Which place is cheaper, Boracay or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Dubai or Boracay?
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 Dubai and Boracay can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or Boracay?
Dubai
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.
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 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines.
-
Dubai Prices
UAE PricesBoracay Prices
Philippines Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $289Boracay $62
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $289, while the average daily cost in Boracay is $62. 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 Dubai and Boracay in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Boracay $21
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Boracay $42
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Boracay
Looking for a hotel in Dubai 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: Dubai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Boracay $26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
-
Taxi Ride$12
-
Airport Taxi$12
-
Sea Taxi$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 2 Dives for Certified Divers in Fujairah with transfer: $195
- 4 Hour Dubai Layover Tour with Private Airport Transfers On Time: $125
- AYA Universe Dubai Ticket with Transfer option: $33
- AYA Universe Dubai Tickets with Transfer Option: $37
- Abu Dhabi City Tour with Grand Mosque Including Transfers: $56
- Abu Dhabi Tour from Dubai with Sheikh Zayed Mosque & Transfers: $61
- Afternoon Dubai City Iconic Skyline Tour including Transfers: $70
- Afternoon High Tea at Atmosphere Burj Khalifa with Transfer: $259
- Airport Transfers from Dubai Airport to Hotels in Dubai: $56
- Arrival Transfer: Dubai Airport DXB to Dubai in Luxury SUV: $122
- At The Top Burj Khalifa And Meal at The Burj Club with Transfers: $195
- Atlantis Aquaventure And Lost Cambers Aquarium with Transfer: $169
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boracay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boracay:
- Speedboat Caticlan to Boracay Transfer (Oneway): $81
- PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSFER TO BORACAY: $58
- Private Transfer from Boracay Port to Boracay Island Hotel: $57
- Private Transfer from Boracay Island Hotels Boracay Cruise Port: $57
- Caticlan Airport (MPH) to Boracay - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $51
- Caticlan Airport (MPH) to Boracay - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $51
- Boracay Adventures Transfer Services Via Caticlan: $45
- Private Transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay: $43
- Two-way Shared Transfer from/to Airport to Hotel: $34
- Caticlan: Speedboat Airport Transfer to Boracay: $34
- Departure: Ferry boat Transfer Boracay to Caticlan Airport: $30
- Airport Transfer to Boracay or vice versa: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Boracay?
Prices for flights to both Boracay and Dubai 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
-
Food Meals for one dayDubai $96Boracay $23
Typical Food Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
-
French bread$0.95
-
Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice$10
-
Lemon Mint Tea$4.36
-
Coffee & Cake$6.53
-
Smoothie$5.45
-
Shawarma$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dubai Desert Safari with Dune Bashing, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $8.75
- Desert Safari Dubai with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $15
- Dhow Cruise with Dinner and Live Entertainment at Dubai Al Seef: $16
- Dubai Creek Dhow Cruise Dinner: $18
- Vip Red Dune Desert Safari Dubai, Camel Ride, BBQ Dinner, Shows: $18
- Vip Desert Safari Dubai With BBQ Buffet Dinner: $19
- VIP RED DUNE SAFARI with Pick/drop,Quad,Camel, BBQ Dinner & Shows: $19
- Dubai Dhow Cruise Dinner in Deira Creek: $20
- Evening Desert Safari Dubai with Camel Ride & BBQ dinner: $21
- Dubai Desert Safari With4x4 Pick/Drop camel ride BBQ dinner shows: $21
- Dubai Creek Dhow Dinner Cruise with Buffet & Live Entertainment: $21
- Vip Desert Safari Dubai with BBQ dinner&shows-Pick&Drop(Optional): $22
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubai $19Boracay $14
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Visit to the Dubai Museum$0.82
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
- Global Village Dubai Ticket with optional transport: $9.00
- Miracle Garden and Global Village Entrance Ticket: $9.77
- Global Village Tickets: $10
- Global Village Skip the ticket line: $13
- Dubai Butterfly Garden Ticket Deals: $14
- Dubai Layover Private Tour with Choice of Duration: $15
- Dubai Marina Yacht Tour Ain Dubai, JBR and Harbour in 1 hour: $18
- Dubai Frame Ticket: $18
- Old Town, Souks, Street Food, Guided Tour & Abra Ride: $18
- Dubai Marina 2 Hour Sunset Yacht Tour with Alcoholic Drinks: $18
- Dubai 5 Hours Magic Secret New Shopping Tour: $19
- Dubai Frame Entry Ticket: $19
Tours and Activities in Boracay
Here are a few actual costs in Boracay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Hour Boracay Land Tour via Etrike: $32
- Boracay - Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience: $8.95
- Boracay ATV Tour and Kawa Hot Bath: $95
- Boracay Atv Mainland Adventure with lunch: $59
- Boracay Cliff Jumping & Snorkeling Experience (Private): $100
- Boracay E-trike Land Tour: $23
- Boracay Eco-Hopping Tour: $85
- Boracay Island Hopping Experience: $63
- Boracay Island Hopping Tour with Hot Kawa Bath Experience: $30
- Boracay Island Hopping with Lunch+ Atv Mainland Adventure: $57
- Boracay Island Hopping+ Helmet Diving (Shared Tour): $63
- Boracay Island Hopping+Helmet Diving+Banana boat Experience: $59
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Boracay $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
-
A Couple Drinks$25
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubai
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubai:
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tours: $42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Boracay, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Boracay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East 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 Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai 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 Dubai Expensive? and Is Boracay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubai or Boracay?
Dubai has a larger population, and is about 490 times larger than the population of Boracay. When comparing the sizes of Dubai and Boracay, 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.