Nepenthes abalata is a tropical pitcher plant known from three western islands of the Philippines: Culion, Cuyo, and Malalison. It has been recorded from coastal grassland and scrub at elevations of 0–20 m above sea level.
The specific epithet abalata may be translated as "from alata" and refers to the historical lumping of N. abalata with the widespread and highly variable N. alata.