Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Da Nang?
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 Da Nang or El Nido?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Da Nang 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: Da Nang or El Nido?
Da Nang
Halfway between Ho Chi Minh City in the south and Hanoi in the North is the easy-going beach city of Da Nang (or Danang, for some). The third most populated city in Vietnam, Da Nang draws in crowds with its beautiful and calm beaches as well as its history as a French colonial port.
With beaches, mountains, and cityscape, there's bound to be a point of interest for all travelers. Da Nang is also a transit hub to get to the four Vietnamese UNESCO World heritage sites: Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, Hue, Hoi An, and My Son.
Da Nang experiences wet season from September through March and dry season from April through August with average temperatures of around 80℉.
Da Nang is also known to have some of the friendliest locals, probably due to the peace and quiet and lack of heavy traffic, even in the city.
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 from Hanoi, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.
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Da Nang Prices
Vietnam PricesEl Nido Prices
Philippines Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDa Nang $55El Nido $47
The average daily cost (per person) in Da Nang is $55, 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 Da Nang and El Nido in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDa Nang $18El Nido $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDa Nang $36El Nido $28
Compare Hotels in Da Nang and El Nido
Looking for a hotel in Da Nang 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: Da Nang Hotel Prices and El Nido Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Da Nang $11El Nido $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Da Nang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Da Nang:
- Transfer from Hoi An to Hue by private car with stops for picture: $45
- Transfer from Da Nang to Hue : $70
- Transfer from Da Nang Hotel to Airport by Private Car: $5.00
- Transfer Private from Da Nang to Bana Hills aroundtrip : $40
- Private transfer Danang airport - Hotels in Danang: $15
- Private Transfer from Hue to Hoi An orHoi An to Hue via Hai Van Pass,Lang Co Bay: $75
- Private Transfer From Hue to Hoi An by Car: $90
- Private Transfer From Da Nang to Hoi An or from Hoi An to Da Nang: $28
- Private Transfer Da nang or Hoi An To Hue Via Ba Na Hill Golden Bridge : $55
- Private Da Nang Airport Transfer Service: $19
- Private Car Transfer to MY LAI MASSACRE & MY SON HOLYAND : $99
- Private Car Transfer Da Nang Airport To Hoi An : $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
- To Puerto Princesa 1-Way Shared Van Transfer: $14
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $35
- Island Hopping Tour B Snake Island with transfer: $39
- El Nido Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $44
- El Nido Tour C with Lunch and Transfers: $44
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- Island Hopping TOUR A with Lunch, Transfer & EDTF: $53
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $170
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $170
- El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
Is it cheaper to fly into Da Nang or El Nido?
Prices for flights to both El Nido and Da Nang 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 dayDa Nang $27El Nido $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Da Nang
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Da Nang.
- Tasty Dinner Da Nang on Han River Cruise by Yatch & Champa Show: $17
- Poseidon Cruise with Dinner and Dragon Bridge Show: $17
- HộiAnTrà Quế farming &Cooking Class-BasketBoat Ride,Crab fishing: $26
- Eco Cooking Class and Basket boat tour from Da Nang/ Hoi An: $29
- Da Nang Food Tour Motorbike & Sightseeing By Ao Dai Lady Rider: $38
- 5 traditional dishes Da Nang cooking class with market trip: $39
- Seafood dinner, night market, sightseeing by night: $39
- Happy Cooking Class in Danang : $39
- Da Nang Evening Food Tour: $47
- 6-Hour Cooking Class in Danang (JDN1): $50
- Discover Da Nang by Night on a Private Food Tour: $53
- Hue Countryside Bike Tour & Cooking Class: $71
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.Da Nang $13El Nido $5.34
Tours and Activities in Da Nang
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Da Nang are as follows:
- Golden Bridge- Early Departure & Marble Mountains- Private Tour: $133
- Hoi An Walking Tour, Sampan Boat Trip , Foodie Tour by Night: $69
- HoiAn Walking Tour with RiverBoat-Night Market-Colourful Lantern: $39
- Jeep Tour Danang to Hai Van Pass Lunch Lang Co Beach & Waterfall: $105
- MY SON HOLYLAND Private Tour-Early Morning at 6A.M or Afternoon : $65
- Marble Mountains - Hoi An Ancient Town Afternoon Tours FROM DANANG(15H30-21H): $35
- My Lai Massacre & My Son Holyland Fullday Private Tour : $165
- My Son Holyland & MARBLE MOUNTAIN Private Tour : $87
- 1 Day Imperial City Hue Tour from Hoi An and Da Nang City : $70
- 4-Day Private Central Vietnam Tour from Hue, My Son, Hoi An: $297
- Ba Na Hill - Golden Bridge Tour: $90
- Ba Na Hill Golden Bridge Tour with Buffet Lunch: $55
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 dayDa Nang $8.91El Nido $8.31
When comparing the travel costs between Da Nang and El Nido, we can see that Da Nang 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 Da Nang Expensive? and Is El Nido Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Da Nang or El Nido?
Da Nang has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of Da Nang 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.