Which place is cheaper, Puerto Princesa or Bagan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Bagan or Puerto Princesa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bagan and Puerto Princesa can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bagan or Puerto Princesa?
Bagan
Located in central Myanmar (formerly Burma), Bagan is an ancient city best known as the home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas, and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.
Puerto Princesa
The island of Palawan is known the Philippines' last frontier and its capital, Puerto Princesa, is considered the greenest city in the Philippines. With plenty of land that has yet to be explored and inundated with tourists, Puerto Princesa, also known as "The City of the Living God," is a nature buff's dream. Whether you want to swim with starfish, walk among the mangrove treetops, or visit the world's largest saltwater crocodile at the Palawan Nature Conservation Center, Puerto Princesa and its surrounding area offers plenty of opportunities to get into the great wide open.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines.
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Bagan Prices
Myanmar PricesPuerto Princesa Prices
Philippines Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBagan $34Puerto Princesa $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Bagan is $34, while the average daily cost in Puerto Princesa is $86. 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 Bagan and Puerto Princesa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBagan $7.36Puerto Princesa $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBagan $15Puerto Princesa $48
Compare Hotels in Bagan and Puerto Princesa
Looking for a hotel in Bagan or Puerto Princesa? 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: Puerto Princesa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bagan $3.57Puerto Princesa $51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Princesa
Also for Puerto Princesa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 3day van transportation: airport transfer, city sightseeing van, beach transfers: $120
- Airport Transfers airport to city center hotel and cruise port: $20
- Honda Bay Island: Island Tour with Lunch & Transfer: $53
- Palawan: Private San Vicente Airport Transfers: $164
- Private Transfer from Puerto Princesa to El Nido: $203
- Private Transfer to El Nido: $174
- Private Transfers Puerto Princesa To Elnido: $260
- PrivateTransfer from Puerto Princesa Port to Puerto Princesa city: $60
- Puerto Princesa City Van Transfers: $24
- Astoria Water Park Day Pass & Transfers: $237
- One-Way Transfer To/From El Nido: $16
- Private Airport Transfers to/from hotel: $22
Is it cheaper to fly into Bagan or Puerto Princesa?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Princesa and Bagan 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 dayBagan $10Puerto Princesa $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Princesa
For Puerto Princesa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Firefly Watching Paddle Boat Tour & Dinner: $27
- Jungle Firefly Watching Boat Tour & Dinner: $33
- Firefly Watching Bay Cruise with Dinner: $35
- Firefly Watching with Dinner: $40
- Firefly Watching Tour with Dinner: $55
- Seafood Lunch or Dinner with transfers: $60
- Underground River with Dinner at Kalui: $82
- Underground River and Firefly Watching with Dinner: $89
- Balayong People's Park with Dinner and Show: $119
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bagan $57Puerto Princesa $6.77
Tours and Activities in Puerto Princesa
For Puerto Princesa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- PPS CITY TOUR: $14
- Puerto Princesa; Half day City tour: $14
- Cathedral and Baker's Hill Tour: $14
- Puerto Princesa City Tour with Snacks: $14
- Half Day City Tour with Butterfly Garden: $15
- Half-Day City Tour with Optional Massage: $15
- Half-day Puerto Princesa City Tour: $15
- City tour of Puerto Princesa Palawan Philippines : $20
- 2in1 City tour and museum with pick up at hotel or cruise port: $25
- Half-Day City Tour from Puerto Princesa: $27
- Puerto Princesa Half Day City Tour (shared tour): $27
- Shared Half City Tour with SPA: $31
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBagan -Puerto Princesa $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bagan and Puerto Princesa, we can see that Puerto Princesa is more expensive. And not only is Bagan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bagan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bagan 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 Puerto Princesa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Princesa than you might in Bagan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bagan Expensive? and Is Puerto Princesa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bagan or Puerto Princesa?
Puerto Princesa has a larger population, and is about 520 times larger than the population of Bagan. When comparing the sizes of Bagan and Puerto Princesa, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.