Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Ho Chi Minh City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ho Chi Minh City or El Nido?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Ho Chi Minh City and El Nido can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Ho Chi Minh City or El Nido?
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam. It previously served as the capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). The metropolitan area, including Ho Chi Minh City, Thu Dau Mot, Di An, Bien Hoa, and other surrounding towns, has a population of more than 9 million people and continues to grow.
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 Historical Tours in Vietnam, The Best 10-Day Tours in Vietnam, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHo Chi Minh City $81El Nido $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Ho Chi Minh City is $81, while the average daily cost in El Nido is $39. 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 Ho Chi Minh City and El Nido in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHo Chi Minh City $49El Nido $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHo Chi Minh City $98El Nido $28
Compare Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and El Nido
Looking for a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City 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: Ho Chi Minh City Hotel Prices and El Nido Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ho Chi Minh City $15El Nido $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ho Chi Minh City:
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Short Taxi Ride$1.40
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Taxi From Airport$7.99
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Cyclo Ride (One Hour)$1.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ho Chi Minh City
Also for Ho Chi Minh City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Vinpearl Resort & Spa Long Beach to Nha Trang - Private Transfer: $20
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cam Ranh HTL-APT (CXR): $18
- Try find better than us! Airport Transfer in Ho Chi Minh APT-HTL (SGN): $13
- Transfer from Ho Chi Minh to Airport Tan Sơn Nhat: $16
- The Anam Resort to Nha Trang - Private Transfer: $20
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport Transfer: $23
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport Private Transfer: $18
- Tan Son Nhat Airport: Private Transfer to/from Ho Chi Minh: $22
- Swandor Cam Ranh Resort to Nha Trang - Private Transfer: $20
- Saigon Airport to Ho Chi Minh City Center Private Transfer: $21
- Sai Gon Airport Departure Private Transfer: $32
- SGN Airport: the private transfer to Center (District 1 & 3): $16
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
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $36
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $11
Is it cheaper to fly into Ho Chi Minh City or El Nido?
Prices for flights to both El Nido and Ho Chi Minh City 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 dayHo Chi Minh City $14El Nido $12
Typical Food Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ho Chi Minh City:
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Street Food Dinner (for Two)$4.27
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Pizza$5.19
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Sweet Rice$1.20
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Pork Sandwich$0.60
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.78
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Western Lunch (for Two)$12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ho Chi Minh City
For Ho Chi Minh City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Saigon Unseen & Food Tour By scooter w Student | Saigon Adventure: $19
- Private Walking Food Tour with Local Students : $26
- Ho Chi Minh Street Food Tour By Motorbike (Unique & Authentic): $26
- Saigon: Backstreets Private Walking Food Tour & 10 Tastings: $27
- Food Tour by Scooter with Eleven Tastings: $27
- Super Niche Walking Street Food Tour in Ho Chi Minh City: $28
- Ho Chi Minh Street Food Tour By Motorbike/Car + Sightseeing + Fun: $28
- Private Walking Food Tour with 13 Tastings: $28
- Ho Chi Minh: Original Walking Street Food Tour With Local: $29
- Private Half-Day Ho Chi Minh Food Tour with Local Students: $29
- Ho Chi Minh: Super Niche Walking Street Food Tour With Local: $29
- Ho Chi Minh City Food Tour: $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ho Chi Minh City $20El Nido $5.38
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
For Ho Chi Minh City, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Massage$5.59
Tours and Activities in Ho Chi Minh City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ho Chi Minh City.
- From Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne 3 Days Tour | 4 Star Beach Resort : $170
- Mekong Delta Discovery Day Tour - My Tho - Ben Tre: $46
- Mui Ne,Fairy Spring, Sand dunes, Fishing Village, Private Tour: $290
- Non-Touristy Mekong Delta with Biking in Ben Tre Private Tour: $40
- Private Tour Water Puppet Show And Cruise Tour On Saigon River : $65
- 'Cost-Saving' Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta 1-Day Tour: $65
- 'Cost-Saving' Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta 1-Day Tour: $54
- 02 - Days: Experience The Real Mekong Delta By Bike & Boat.: $220
- 02 -Days: Experience Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta.: $220
- 1 Day Luxury Tour of Mekong Delta and Cu Chi Tunnels by Mini Van: $48
- 1 Round Ho Chi Minh City bus Tour + Saigon Skydeck Pass: $20
- 1-Day Explore Non-Touristy Side Of Mekong Delta Group 10 Max: $131
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 : $43
- El Nido Group Tour B - Cave Tour w/ Island Lunch: $47
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: $27
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour C: Hidden Beaches & Shrine: $29
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour C; Hidden Beach: $32
- El Nido Island Tour A w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $31
- El Nido Island Tour B w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $28
- El Nido Island Tour C w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $31
- El Nido Island Tour D w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $31
- El Nido Nacpan Day Tour: $63
- El Nido Palawan Private Tour C, with Lunch: $139
- El Nido Private Lagoon Tour - Tour A w/ Island Lunch: $139
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHo Chi Minh City $7.98El Nido $8.36
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Ho Chi Minh City:
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Beer$0.40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ho Chi Minh City and El Nido, we can see that Ho Chi Minh City 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 Ho Chi Minh City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ho Chi Minh City 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 Ho Chi Minh City Expensive? and Is El Nido Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ho Chi Minh City or El Nido?
Ho Chi Minh City has a larger population, and is about 440 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of Ho Chi Minh City 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.