Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Krabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Krabi 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 Krabi and El Nido can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Krabi or El Nido?
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, 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 dayKrabi $55El Nido $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $55, 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 Krabi and El Nido in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrabi $36El Nido $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrabi $72El Nido $28
Compare Hotels in Krabi and El Nido
Looking for a hotel in Krabi 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: Krabi Hotel Prices and El Nido Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krabi $3.80El Nido $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$8.18
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Short Tuk-Tuk Ride$2.73
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2 Bottles of Gasoline$2.18
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Longboat Taxi from Town$5.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT Transfer to PHUKET TOWN (SHA Plus): $39
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to SIRAY BAY: $39
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to ROYAL YACHT HAVEN: $28
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to RAWAI BEACH: $42
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to PHUKET TOWN: $31
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to NATAI BEACH: $39
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to NAIYANG BEACH: $26
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to NAITHON BEACH: $26
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to NAIHARN BEACH: $39
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to MAI KHAO BEACH: $28
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to LAYAN BEACH: $24
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to LAGUNA BEACH: $24
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: $140
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $36
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $11
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayKrabi $13El Nido $12
Typical Food Prices in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.82
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Drinks on the Beach$6.55
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$17
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Nice Dinner (for Two)$30
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Mango Shake$1.36
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Pad Thai$2.73
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Fruit from the Market$1.64
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Pancakes$2.73
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Coffee & Cake$2.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Snorkeling and Sunset Dinner Trip From Krabi: $33
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with BBQ Dinner & Night Snorkeling by Longtail Boat: $33
- Small-Group Smart Thai Cooking Class in Krabi: $36
- Traditional Thai Cooking Class with Smart Cook: $36
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with BBQ Dinner & Plankton: $38
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with BBQ Dinner and Snorkeling: $38
- Evening Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $39
- 4 Islands Sunset Longtail Boat Tour with BBQ Dinner: $41
- Seven Islands Snorkel Cruise with Dinner: $41
- Authentic Thai cooking class with market tour: $42
- Krabi Thai Cooking Class: $43
- Krabi 4 Islands Sunset Premium Service Trip by Speedboat + BBQ Dinner: $43
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Krabi $10El Nido $5.38
Typical Entertainment Prices in Krabi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Thai-English Book$9.00
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Thai Massages (for Two)$22
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Bikini & Sarong$16
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Yoga Class (1 Hour)$12
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Backgammon Set (travel size)$6.82
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Kayak Trip (for Two)$52
Tours and Activities in Krabi
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Full Day Guided Tour in Bor Thor Caves and Mangroves : $146
- Phi Phi Islands Tour with Bioluminescent Planktons from krabi: $78
- 1 Hour Horse Riding Tour On The Beach Krabi: $43
- 2 Hour Horse Riding Tour On The Beach Krabi: $61
- 4 Island Joint Tour by Speed Boat from Krabi: $46
- 4 Island Speed Boat Adventure by Sea Eagle Tour from Krabi: $34
- 4 Island Sunset Snorkeling Cruise + bioluminescent Night Snorkel: $103
- 4 Island Tour by Traditional Big Longtail Boat from Krabi: $28
- 4 Islands & Sunset Tour by Long Tail Boat with Plankton : $71
- 4 Islands Day Tour by Speed Boat (from Ao Nang, Krabi): $39
- 4 Islands Day Tour from Krabi with Tub, Chicken, Poda Island & Phra Nang Cave: $51
- 4 Islands Full-day Tour from Krabi with Tub, Chicken, Poda Island & Phra Nang: $55
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 dayKrabi $4.34El Nido $8.36
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$2.45
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Cocktails (for Two)$8.18
Sample the Local Flavors in Krabi
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Krabi:
- Railay Pub Crawl: $14
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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Krabi Expensive? and Is El Nido Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krabi or El Nido?
Krabi has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of Krabi 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.