tour with Train Street Visit: $20
- Hanoi food tour-Local street food tour (food&guide included): $21
- Hanoi street food tour small group tour: $22
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hanoi $8.65El Nido $5.46
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hanoi
Here are a few typical costs in Hanoi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Puppet Theater$1.63
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The Hanoi Hilton Entrance$1.63
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National History Museum$1.63
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Puppet Theater Ticket$2.84
Tours and Activities in Hanoi
Here are a few actual costs in Hanoi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Luxury Arcady Cruise Tour from Hanoi by Express Limousine: $75
- 2 Day Golden Bay Cruise Explore Halong Bay from Hanoi: $220
- 2 Day Oasis Bay Cruise Explore Halong Bay from Hanoi: $228
- 2 Day Private Guided Tour in Pu Luong Nature Hanoi: $169
- 2 Day Victory Cruise to Explore Halong Bay from Hanoi: $170
- 2 Days and 1 Night Lan Ha Bay Adventure from Hanoi: $245
- 2-day Explore Halong Bay in Caravella Cruise: $268
- 2-day Gen Z Cruise Explore Halong Bay from Hanoi: $228
- 4 Days 3 Nights Ha Giang Loop Tour from Hanoi by Sleeper Bus: $235
- All-Inclusive 2D/1N 5star Cruises: Meals-Kayak-Cave-Accommodation : $175
- Amazing Ha Giang Motorbike Tour 4Days 3Nights: $266
- Bicycle Tours Full Day Bicycle Tours City & Countryside: $89
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
- El Nido Island Tour A: $22
- One (1) Way Zipline Adventure with Sea, Cliff Views: $22
- Tour A with Big Lagoon: $23
- Shared El Nido Tour D: $23
- Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches: $23
- Shared El Nido Tour A: $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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHanoi $7.83El Nido $8.49
Sample the Local Flavors in Hanoi
Also in Hanoi, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Guided Bar Crawl with Drinks and Nightclub Entry: $63
- Half-Day Guided Tour Australian Beef with Wine Tasting & Rickshaw in Hanoi: $109
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hanoi and El Nido, we can see that Hanoi 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 Hanoi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hanoi 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 Hanoi Expensive? and Is El Nido Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hanoi or El Nido?
Hanoi has a larger population, and is about 180 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of Hanoi and El Nido, 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.