Palawan is a pristine island province in the western Philippines, often called the Philippines' Last Frontier for its untouched natural beauty. Home to the UNESCO-listed Puerto Princesa Subterranean River and the stunning limestone karst landscapes of El Nido and Coron, Palawan offers some of Southeast Asia's most dramatic scenery. Its turquoise lagoons, vibrant coral reefs, and white-sand beaches consistently earn it recognition as one of the world's best island destinations.
Local currency: Philippine Peso (PHP).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Palawan.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $9-18 (₱500-1,000/night dorm bed)
- Budget
- $18-35 (₱1,000-2,000/night private room)
- Midrange
- $45-110 (₱2,500-6,000/night)
- Luxury
- $200-600+ (₱11,000-35,000+/night)
Food
- Street
- $1-3 (₱50-180 per item at night markets)
- Local
- $4-8 (₱200-450 at turo-turo or local eateries)
- Midrange
- $10-25 (₱550-1,400 at sit-down restaurants)
- Fine
- $40-100+ (₱2,200-5,500 at resort fine dining)
Transport
- Bus
- $0.50-2 (₱30-100 jeepney or local bus ride)
- Taxi
- $3-8 (₱170-450 for tricycle or tuk-tuk within town)
- Airport
- $5-15 (₱280-850 taxi/van from Puerto Princesa Airport)
- Daytrip
- $15-30 (₱850-1,700 van Puerto Princesa to El Nido)
Activities
- Museum
- $2-5 (₱110-280 museum or archaeological site entry)
- Sites
- $5-15 (₱280-850 national park fees and island entry)
- Tour
- $15-30 (₱850-1,700 island-hopping tour A/B/C)
- Excursion
- $30-80 (₱1,700-4,500 diving day trip or private tour)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Palawan costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
₱14,000 ($250) for 7 days — hostels, local food, group tours
Midrange traveller
₱45,000 ($800) for 7 days — mid-range hotels, restaurants, some private tours
Luxury traveller
₱150,000+ ($2,700+) for 7 days — luxury resorts, fine dining, private experiences
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Travel in April-June shoulder season for prices 20-40% lower than peak season
Join group island-hopping tours (Tour A/B/C) rather than private charters to save 60-70%
Eat at turo-turo canteens and night markets where meals cost ₱150-300
Take shared vans (not private) between Puerto Princesa and El Nido (₱850 vs ₱5,000+)
Book accommodation directly with guesthouses rather than through OTAs for 10-15% savings
Bring reef-safe sunscreen from home — specialty sunscreen costs 3x more in El Nido
Share boat rental costs with other travelers for day trips to specific beaches
Carry a reusable water bottle and refill from 5-gallon jugs (₱25) rather than buying bottles (₱50+)
Book flights in advance (2-3 months) for Manila-Puerto Princesa routes for 40-60% savings
Cook simple meals using ingredients from local markets when staying in kitchen-equipped guesthouses
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Nacpan Beach
Explore 4km of pristine white-sand beach with no entry fee
Long Beach San Vicente
Walk the Philippines' longest white-sand beach completely free
El Nido Town Beach
Swim and relax at the main town beach at no cost
Coron Tapyas Mountain
Hike to the cross viewpoint overlooking Coron Bay (free)
Puerto Princesa Palawan Museum
Visit the provincial museum with minimal or no entry fee
Puerto Princesa City Tour
Walk the Rizal Avenue heritage district and baywalk for free
Iwahig Firefly Watching (self-guided)
Watch fireflies from the riverbank at no cost (boat tours cost ₱450)
El Nido Sunset Watching
Watch spectacular sunsets from the beachfront without spending anything
Coron Town Market
Browse the local morning market for free — a colorful slice of daily life
Snorkeling at Public Beaches
Many beaches around Honda Bay and El Nido offer good snorkeling just offshore