Which city is cheaper, El Nido or Krabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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.
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 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.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $41, while the average daily cost in El Nido is $32. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Krabi and El Nido in more detail.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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.
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
For El Nido, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:
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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