Which place is cheaper, Gili Trawangan or Boracay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Boracay or Gili Trawangan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Boracay or Gili Trawangan? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Boracay or Gili Trawangan?
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.
Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan, known as Gili T, is the most visited of the three Gili Islands, located on the northeast side of Lombok. These islands are known for world-class diving and snorkeling spots. It's not hard to see why, considering that any direction you step off the shoreline, there's a beautiful underwater world to explore.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Adventure Tours to Philippines, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBoracay $56Gili Trawangan $36
The average daily cost (per person) in Boracay is $56, while the average daily cost in Gili Trawangan is $36. 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 Boracay and Gili Trawangan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBoracay $23Gili Trawangan $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBoracay $46Gili Trawangan $48
Compare Hotels in Boracay and Gili Trawangan
Looking for a hotel in Boracay or Gili Trawangan? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Boracay $28Gili Trawangan $2.76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boracay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boracay:
- Speedboat Caticlan to Boracay Transfer (Oneway): $83
- PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSFER TO BORACAY: $60
- Departure: Speedboat Transfer Boracay to Caticlan Airport: $34
- Caticlan: Speedboat Airport Transfer To Boracay: $41
- Caticlan: Shared Airport Transfer From/To Boracay: $22
- Shared Transfer from/to MPH for Domestic Passports: $21
- Private Transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay: $28
- Boracay Transfer round trip with Island Hopping: $70
- Boracay Adventures Transfer Services Via Caticlan: $35
- Airport Transfer to Boracay or vice versa: $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gili Trawangan
Also for Gili Trawangan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport private Transfer: $39
- Central Gili Island Bus Transfer Senggigi Mataram Kuta Lombok: $16
- Lombok Transfer From 3 Gilis to Airport or Hotel In Lombok: $45
- Private Transfer Three Gili Island Lombok by Speedboat: $100
Is it cheaper to fly into Boracay or Gili Trawangan?
Prices for flights to both Gili Trawangan and Boracay 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 dayBoracay $14Gili Trawangan $7.21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gili Trawangan
For Gili Trawangan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sweet and Spicy - Indonesian Cooking Class in Gili Trawangan: $28
- Learn to cook authentic Indonesian food at Gili Cooking Classes: $30
- Gili Trawangan Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise with snorkeling: $91
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Boracay $15Gili Trawangan $3.98
Tours and Activities in Boracay
Here are a few actual costs in Boracay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Hours Boracay Land Tour via Etrike: $17
- Aklan Tibiao Antique Tour : $190
- Atv Mainland Adventure with lunch: $64
- Best Boracay Sunset Party Boat Experience: $46
- Boracay - Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience: $9.19
- Boracay ATV Tour and Kawa Hot Bath: $75
- Boracay Buggy Car Adventure: $115
- Boracay Cliff Jumping & Snorkeling Experience (Private): $110
- Boracay Combo 1A Water Activities Package Tours: $95
- Boracay Combo 1B Water Activities Package Tours: $150
- Boracay Combo 2 Water Activities Package Tours: $87
- Boracay Combo 3 Water Activities Package Tours: $105
Tours and Activities in Gili Trawangan
For Gili Trawangan, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Shared Gili Islands Snorkeling Tour: $19
- Private Snorkeling Experience in Gili Trawangan: $22
- Kuta Tour (South Of Lombok Beutiful Tour): $49
- Lombok Private Tour Waterfall And Traditional Village Including Beach: $55
- Gili Nanggu Day Tour: $80
- Lombok Private Customize Tour: $85
- Gili Trawangan 3 Island Half day Cruise with BBQ Lunch and Snorkeling : $91
- 5H All Inclusive Breakfast &Snorkeling Cruise on Utopia Catamaran: $108
- 5H All Inclusive Sunset & Snorkeling Cruise on Utopia Catamaran: $108
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBoracay $16Gili Trawangan $3.67
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Boracay and Gili Trawangan, we can see that Boracay is more expensive. And not only is Gili Trawangan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gili Trawangan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gili Trawangan 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 Boracay would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Boracay than you might in Gili Trawangan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Boracay Expensive? and Is Gili Trawangan 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.