I spent £1,710 on three weeks in the Philippines, not counting food, tours or the flight in, and three days on an expedition boat cost me less than four nights in a hostel. So what does a trip to the Philippines really cost, where does the money go, and which costs catch everyone out, from fuel surcharges to cash-only boat trips? Here’s my real spend, line by line, with current prices for everything else.
The Philippines isn’t the cheapest country in South-East Asia, but it’s very good value for what you get. Your biggest costs will be domestic flights, island-hopping tours and the cluster of small environmental and entrance fees, and they add up faster than the cheap street food suggests.
I spent just over three weeks travelling through Siargao, Moalboal, Puerto Princesa, El Nido and Coron, with a three-day boat expedition between the last two. This guide shares exactly what I spent on rooms, flights and the expedition, then current prices for accommodation, transport, tours, food and the extras, with sample daily budgets.
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Philippines trip costs at a glance
All prices are in Philippine pesos (₱), with conversions at £1 = ₱84 and $1 = ₱63. ₱1,000 is about £12 or $16.
- Backpacker: about ₱2,000 to ₱3,000 (£24 to £36) per person a day, in dorms, eating at carinderias and joining shared tours.
- Mid-range: about ₱4,500 to ₱7,000 (£54 to £83) a day, in private rooms, with a tour most days.
- Comfortable: ₱10,000 (£119) a day and up, in resorts, with private boats and transfers.
- On top: domestic flights, at about ₱2,500 to ₱6,000 (£30 to £71) a leg once you add a bag and fees, and international flights.
These are per person for a solo traveller. Couples sharing a room will spend a fair bit less each.
What I spent
These are the bookings from my own budget spreadsheet. Room prices are per room, per night.
| Booking | Nights | Total | Per night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Happiness Hostel Siargao, double room with balcony | 3 | £202 | £67 |
| Chief Mau, Moalboal, queen room | 5 | £300 | £60 |
| Hue Hotels, Puerto Princesa, deluxe room | 2 | £105 | £53 |
| Outpost Beach Hostel, El Nido | 3 | £211 | £70 |
| Hop Hostel, Coron, superior queen room | 4 | £283 | £71 |
| Keelooma expedition, El Nido to Coron, 3 days | 2 | £241 | |
| Flight, Siargao to Cebu (Philippine Airlines) | £49 | ||
| Flight, Cebu to Puerto Princesa (Philippine Airlines) | £53 | ||
| Flight, Coron to Singapore via Manila | £266 | ||
| Total | £1,710 |
My flight in, from Jakarta to Siargao via Manila, cost another £224.
A few things stand out. Rooms averaged about £65 a night, for private rooms rather than dorms. The Keelooma expedition, at ₱17,100, cost less than my four nights at Hop Hostel, and it included two nights’ camping, meals and three days of island-hopping. I paid half online as a deposit, and the rest in cash. And the two domestic flights were cheap: it’s the add-ons and connections that push the cost up.
Accommodation
Accommodation is cheapest in Moalboal and Puerto Princesa, and most expensive in El Nido and on Siargao in peak season, from December to May. Typical prices per room, per night:
| Destination | Dorm bed | Private room | Resort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siargao (General Luna) | ₱400 to ₱900 | ₱1,500 to ₱3,000 | ₱5,000 and up |
| Moalboal | From ₱500 | ₱500 to ₱1,500 for budget rooms | Varies |
| Puerto Princesa | ₱400 to ₱800 | ₱1,500 to ₱3,000 | Varies |
| El Nido | ₱500 to ₱1,200 | ₱2,200 to ₱4,500 | ₱6,000 to ₱12,000 |
| Coron | ₱350 to ₱700 | ₱1,800 to ₱3,500 | ₱4,000 to ₱8,000 |
Book well ahead for El Nido and Coron from March to May, when the best-value rooms go first. You can compare places to stay in El Nido and in Coron.
Getting around
Domestic flights
Flying is the only practical way to cover long distances, and it’s where the budget goes. Typical one-way fares:
| Route | Fare |
|---|---|
| Clark to Siargao | ₱1,900 to ₱3,600 |
| Cebu to Siargao | ₱2,500 to ₱5,000 |
| Cebu to Puerto Princesa | From about ₱2,800 |
| Clark to El Nido | ₱3,500 to ₱8,000 |
| Coron to Clark | From about ₱2,000 |
Then add the extras:
- Checked bags: Cebu Pacific’s base fares include only hand luggage. A 20kg bag costs ₱340 to ₱529 booked in advance, or about ₱1,000 at the airport.
- Fuel surcharges: currently ₱525 to ₱1,635 a flight, depending on distance, and usually shown in the fare.
- Terminal fees: ₱390 for domestic flights from Manila, included in the ticket.
The ₱1,620 travel tax you may read about doesn’t apply to foreign tourists staying less than a year.
