Which place is cheaper, Queenstown or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit El Nido or Queenstown?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Queenstown? 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: El Nido or Queenstown?
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.
Queenstown
Queenstown is a popular tourist destination on New Zealand's South Island. It is beautifully surrounded by the Southern Alps and sits on the banks of Lake Wakatipu. Across the lake you will find a stunning view of the Remarkables, a dramatic mountain range. The town itself is quite touristy, but prices still remain reasonable. There are options for all travel budgets, whether you're a backpacker hoping to save a few dollars or a family looking for some luxury accommodation. Despite its natural and tranquil setting, Queenstown is actually very much a party town, particularly during the peak seasons. Don't be surprised to find people out enjoying themselves until the early hours of the morning. If you're not into the party scene and are hoping to get a decent night's sleep, consider staying a little outside of town. About an hour outside of Queenstown you'll find Wanaka, which is a much smaller and peaceful town without the party scene.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Bicycle Tours in New Zealand, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand.
-
El Nido Prices
Philippines PricesQueenstown Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $47Queenstown $130
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $47, while the average daily cost in Queenstown is $130. 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 El Nido and Queenstown in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Queenstown $55
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Queenstown $110
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Queenstown
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Queenstown? 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: El Nido Hotel Prices and Queenstown Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Queenstown $10
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Queenstown
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Queenstown:
- ZQN Airport to Downtown|Hotels Private Transfer: $27
- Tasman Glacier Helihike with Flight Transfers: $982
- Milford Sound Cruise with Helicopter Transfer: $748
- Queenstown to Mt Cook One Way Scenic Transfer: $115
- Queenstown private transfer: $87
- Queenstown International Airport to City Hotels Transfer : $90
- Queenstown Airport to/from Wanaka Hassle Free Private Transfer : $101
- QUEENSTOWN:Private 1 way Airport transfer to/from CBD Hotels: $52
- Private Transfers from Queenstown Airport to Wanaka : $177
- Private Airport Transfer Vice Versa in Queenstown by SUV: $69
- From Cardrona Ski/Snowboard Rentals & Transfer: $152
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Queenstown?
Prices for flights to both Queenstown and El Nido 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 dayEl Nido $20Queenstown $62
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Queenstown
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Queenstown.
- Bar Crawl with 5 Free Shots and Pizza: $17
- Dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm and Cruise from Queenstown: $119
- Queenstown Wine & Food Tour: Scenery, Tastings & Delicious Lunch!: $135
- Wine & Food Tour, Scenic Tastings & Paired Lunch: $138
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.34Queenstown $21
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Queenstown
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Queenstown are as follows:
-
Skyline Gondola (for 2)$30
Tours and Activities in Queenstown
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Queenstown are as follows:
- 1-Hour Ultimate Jet Boat Adventure on the Kawarau River: $89
- 20-Minute Remarkables Helicopter Tour from Queenstown: $167
- 30-Minute High-Speed Thrill Queenstown Jet Boat Adventure : $65
- Arrowtown and Wanaka Highlights Tour from Queenstown: $125
- Beauties of Queenstown Private Walking Tour: $941
- Boutique Winery Half-Day Tour & Vineyard Platter-Style Lunch: $150
- Cardrona Valley Mountain Quad Experience from Wanaka: $215
- Convertible Picnic Tour Queenstown: $113
- Cruise Milford Small Group Day Tour from Queenstown : $221
- Dart River Canoe and Jet Boat Experience from Queenstown: $264
- Dart River Jet Boat and Wilderness Experience: $184
- Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Queenstown: $278
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.31Queenstown $8.86
Sample the Local Flavors in Queenstown
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Queenstown:
- Ice Bar Crawl: $23
- Queenstown, Arrowtown, Gibbston: Join the Only Flexible Wine Tour: $53
- Bike & Wine Tour: Arrowtown to Valley of the Vines: $69
- Queenstown & Gibbston Valley: Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tours: $75
- Craft Beer Brewery Tour with Lunch: $107
- Queenstown's Original Wine Tour Celebrating 33 Years: $113
- Classic Wine Tour: $127
- Queenstown Classic Wine Tour: 3 Winery Visits, Cave Tour & Cheese: $131
- Central Otago Wine Tour: $132
- Award Winning Premium Wine Tour Queenstown Tasting at 4 Wineries: $137
- Wine Tasting Tour: $144
- Afternoon Boutique Wine Tour: $149
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Queenstown, we can see that Queenstown is more expensive. And not only is El Nido much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since El Nido is in Asia and Queenstown is in Pacific, 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 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 Queenstown would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Queenstown 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 El Nido Expensive? and Is Queenstown Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Queenstown?
Queenstown has a larger population, and is about 34% larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Queenstown, 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.