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

Should you visit El Nido or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

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

Should I visit El Nido or Tiger Leaping Gorge? 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge?

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.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

One of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge gets its name from legend, where a tiger used a great rock in the center of the gorge as a stepping stone to leap from one side to the other. It is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery on either side with the Yangtze River rushing down through its center. Visitors come to Tiger Leaping Gorge to hike and witness its natural beauty.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.


Which place is cheaper, Tiger Leaping Gorge 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.

  • El Nido Prices
    Philippines Prices
    Tiger Leaping Gorge Prices
    China Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    El Nido $47
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $54

The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $47, while the average daily cost in Tiger Leaping Gorge is $54. 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    El Nido $14
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    El Nido $28
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $26
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Tiger Leaping Gorge

Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Tiger Leaping Gorge? 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 El Nido


Hotels in Tiger Leaping Gorge


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.
    El Nido $19
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $17

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 El Nido or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

Prices for flights to both Tiger Leaping Gorge 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 day
    El Nido $20
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $28

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    El Nido $5.34
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $15

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    El Nido $8.31
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $6.46


When comparing the travel costs between El Nido and Tiger Leaping Gorge, we can see that Tiger Leaping Gorge 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 El Nido Expensive? and Is Tiger Leaping Gorge Expensive?.