A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Jakarta vs. El Nido for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Jakarta or El Nido?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Jakarta and El Nido. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Jakarta or El Nido?

Jakarta

As Indonesia's capital and largest city, Jakarta rests on the northwest coast of the island of Java. It is the country's economic, cultural, and political center with plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, nightlife, shopping, and entertainment.

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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.


Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Jakarta?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Jakarta is $73, while the average daily cost in El Nido is $47. 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 Jakarta and El Nido in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Jakarta $32
    El Nido $14
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Jakarta $64
    El Nido $28
Compare Hotels in Jakarta and El Nido

Looking for a hotel in Jakarta 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.

Hotels in Jakarta


Hotels in El Nido


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: Jakarta Hotel Prices and El Nido Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Jakarta $20
    El Nido $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jakarta

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jakarta are as follows:


  • Taxi to Station
    $1.04

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jakarta

Also for Jakarta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Soekarno Hatta Int. Airport To Bogor city ( Private Transfer ): $30
  • Private Transfer from Tebet to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $35
  • Private Transfer from Tebet to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $35
  • Private Transfer from Tanah Abang to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $35
  • Private Transfer from Tanah Abang to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $35
  • Private Transfer from Taman Sari to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $35
  • Private Transfer from Sunter to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $35
  • Private Transfer from Sumur Batu to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $42
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regency to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $184
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regenc to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $196
  • Private Transfer from Sukarasa Tangerang to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $38
  • Private Transfer from South Jakarta to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $42

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: $53
  • 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: $39
  • Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $35
  • To Puerto Princesa 1-Way Shared Van Transfer: $14
  • El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12

Is it cheaper to fly into Jakarta or El Nido?

Prices for flights to both El Nido and Jakarta 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Jakarta $28
    El Nido $20
Typical Food Prices in Jakarta

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jakarta:


  • Dinner
    $2.62
  • Dinner
    $0.72

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jakarta

For Jakarta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Mangga Besar Food Tour: $49
  • Jakarta Night Tour with Dinner at Café or Food street: $55
  • Kota Tua Food Tour: $64
  • Melawai Night Street Food Tour: $67
  • Halfday Batavia by Night with dinner at Cafe Batavia & souvenir: $120
  • Jakarta Private Cooking Class and Experience Tour: $120

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: $39

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Jakarta $12
    El Nido $5.34

Tours and Activities in Jakarta

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jakarta.

  • 1 Day Jakarta Historical Tour : $75
  • 1 Day Motorcycle Tour To Citorek Banten West Of Java: $177
  • 4 Hours Jakarta Private City Tour - (Most Tourist Attractions): $55
  • 7 Hours Indonesia Cultural & Heritage Park Tour: $110
  • Afternoon city tour Jakarta: $82
  • Bandung City Tour Mountain Volcano and Hotspring ( Start From Jakarta): $154
  • Batik Course & City Tour Jakarta: $60
  • Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park Tourism ( TMII ): $135
  • Bogor City Full-Day Private Tour from Jakarta with Pick Up: $160
  • Bogor City Tour Nature waterfall with Local Food ( Start From Jakarta ): $130
  • Bogor City Tour With a guide and lunch: $136
  • City Tour Jakarta: $75

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: $672
  • All-Inclusive El Nido Island Hopping Private Tour: $153
  • Private Island Hopping Tour A with BUFFET LUNCH: $128
  • Private Island Hopping Tour B: $132
  • Private Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH: $132
  • Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH: $21
  • 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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Jakarta $4.06
    El Nido $8.31


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jakarta and El Nido, we can see that Jakarta 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 Jakarta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jakarta 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 Jakarta Expensive? and Is El Nido Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Jakarta or El Nido?

Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 1090 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of Jakarta 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.