Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Karachi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Karachi or El Nido?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Karachi or El Nido? 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: Karachi or El Nido?
Karachi
Karachi is the capital of the Pakistani province of Sindh. It is the most populous city in Pakistan, and sixth most populous city proper in the world. Karachi, located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, is the financial and commercial center of the nation, as well as its largest port. The pace of life here is more hurried, and social attitudes are far more liberal than elsewhere in Pakistan. Locals call it the City of Lights, the City of The Quaid, and the City that Never Sleeps. The city credits its growth to the mixed populations of economic and political migrants along with refugees from different national, provincial, linguistic and religious origins, who generally come to the city to settle permanently.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Pakistan, The Best Historical Tours in Pakistan, 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 dayKarachi $26El Nido $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Karachi is $26, 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 Karachi and El Nido in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKarachi $11El Nido $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKarachi $22El Nido $28
Compare Hotels in Karachi and El Nido
Looking for a hotel in Karachi 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: Karachi Hotel Prices and El Nido Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Karachi $4.58El Nido $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $11
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $36
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $150
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Karachi or El Nido?
Prices for flights to both El Nido and Karachi 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 dayKarachi $11El Nido $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Karachi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Karachi.
- Private Karachi Street Food Tour: $94
- Half-Day Karachi Burns Road Private Victoria Ride with Dinner: $100
- Street Food Tour of Karachi: $199
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Karachi $5.07El Nido $5.38
Tours and Activities in Karachi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Karachi are as follows:
- Experience local village life in Sindh: $200
- Full Day Private Tour in Karachi City: $161
- Full Day Private Tour to Mohatta Palace Zainab and Burns road: $195
- Karachi City Tour : $129
- Karachi Sightseeing Private tour: $159
- UNESCO World Heritage Tour Near Karachi : $150
Tours and Activities in El Nido
For El Nido, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Island Hopping Tour A with lunch BEST PRICE!: $22
- Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches: $23
- Shared El Nido Tour A: $23
- Big Lagoon and Shimizu Island Tour with Kayaking: $23
- Hidden Beaches and Lagoons Boat Hopping Tour D: $23
- Island Hopping Tour B Cudognong Cave & More: $25
- El Nido Tour A: $27
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: $27
- El Nido Tour D Full Day w/ Beach Lunch: $28
- El Nido Island Tour B w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $28
- Island Hopping Tour C (Shared tour) BEST PRICE!: $28
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour C: Hidden Beaches & Shrine: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKarachi $3.35El Nido $8.36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Karachi and El Nido, we can see that El Nido is more expensive. And not only is Karachi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Karachi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Karachi 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 El Nido would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in El Nido than you might in Karachi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Karachi Expensive? and Is El Nido Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Karachi or El Nido?
Karachi has a larger population, and is about 1490 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of Karachi 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.