Budget · Palawan · Philippines
Palawan on a budget
What a trip to Palawan really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ron Van Oers, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo
Quick answer
Palawan is affordable for most international visitors. Budget roughly $35–$65 per person per day on a tight budget, $90–$200 mid-range and $350–$1,200 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in July–October.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $35–$65 a day
- Mid-range
- $90–$200 a day
- Luxury
- $350–$1,200 a day
- Local currency
- PHP
- Free sights
- 4
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $35–$65 | $105–$195 | $175–$325 | $245–$455 |
| Mid-range | $90–$200 | $270–$600 | $450–$1,000 | $630–$1,400 |
| Luxury | $350–$1,200 | $1,050–$3,600 | $1,750–$6,000 | $2,450–$8,400 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Palawan, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Meal at a carinderia | about ₱100–200 |
| Main course in a tourist restaurant | about ₱300–600 |
| San Miguel beer in a bar | about ₱80–150 |
| Halo-halo | about ₱100–180 |
| El Nido island-hopping tour with lunch | about ₱1,400–2,000 per person |
| Van, Puerto Princesa to El Nido | about ₱600–900 |
| Two-tank wreck dive in Coron | about ₱4,000–6,000 |
| One-hour massage | about ₱500–900 |
Money-saving tips
- Bring enough cash for El Nido and Port Barton; ATMs are few and sometimes empty.
- Shared island-hopping tours cost far less than private boat hire; private boats make sense for groups of four or more.
- Travel in the shoulder months of May and November for lower room rates with a reasonable chance of good weather.
- Eat at carinderias and local grills rather than beachfront restaurants for a fraction of the price.
- Environmental and terminal fees add up; budget for them separately from tour prices.
Free things to do
- Nacpan Beach — About 17 km north of El Nido Town, Nacpan is a gently curving beach of about 4 km of pale sand backed by coconut palms, with a few simple restaurants and bars at the access point.
- Las Cabanas Beach — A sunset beach facing Bacuit Bay at the southern end of Corong-Corong, with beach bars and a zipline that crosses the water to Depeldet Island.
- Mount Tapyas — A stairway of about 700 steps climbs to a large cross on a hill above Coron Town, with views over the harbour, Coron Bay and the surrounding islands.
- Plaza Cuartel — The remains of a Japanese garrison where about 150 American prisoners of war were killed in December 1944, now a small memorial park beside the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Puerto Princesa.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for first-timers, solo travellers, budget and nightlife
El Nido Town
Compact beach town under limestone cliffs, departure point for Bacuit Bay tours
$$ · Best for couples, families and beach
Corong-Corong
Sunset-facing bay just south of town with resorts and beach bars
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget and solo travellers
Coron Town
Harbour town on Busuanga Island, base for Coron Island and wreck dives
Eating well for less
- Tamilok — Native-food restaurants in Puerto Princesa and on Sabang's mangrove tours.
- Palawan cashews — Pasalubong (souvenir food) shops in Puerto Princesa and the airport.
Getting around for less
El Nido Eco-Tourism Development Fee
A municipal environmental fee paid once and valid for a set number of days, usually collected with your first island-hopping tour; keep the receipt.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Palawan cost?
About $450–$1,000 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $175–$325 on a tight budget.
+Is Palawan expensive?
It is affordable for international visitors. Bring enough cash for El Nido and Port Barton; ATMs are few and sometimes empty.
+How much money do I need per day in Palawan?
Roughly $35–$65 on a budget and $90–$200 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Palawan?
Usually in July–October.