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

Should you visit Tehran or El Nido?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Tehran and El Nido. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Tehran or El Nido?

Tehran

The capital of Iran, Tehran is a cosmopolitan city with great museums, art galleries, parks, restaurants, and more. It is located in the northernmost part of Central Iran at the foot of the towering Alborz mountain range. Some of the most popular attractions include the Treasury of the National Jewels, Golestan Palace, and the Tajrish Bazaar.

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 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.


Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Tehran?

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 Tehran is $2.72, while the average daily cost in El Nido is $45. 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 Tehran and El Nido in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tehran $1.91
    El Nido $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tehran $3.82
    El Nido $26
Compare Hotels in Tehran and El Nido

Looking for a hotel in Tehran 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 Tehran


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.
    Tehran $0.01
    El Nido $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido

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

  • Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $193
  • Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $193
  • El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
  • El Nido Beginner Surf Lesson with Lunch and Round-Trip Transfers: $74
  • Island Hopping TOUR A with Lunch, Transfer & EDTF: $53
  • El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
  • El Nido Tour C with Lunch and Transfers: $49
  • El Nido Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $49
  • 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 Tehran or El Nido?

Prices for flights to both El Nido and Tehran 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
    Tehran $0.75
    El Nido $19

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
  • El Nido Fishing with Local Fisherman with Sunset Dinner: $136

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tehran $0.14
    El Nido $5.01

Tours and Activities in El Nido

For El Nido, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2 Days Private Cruise in El Nido on a 43-foot Sailing Yacht: $672
  • All-Inclusive El Nido Beach 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 Island Hopping Day Tour from Puerto Princesa City: $120
  • El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: $27
  • El Nido Island Hopping Tour C: Hidden Beaches & Shrine: $28

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tehran -
    El Nido $7.79


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tehran and El Nido, we can see that El Nido is more expensive. And not only is Tehran much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tehran is in Middle East and El Nido is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Tehran would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tehran 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 Tehran.

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


Which is Bigger, Tehran or El Nido?

Tehran has a larger population, and is about 920 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of Tehran 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.