Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Boracay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Boracay or Whitsundays?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Boracay or Whitsundays? 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 Whitsundays?
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.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia, and The Best Walking Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBoracay $56Whitsundays $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Boracay is $56, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $139. 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 Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBoracay $23Whitsundays $72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBoracay $46Whitsundays $144
Compare Hotels in Boracay and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Boracay or Whitsundays? 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 $28Whitsundays $58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boracay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boracay:
- PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSFER TO BORACAY: $106
- Speedboat Caticlan to Boracay Transfer (Oneway): $83
- Boracay Transfer round trip with Island Hopping: $70
- Caticlan: Shared Airport Transfer From/To Boracay: $55
- Caticlan: Speedboat Airport Transfer to Boracay: $51
- Private Transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay: $44
- Boracay Adventures Transfer Services Via Caticlan: $35
- Caticlan: Ferry Boat Airport Transfer To Boracay: $35
- Departure: Ferry boat Transfer Boracay to Caticlan Airport: $30
- Airport Transfer to Boracay or vice versa: $29
- Caticlan Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $27
- Shared Transfer from/to MPH for Domestic Passports: $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whitsundays
Also for Whitsundays, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Boracay or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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 $14Whitsundays $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $102
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Boracay $15Whitsundays $26
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: $32
- Aklan Tibiao Antique Tour : $190
- Atv Mainland Adventure with lunch: $64
- Beyond Jungle-River Adventure & Sunset Cruise: $40
- Boracay - Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience: $9.18
- Boracay ATV Tour and Kawa Hot Bath: $85
- Boracay Buggy Car Adventure: $105
- Boracay Cliff Jumping & Snorkeling Experience (Private): $105
- Boracay E-trike Land Tour: $20
- Boracay Eco-Hopping Tour: $87
- Boracay Helicopter Tour with Red Whale Party Yacht: $228
- Boracay Hopping Tour with Standard Boodle Fight Lunch: $37
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- Airlie Beach: Whitsundays Full-Day Camira Sailing Adventure: $163
- Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $5,159
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBoracay $16Whitsundays $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Boracay and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays is more expensive. And not only is Boracay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Boracay is in Asia and Whitsundays is in Pacific, 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 Whitsundays would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whitsundays 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 Boracay Expensive? and Is Whitsundays 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.