Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Surabaya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Surabaya or El Nido?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Surabaya 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: Surabaya or El Nido?
Surabaya
Surabaya, also known as the "city of heroes," is the capital of East Java and the second largest city in Indonesia, following Jakarta. While it doesn't highlight as many typical tourist monuments as other cities, Surabaya serves as a takeoff point or a landing base for travelers visiting Mount Bromo and Bali.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Indonesia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.
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Surabaya Prices
Indonesia PricesEl Nido Prices
Philippines Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurabaya $76El Nido $47
The average daily cost (per person) in Surabaya is $76, 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 Surabaya and El Nido in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurabaya $36El Nido $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurabaya $72El Nido $28
Compare Hotels in Surabaya and El Nido
Looking for a hotel in Surabaya 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: Surabaya Hotel Prices and El Nido Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surabaya $2.66El Nido $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surabaya
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Surabaya:
- Private Transfer from Yogyakarta to Bromo: $234
- Private Transfer from Waru to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $33
- Private Transfer from Tanggulangin to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $52
- Private Transfer from Taman to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $49
- Private Transfer from Surabaya City to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $33
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Tanggulangin: $52
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Tambak Sawah: $35
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Taman: $42
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Surabaya City : $33
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Sidoarjo: $52
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Semampir: $33
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Segoro Tambak: $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
- El Nido Tour C with Lunch and Transfers: $44
- El Nido Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $44
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
- Island Hopping TOUR A with Lunch, Transfer & EDTF: $53
- 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
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $170
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $170
Is it cheaper to fly into Surabaya or El Nido?
Prices for flights to both El Nido and Surabaya 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 daySurabaya $37El 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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surabaya $4.56El Nido $5.34
Tours and Activities in Surabaya
Here are a few actual costs in Surabaya for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Bromo Private Day Tour with Madakaripura Waterfall: $131
- 1 Day Tour, Wonderful Mount Bromo Sunrise From Surabaya or Malang: $136
- 1 days Majapahit temple history tour: $100
- 1Day - Bromo Madakaripura Day Tour: $128
- 2Days - Bromo Family Tour via Surabaya: $163
- 2Days - Bromo Madakaripura Adventure via Surabaya or Malang: $155
- 2Days - Bromo Sunrise Ijen Tour via Surabaya: $199
- 2Days/1Night Bromo Private Tour with Hotel: $189
- 3-Day Tour: Mount Bromo & Ijen Crater from Surabaya or Malang: $264
- 3D2N Mount Bromo & Ijen Crater Tour from Surabaya: $289
- 3Days - Adventure Bromo Ijen via Surabaya: $245
- 3Days - Adventure Bromo Ijen via Surabaya or Malang: $275
Tours and Activities in El Nido
For El Nido, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH: $21
- Tour D with Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach & More: $21
- El Nido Island Tour A: $21
- Tour A (Big & Secret Lagoon, Shimizu, 7 Commando): $21
- El Nido Island Tour D: $21
- Big Lagoon Kayaking & Island Adventure: $22
- Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches: $22
- Hidden Beaches and Lagoons Boat Hopping Tour D: $23
- Tour B with Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave, and More: $24
- Shared El Nido Tour A: $24
- El Nido Island Tour B: $24
- El Nido:Private Tour D with Highlights Small & Cadlao Lagoon: $24
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurabaya -El Nido $8.31
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surabaya and El Nido, we can see that Surabaya 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 Surabaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Surabaya 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 Surabaya Expensive? and Is El Nido Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Surabaya or El Nido?
Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 300 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya 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.