A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mount Bromo vs. El Nido for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mount Bromo or El Nido?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Mount Bromo 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: Mount Bromo or El Nido?

Mount Bromo

Mt. Bromo is the most famous active volcano in East Java at 2,329 meters high. Most visit Mt. Bromo to see the spectacular sunrise over the Tenggar-Caldera. Cemoro Lawang is the most popular town where tourists stay while visiting. Be prepared with cash ahead of time, as you'll have a hard time finding an ATM in town.

While you may be accustomed to warmer weather in other cities on the island, the highlands of Mt. Bromo will require that you dress warmly, if only for the night and early morning that you're there to see the sunrise, as temperatures may drop to freezing. There are many vendors selling hats and gloves if you need them.

Daytime temperatures, on the other hand, are much warmer in high 60s. Note that wet season takes place from November to March, and the months of January and February experience the heaviest rains and even flooding.

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 Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.


Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Mount Bromo?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Bromo is $25, while the average daily cost in El Nido is $47. 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 Mount Bromo and El Nido in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mount Bromo $10
    El Nido $14
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mount Bromo $20
    El Nido $28
Compare Hotels in Mount Bromo and El Nido

Looking for a hotel in Mount Bromo 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.

Hotels in Mount Bromo


Hotels in El Nido


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: El Nido Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mount Bromo $7.03
    El Nido $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido

Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
  • Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $170
  • Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $170
  • Island Hopping TOUR A with Lunch, Transfer & EDTF: $53
  • El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
  • El Nido Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $44
  • El Nido Tour C with Lunch and Transfers: $44
  • Island Hopping Tour B Snake Island with transfer: $39
  • Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $35
  • To Puerto Princesa 1-Way Shared Van Transfer: $14
  • El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12

Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Bromo or El Nido?

Prices for flights to both El Nido and Mount Bromo 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Mount Bromo $8.84
    El Nido $20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Nido

For El Nido, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • El Nido, Sibaltan: Family Dinner, Bonfire and Karaoke: $39

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mount Bromo $7.88
    El Nido $5.34

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 : $45
  • 2 Days Private Cruise in El Nido on a 43-foot Sailing Yacht: $672
  • All-Inclusive El Nido Island Hopping Private Tour: $153
  • Private Island Hopping Tour A with BUFFET LUNCH: $128
  • Private Island Hopping Tour B: $132
  • Private Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH: $132
  • Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH: $21
  • Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour B: $28
  • El Nido Advanced Enduro Tour: $200
  • El Nido Big Lagoon & Tropical Island Private Tour: $356
  • El Nido Group Tour A with Beach Lunch: $45
  • El Nido Group Tour B with Lunch (Full Day): $47

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mount Bromo $4.43
    El Nido $8.31


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mount Bromo and El Nido, we can see that El Nido is more expensive. And not only is Mount Bromo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mount Bromo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mount Bromo 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 Mount Bromo.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mount Bromo Expensive? and Is El Nido Expensive?.