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

Should you visit Udaipur 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 Udaipur 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: Udaipur or El Nido?

Udaipur

Udaipur, also known as the "Venice of the East," is becoming increasingly popular as an Indian wedding destination as well as with travelers searching for a romantic and picturesque city, rich with history, scenic areas, and palaces.

The "City of Lakes" is located in south of Rajasthan. There are a total of ten lakes in the lake system, which are connected and sustain water for drinking, irrigation and industrial use, which contributes to another reason for Udaipur's booming tourism: alcohol.

Udaipur has ideal climate and available water to support a liquor plant while a number of other Indian states ban the consumption of liquor altogether. Many local tourists, such as those from the neighboring dry state of Gujarat on the west, visit Udaipur specifically for this reason, especially considering that Gujarati alcohol prices are much higher and liquor must be purchased through the black market. It's no wonder why Udaipur is the destination for celebrations and vacation.

Udaipur has tropical weather and three main seasons, which are summer, monsoon, and winter. Winter, which takes place between September to March, is the most pleasant time to visit for sunny and warm days and cool nights.

Udaipur was also made famous in the James Bond film Octopussy. Several local hotels show the film nightly.

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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India, The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines.


Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Udaipur?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Udaipur is $33, 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 Udaipur and El Nido in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Udaipur $16
    El Nido $14
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Udaipur $32
    El Nido $28
Compare Hotels in Udaipur and El Nido

Looking for a hotel in Udaipur 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 Udaipur


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: Udaipur Hotel Prices and El Nido Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Udaipur $6.98
    El Nido $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Udaipur

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Udaipur:


  • Tuk Tuk Ride
    $0.48

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Udaipur

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Udaipur:

  • Private Transfer From Hotel To Airport: $11
  • Private Transfer From Airport to Hotel: $14
  • Udaipur to jodhpur one Way Transfer: $52
  • Udaipur to Ahmedabad private transfers: $38
  • Udaipur Full Day Custom Tour with Transfers: $85
  • Udaipur City Tour With Next Day Jodhpur Transfer: $72
  • Udaipur Airport to Hotel or Vice Versa Transfer: $24
  • Udaipur Airport Transfer: $30
  • Udaipur Airport Pick up Transfer: $12
  • Udaipur Airport : Private Transfer to/from Udaipur Hotels: $6.00
  • Udaipur / RaNaK PUR / jodhpur one Way Transfer: $55
  • Transfer From Udaipur To Jaipur Via Chittorgarh Fort: $85

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 Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $11
  • Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $36
  • Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
  • Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $150
  • Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $150

Is it cheaper to fly into Udaipur or El Nido?

Prices for flights to both El Nido and Udaipur 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
    Udaipur $11
    El Nido $12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Udaipur

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Udaipur.

  • Private Traditional Dinner with an Indian Family in Udaipur: $8.99
  • 4-Hour Indian Food Cooking Class with full Meals: $12
  • Enjoyable,homely & mom 's delicious cooking classes: $16
  • Durga Cooking Class: $17
  • mamta cooking class awarded by tripadvisor : $23
  • Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $25
  • Culinary Adventure: Make Pizza, Sip Wine At Royal Repast: $39
  • Secret Cooking Session with the bheel Tribe: $44
  • 3 Hours Indian Cooking Session at Local Home (Udaipur): $50
  • Private Rajasthani Cooking Class in an Udaipur Home: $51
  • Jodhpur to Osian camel safari / Dinner At Dhani: $60
  • Jodhpur, Osian camel ride &Dinner At Dhani (country side): $60

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Udaipur $10
    El Nido $5.38
Typical Entertainment Prices in Udaipur

Here are a few typical costs in Udaipur for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Palace Entrance Fee
    $1.20
  • Lake Boat Tour
    $2.39

Tours and Activities in Udaipur

Here are a few actual costs in Udaipur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Full Day Udaipur City Tour by Private Vehicle: $92
  • Local Sightseeing - Udaipur ," Travel With Chinmay ".: $80
  • 3 Days Private Udaipur City Tour With Kumbhalgarh Fort & Ranakpur Jain Temple : $125
  • 3 Days Private Udaipur Highlights Tour: $90
  • 3 Days Private Udaipur Tour: $110
  • 3 Night 4 Days Udaipur And Jodhpur Tour: $135
  • 3 Night 4 Days Udaipur And Jodhpur Tour By Car & Driver: $180
  • 3-Days Tour of Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh & Ranakpur with Jodhpur Drop: $120
  • 4 Night 5 Days Udaipur And Jodhpur Tour By Car & Driver: $162
  • 6 - Days Udaipur and Mount Abu Tour: $300
  • 6 Night 7 Days Udaipur,Jodhpur & Jaisalmer Tour From Udaipur : $275
  • 7 - Days Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur Tour: $246

Tours and Activities in El Nido

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

  • Island Hopping Tour A with lunch BEST PRICE!: $22
  • Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches: $23
  • Shared El Nido Tour A: $23
  • Big Lagoon and Shimizu Island Tour with Kayaking: $23
  • Hidden Beaches and Lagoons Boat Hopping Tour D: $23
  • Island Hopping Tour B Cudognong Cave & More: $25
  • El Nido Tour A: $27
  • El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: $27
  • El Nido Tour D Full Day w/ Beach Lunch: $28
  • El Nido Island Tour B w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $28
  • Island Hopping Tour C (Shared tour) BEST PRICE!: $28
  • El Nido Island Hopping Tour C: Hidden Beaches & Shrine: $29

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Udaipur $8.92
    El Nido $8.36

Sample the Local Flavors in Udaipur

Also in Udaipur, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Pub Crawl Uaipur (3 Hours Guided Nightlife Experience): $20
  • Pub Crawl Udaipur (3 Hours Guided Nightlife Experience): $35
  • 3-Hour Pub Crawl: $39
  • Pub Crawl Udaipur: $39


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

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


Which is Bigger, Udaipur or El Nido?

Udaipur has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of Udaipur 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.