A Travel Price Comparison for Philippines Palawan vs. El Nido for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Palawan or El Nido?

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

Should I visit Palawan 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: Palawan or El Nido?

Palawan

Palawan is an archipelagic province of the Philippines, named for its largest island which measures about 450 kilometers (or 280 miles) long. The island is known as an ecological frontier with plenty of beaches and resorts as well as opportunities to see a diverse array of wildlife and their habitats on land and sea.

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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, and The Best Adventure Tours to Philippines.


Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Palawan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Palawan is $36, 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 Palawan and El Nido in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Palawan $13
    El Nido $14
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Palawan $26
    El Nido $28
Compare Hotels in Palawan and El Nido

Looking for a hotel in Palawan 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 Palawan


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: Palawan Hotel Prices and El Nido Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Palawan $16
    El Nido $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Palawan

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

  • Shared Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Transfer: $10
  • Puerto Princesa - El Nido | Private Van Transfer: $149
  • Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $140
  • Private Transfers Puerto Princesa To Elnido: $260
  • Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
  • Private Puerto Princesa Airport Transfers: $29
  • Private Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Transfer: $79
  • El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
  • Arrival airport transfer-Private airport to hotel in central area: $20
  • Arrival Airport transfers from Puerto Princesa Airport to Hotels: $7.50
  • Airport Transfers: $20

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: $37
  • El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $11
  • El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Palawan or El Nido?

Prices for flights to both El Nido and Palawan 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
    Palawan $12
    El Nido $12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Palawan

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

  • Puerto Princesa Fireflies Watching with Dinner: $30

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Palawan $5.26
    El Nido $5.40

Tours and Activities in Palawan

For Palawan, 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
  • 2in1 City tour and museum with pick up at hotel or cruise port: $15
  • 3 Days Coron Palawan Reefs & Wreck Multi Day Tours: $180
  • 3D2N El Nido Experience: $250
  • 3dayTour Underground river honda bay citytour w/ airport pick up: $125
  • 5D4N Puerto Princesa & El Nido Experience: $299
  • City Tour of Puerto Princesa: $35
  • City tour of Puerto Princesa Palawan Philippines : $19
  • Coron Busuanga Calauit Safari Tour With Black Island (Private): $225
  • Coron Busuanga Calauit Safari Tour With Black Island (Shared Tour): $93
  • Coron Calauit Safari Tour E: $89
  • Coron Culion Island Escapade Private Tour: $132

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
  • Day cruise on Sailing Yacht: $184
  • El Nido Group Tour B - Cave Tour w/ Island Lunch: $48
  • El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: $28
  • El Nido Island Hopping Tour C: Hidden Beaches & Shrine: $29
  • El Nido Island Tour A w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $33
  • El Nido Island Tour B w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $30
  • El Nido Island Tour C w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $33
  • El Nido Island Tour D w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $33
  • El Nido Nacpan Day Tour: $65
  • El Nido Palawan Private Tour C, with Lunch: $139
  • El Nido Private Lagoon Tour - Tour A w/ Island Lunch: $142

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Palawan $7.52
    El Nido $8.39


When comparing the travel costs between Palawan and El Nido, we can see that El Nido is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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