Should you visit Krabi or El Nido?
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 Krabi and El Nido can help you decide which place is right for you.
Krabi
Thailand is covered in beaches, but if you're more interested in immersion in Thai culture than the salty ocean, consider a trip to Krabi, also known as "Krabi Town". Pronounced "Grabee," this small, but bustling city is just up the river from the coast, and is the gateway to the beaches in the surrounding Province of Krabi. Krabi Town is full of hotels, agencies and western restaurants, but if you look hard enough, you'll easily see the energy and life of Thailand. While there are no beaches in the town itself, there is plenty of Thai culture to experience.
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.
Which city is cheaper, El Nido or Krabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $46, while the average daily cost in El Nido is $36. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Krabi and El Nido in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $58 in Krabi For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $26 in El Nido For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Krabi cost around $11 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $4.40.
In El Nido travelers spend around $11 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Krabi $11
El Nido $11
Typical Food prices in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Gourmet Thai Cooking Class in Krabi:
$42
Local Transportation
To get around in Krabi, the average visitor spends $4.12 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
El Nido's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $17 per person, per day on transportation in El Nido.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
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Scooter Rental
$9.23
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Short Tuk-Tuk Ride
$3.08
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2 Bottles of Gasoline
$2.46
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Longboat Taxi from Town
$6.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Superfast Transfer from Koh Phi Phi to Krabi by Arisa Speed Boat:
$37
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Railay Beach to Koh Phi Phi High Speed Transfers:
$19
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Railay Beach to Koh Lanta High Speed Transfers:
$23
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Private Transfer from Krabi to Phuket with 2h of Sightseeing:
$91
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Private Transfer from Krabi City to Krabi (KBV) Airport:
$41
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Private Round Trip Transfer between Krabi Town and KBV Krabi Airport:
$39
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Private Departure Transfer from Krabi Town to KBV Krabi Airport:
$19
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Ferry Transfer between Krabi & Koh Lanta:
$19
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Krabi to Koh Tao High Speed Transfer Ticket:
$34
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Krabi to Koh Samui: High Speed Transfers:
$21
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Krabi to Koh Phangan High-Speed Transfers:
$25
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Koh Phi Phi to Railay Beach High Speed Transfers:
$19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Van Transfer: One way El Nido to Puerto Princesa:
$103
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Palawan Transfers between El Nido and Puerto Princesa:
$30
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One Way Sharing Van Transfer El Nido to Puerto Princesa:
$10
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El Nido to Sabang Private Transfer:
$140
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El Nido to Puerto Princesa - Private Transfer:
$115
Is it cheaper to fly into Krabi or El Nido?
Prices for flights to both El Nido and Krabi 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.
Entertainment
In Krabi, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $9.17 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in El Nido can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $4.87 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Typical Entertainment prices in Krabi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Krabi
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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4 Island Snorkel Tour by Speedboat from Koh Lanta:
$72
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Andaman Islands Full-Day/Sunset Cruise by Thai Junk:
$105
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Bicycle Tour through Krabis Lush Green Countryside:
$58
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Deluxe Jungle Tour to Tiger Temple & Krabi Rainforest:
$67
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From Koh Lanta: 4 Island Tour to Emerald Cave by Big Boat:
$49
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From Similan Islands Tour by Speedboat:
$110
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From Lanta: Snorkel Tour to Koh Ngai & Kayak on Koh Talabeng:
$47
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Full-Day 4 Islands Long-Tail Boat Tour in Krabi:
$24
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Hong Island Deluxe Tour by Longtail Boat from Krabi:
$74
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Hong Island Tour by Speed Boat from Krabi with Kayaking:
$49
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Jungle Tour to Tiger Temple, Hot Springs & Crystal Pool:
$36
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Koh Phangan to Krabi Single/Return Ferry Ticket:
$30
Tours and Activities in El Nido
For El Nido, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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EL NIDO ISLAND HOPPING (TOUR A)- Lagoons and Beaches with Buffet Lunch:
$67
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EL Nido Tour A:
$26
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EL Nido Tour B:
$35
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EL Nido Tour C:
$40
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EL Nido Tour D:
$33
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El Nido Island Hopping (Tour A) – Full Day:
$28
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El Nido Island Hopping Tour B:
$32
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El Nido Island Hopping Tours(A-D):
$25
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El Nido Nacpan Beach + Lio Beach + Las Cabanas Tour:
$82
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El Nido Nacpan Beach + Lio Beach Tour:
$68
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El Nido Tour A Private Tour:
$95
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El Nido Tour A With Big Or Small Lagoon:
$39
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Krabi spend on average $3.92 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting El Nido spend on average $7.57 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typical Alcohol prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:
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Beer
$2.77
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Cocktails (for Two)
$9.23
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krabi and El Nido, we can see that Krabi 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 Krabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Krabi than you might in El Nido.
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