Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Kathmandu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu 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: Kathmandu or El Nido?
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.
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 Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, 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 dayKathmandu $57El Nido $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Kathmandu is $57, 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 Kathmandu and El Nido in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKathmandu $40El Nido $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKathmandu $80El Nido $28
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and El Nido
Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu 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: Kathmandu Hotel Prices and El Nido Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kathmandu $6.95El Nido $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:
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Taxi Ride$1.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Pokhara Hotels: $244
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Chitwan Hotels: $210
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu International Airport to Hotel : $25
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Hotels to Domestic Airport Vehicle: $20
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Domestic Airport to Hotel Vehicle : $20
- Private Car Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara or Chitwan or Vv: $90
- Pokhara: One way transfer To or From Kathmandu: $117
- One-Way Flight Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara: $130
- Mount Everest Scenic Tour by Plane with Transfers: $99
- Mount Everest Scenic Tour by Plane with Transfers: $88
- Everest Mountain flight by a plane with Transfer: $156
- Everest Mountain Flight with Private Transfers: $156
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 Kathmandu or El Nido?
Prices for flights to both El Nido and Kathmandu 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 dayKathmandu $8.31El Nido $12
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.35
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Dinner for Two$3.01
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Best Half-Day Nepali Cooking Class & Hotel Pickup: $7.50
- Momo Making & Cooking class in Thamel with Pickup: $8.59
- Half Day cooking class in Kathmandu by Local Chefs & Pickup: $9.37
- Best Half day cooking class in Thamel Kathmandu with Pickup: $10
- Dinner with Cultural Show Kathmandu : $12
- Cultural Dinner Show with Traditional Dance: $17
- Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel, Kathmandu with Pickup: $19
- Cooking Class in Thamel Kathmandu by Local Chef with pickup: $22
- Nepali cooking class and Homestay experience : $22
- Half Day Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Visit: $23
- Food Tour In Kathmandu With Walking Local Market: $23
- Momo, Dhalbhat & Thukpa Cooking Class, Nepal: $25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kathmandu $8.04El Nido $5.38
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Monkey Temple for Two$1.50
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.76
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.50
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- 4 Days Kathmandu Nagarkot Tour : $235
- Day tour Namo Buddha : $90
- Hire Tour Guide Nepal : $81
- Manakamana Darshan- Day Tour: $199
- One Day Tour inside Chitwan National Park: $110
- 1 Day Cycling Tour in Kathmandu: $312
- 1 Day Everest base camp helicopter tour: $2,146
- 1 Day Kathmandu Shopping Tour Experience: $100
- 1 Day Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour: $70
- 1 Day Rock Climbing Tour near Kathmandu Valley: $190
- 1 Night 2 Days Daman Tour: $215
- 1 day Kathmandu World Heritage guided tour group join : $65
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 dayKathmandu $5.77El Nido $8.36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kathmandu and El Nido, we can see that Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu Expensive? and Is El Nido Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or El Nido?
Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 180 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of Kathmandu 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.