Town in Palawan, Philippines
Cost of living in El Nido
How much a month costs in El Nido
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $799–1,360 (₱50,000–85,000).
Prices in El Nido
Typical 2026 ranges in PHP, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | PHP | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | ₱500–1,200 | $8.0–19.2 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | ₱2,500–6,000 | $40–96 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | ₱120–250 | $1.9–4.0 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | ₱450–1,100 | $7.2–17.6 |
| Cappuccino | ₱130–220 | $2.1–3.5 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | ₱90–160 | $1.4–2.6 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | ₱20–150 | $0.3–2.4 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | ₱150–300 | $2.4–4.8 |
| Work and life | ||
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | ₱400–1,000 | $6.4–16.0 |
Value for money: 85/100
A value score of 85/100 means El Nido gives more quality of life per dollar than 84% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 64/100. It's the 21st most affordable of 27 places we cover in Philippines.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Philippines
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Sagada | $447–719 | 99/100 |
| Banaue | $447–719 | 99/100 |
| Vigan | $479–767 | 98/100 |
| Siquijor | $559–878 | 96/100 |
| Bantayan | $607–926 | 95/100 |
| Dumaguete | $607–958 | 95/100 |
| Port Barton | $607–958 | 95/100 |
| Iloilo | $639–990 | 95/100 |
| Moalboal | $639–1,040 | 93/100 |
| La Union | $639–1,040 | 92/100 |
| Puerto Galera | $639–1,040 | 92/100 |
| Malapascua | $639–1,040 | 92/100 |
| Baguio | $671–1,120 | 93/100 |
| Davao | $719–1,120 | 89/100 |
| Tagaytay | $719–1,120 | 90/100 |
| Angeles City | $719–1,120 | 85/100 |
| Bohol | $719–1,200 | 89/100 |
| Coron | $799–1,280 | 87/100 |
| Panglao | $799–1,280 | 86/100 |
| Palawan | $799–1,360 | 85/100 |
| El Nido | $799–1,360 | 85/100 |
| Siargao | $799–1,360 | 80/100 |
| Cebu | $958–1,520 | 67/100 |
| Boracay | $1,040–1,600 | 74/100 |
| Manila | $1,280–2,080 | 40/100 |
| Makati | $1,440–2,240 | 48/100 |
| BGC | $1,440–2,240 | 42/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to El Nido
Similar safety, lower cost, in Southeast Asia.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Hue | Vietnam | $578–963 |
| Phong Nha | Vietnam | $539–848 |
| Sukhothai | Thailand | $656–1,040 |
| Ninh Binh | Vietnam | $539–925 |
| Mount Bromo | Indonesia | $503–783 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in El Nido?
About $447–639 on a lean budget, $799–1,360 for a comfortable month and $1,920–3,510 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much does food cost in El Nido?
A local meal is ₱120–250 ($1.9–4.0); a mid-range restaurant is ₱450–1,100 ($7.2–17.6) per person.
Is Philippines expensive?
Prices in Philippines are about 33% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about El Nido
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- El Nido Tourism (Municipality of El Nido)
- Department of Tourism
- Philippine Airlines
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.