Which place is cheaper, Boracay or Airlie Beach?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Airlie Beach or Boracay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Airlie Beach and Boracay. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Airlie Beach or Boracay?
Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach, in Queensland, offers the closest port to the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef. It's a small town of only 25,000 and has grown out of the area's popularity as a tourist destination. It's main industry remains tourism and, as such, there are many venues set up to accommodate travelers hoping to make trips to the Whitsunday Islands and the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The town has the feel of a vacation destination. While in the past Airlie Beach appealed specifically to the backpacker crowd, it's popularity has spread and now there are facilities catering to all travel types. The area has become more commercialized and there are plenty of large resorts to choose from. Even so, you'll still find no shortage of affordable accommodation around town.
Boracay
A small island in the Philippines known for its resorts and beaches, Boracay is a little escape. Each beach has its own unique character, each with new treasures waiting to be discovered.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Australia, The Best 3-Week Tours in Australia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, and The Best Adventure Tours to Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAirlie Beach $148Boracay $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Airlie Beach is $148, while the average daily cost in Boracay is $56. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Airlie Beach and Boracay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAirlie Beach $61Boracay $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAirlie Beach $122Boracay $46
Compare Hotels in Airlie Beach and Boracay
Looking for a hotel in Airlie Beach or Boracay? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Airlie Beach Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Airlie Beach $20Boracay $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Airlie Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Airlie Beach:
- Private Transfer to Whitsunday Coast Airport: $332
- Transfer To Whitsunday Coast Airport: $17
- Transfer from Whitsunday Coast Airport: $17
- Airport Transfers - Return (round fare) share shuttle service: $30
- One Way Only - Airport Transfer share shuttle service: $18
- Return Transfer PPP Airport Shute Harbour / Renta Yacht / Freedom Shores: $33
- Roundtrip KIA Transfer from Whitsunday Coast Airport: $237
- South Molle Island Camping Transfer: $63
- South Molle Island Camping Transfer: $62
- Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $133
- Whitsunday: Prosperpine Airport to Airlie Beach Transfer: $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boracay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boracay:
- Shared Transfer from/to MPH for Domestic Passports: $21
- Caticlan Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $27
- Airport Transfer to Boracay or vice versa: $30
- Departure: Ferry boat Transfer Boracay to Caticlan Airport: $31
- Boracay Adventures Transfer Services Via Caticlan: $35
- Caticlan: Ferry Boat Airport Transfer To Boracay: $35
- Private Transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay: $45
- Caticlan: Speedboat Airport Transfer to Boracay: $51
- Caticlan: Shared Airport Transfer From/To Boracay: $56
- Boracay Transfer round trip with Island Hopping: $71
- Speedboat Caticlan to Boracay Transfer (Oneway): $84
- PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSFER TO BORACAY: $108
Is it cheaper to fly into Airlie Beach or Boracay?
Prices for flights to both Boracay and Airlie Beach change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAirlie Beach $34Boracay $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Airlie Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Airlie Beach.
- 3-Hour Sunset Segway Tour with Dinner: $86
- Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner: $87
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Airlie Beach $169Boracay $15
Tours and Activities in Airlie Beach
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Airlie Beach are as follows:
- Private Airlie Beach Tuk-Tuk Tours: $21
- Cedar Creek Express. (cruise ship friendly): $41
- 2-Hour Sunset Cruise with Sparkling Wine: $48
- Whisper Cruises - One-Hour Turtle Spotting Bay Cruise: $48
- Sundowner Sunset Cruise Airlie Beach: $48
- Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise : $48
- Airlie Beach Trike Tours: $52
- Whitsundays Sunset Sailing Cruise: $60
- Glass-Bottom Boat Tour: $62
- Airlie Beach Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $62
- Whisper Cruises Turtle Spotting Sunset Cruise - Electric Boat: $67
- Airlie Beach Glass bottom boat Scenic Sunset Tour: $69
Tours and Activities in Boracay
Here are a few actual costs in Boracay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Crystal Kayak Photo-op Experience: $6.50
- Boracay - Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience: $9.28
- Flying Donut Water Tubing Experience: $15
- Boracay Sunset Cruise: $16
- Boracay UFO Adventure: $17
- Sunset Cruise with Water Activities: $17
- Island and Beach-Hopping Boat Tour with Snorkeling: $20
- Boracay E-trike Land Tour: $20
- Boracay Island Rhythm Sunset Cruise: $21
- Stand-up Paddleboard Experience: $22
- Helmet Diving Experience with Photos and Videos: $23
- All-Terrain Vehicle or Buggy Car Experience: $23
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAirlie Beach $9.49Boracay $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Airlie Beach and Boracay, we can see that Airlie Beach is more expensive. And not only is Boracay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Airlie Beach is in Pacific and Boracay is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Boracay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boracay and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Airlie Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Airlie Beach than you might in Boracay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Airlie Beach Expensive? and Is Boracay Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.