Boats, vans and buses
- Cebu airport to Moalboal: the Ceres bus costs ₱170 to ₱210 and takes about four hours; a taxi is about ₱3,000 and a private transfer ₱2,500 to ₱5,500.
- Siargao airport to General Luna: a shared van is ₱300 to ₱400.
- Puerto Princesa to El Nido: a shared van is ₱600 to ₱790, and the Cherry Bus ₱610 to ₱1,080.
- El Nido to Coron: the fast ferry costs about ₱1,800 to ₱3,250, depending on the operator and class. My El Nido to Coron guide compares the options.
- Scooter hire: ₱350 to ₱500 a day.
- Tricycles: short hops in town are about ₱50 to ₱150; El Nido town to Lio Beach ₱150 to ₱400.
My guide to getting around the Philippines has the routes in detail.
Tours and activities
Tours are the second big cost, and the reason most people come. Shared tour prices usually include lunch and the boat, but not always the fees.
| Activity | Price per person |
|---|---|
| El Nido island-hopping, Tours A to D | ₱1,200 to ₱1,800, plus fees |
| Coron island-hopping | ₱1,200 to ₱1,700, plus site fees |
| Siargao land tour | ₱1,900 to ₱2,200 |
| Sohoton Cove tour | ₱2,700 to ₱3,000 |
| Puerto Princesa Underground River, shared tour | ₱2,200 to ₱2,800 |
| Kawasan Falls canyoneering | ₱1,900 to ₱2,200 |
| Sardine run snorkelling in Moalboal, on your own | ₱225 to ₱275, with snorkel hire |
| Keelooma expedition, El Nido to Coron, 3 days | ₱19,000 to ₱19,800 |
The fees that add up
- El Nido’s Eco-Tourism Development Fee: ₱400, valid for 10 days.
- El Nido’s Big and Small Lagoons: ₱200 each, on top of the tour.
- Coron’s environmental fee: ₱200, plus site fees such as ₱300 at Kayangan Lake.
- Sugba Lagoon: ₱170 per person, plus ₱2,150 for a boat for up to six.
- Kayak hire: ₱200 to ₱400. At Sugba Lagoon, I paid ₱200 for an hour in a single kayak.
The Keelooma price doesn’t include El Nido’s ₱400 fee or Coron’s ₱200 fee, and travel insurance is compulsory.
Food and drink
Eating is cheap if you eat local and noticeably more expensive if you don’t.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at a carinderia (local canteen) | ₱75 to ₱150 |
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | About ₱250 |
| Meal at a Western-style café | ₱300 to ₱600 |
| Dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant | About ₱1,400 |
| Jollibee Chickenjoy meal | From ₱99 |
| Local beer, in a bar | About ₱80 |
| Cappuccino | About ₱140 |
| Bottled water, 1.5 litres | About ₱40 |
Most island-hopping tours include a big lunch, like the grilled fish, rice and fruit on my tours in El Nido, which makes those days cheaper.
Other costs
- Visa: none needed for UK and US citizens for stays of up to 30 days. The eTravel arrival form is free.
- SIM card: a Globe tourist SIM with 25GB for 14 days costs about ₱400.
- Travel insurance: a single-trip policy from the UK typically costs around £45, and you’ll need it for the Keelooma expedition.
- ATM fees: ₱200 to ₱300 per withdrawal, with limits of ₱10,000 to ₱20,000 at most banks. HSBC charges no fee for withdrawals up to ₱40,000.
- Card surcharges: where cards are accepted, some places add 2% to 3%.
Sample budgets for three weeks
These are per person, for 21 days, before international flights, assuming four domestic flights and a tour most days.
| Spend | Backpacker | Mid-range | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily costs | ₱42,000 to ₱63,000 | ₱95,000 to ₱147,000 | ₱210,000 and up |
| Domestic flights | ₱12,000 | ₱16,000 | ₱24,000 |
| Total | About £640 to £890 | About £1,320 to £1,940 | About £2,790 and up |
Money-saving tips
- Book tours locally. Shared tours booked through your accommodation or on WhatsApp are usually cheaper than on the big booking sites.
- Book flights early, and prepay your bags. Domestic fares rise sharply close to departure, and bags cost much more at the airport.
- Share boats and transfers. Private boats at Sugba Lagoon and Coron, and vans to Moalboal, split well between four to six people.
- Eat at carinderias. You’ll eat well for under ₱150.
- Withdraw larger amounts to cut down on ATM fees, and carry cash. Many boats, fees and small guesthouses are cash only, and ATMs run dry in small towns, especially at weekends.
- Avoid the busiest months if you can. The best-value rooms in El Nido and Coron go first from March to May.
Read next
- The perfect 3-week Philippines itinerary
- Getting around the Philippines
- Philippines travel tips
- Philippines packing list
- Is the Philippines worth visiting? My honest verdict
- Filipino food: 12 dishes to try in the Philippines
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