Which place is cheaper, Puerto Princesa or Eilat?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Eilat or Puerto Princesa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Eilat or Puerto Princesa? 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: Eilat or Puerto Princesa?
Eilat
Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.
Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.
Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.
Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
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 Israel, The Best 2-Week Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEilat $141Puerto Princesa $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $141, while the average daily cost in Puerto Princesa is $74. 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 Eilat and Puerto Princesa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEilat $94Puerto Princesa $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEilat $188Puerto Princesa $50
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Puerto Princesa
Looking for a hotel in Eilat 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: Eilat Hotel Prices and Puerto Princesa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eilat $13Puerto Princesa $52
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:
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Local Bus$3.75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat
Also for Eilat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer From Ramon airport Eilat to Eilat Hotels or Arava Border : $70
- From Jerusalem: One-Way Shuttle Transfer to Eilat: $90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Princesa
Also for Puerto Princesa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Van Transfer; Puerto Princesa to El Nido: $15
- Transfer from Puerto Princesa Airport(PPS) to PuertoPrincesa Port: $27
- Transfer between Puerto Princesa and El Nido: $16
- Shared Transfer Puerto Princesa/Port Barton: $15
- Transfers to/from Port Barton: $15
- Shared Airport Transfers to/from hotel: $7.38
- Relaxing Massage with optional transfers: $24
- Private Airport Transfers to/from hotel: $22
- One-Way Transfer To/From El Nido: $16
- Astoria Water Park Day Pass & Transfers: $240
- Airconditioned Van Transfers to/from Sabang: $13
- Puerto Princesa to El Nido Private Van Transfer: $157
Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Puerto Princesa?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Princesa and Eilat 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 dayEilat $35Puerto Princesa $20
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 Tour with Dinner: $27
- Firefly Watching Paddle Boat Tour & Dinner: $28
- Jungle Firefly Watching Boat Tour & Dinner: $33
- Firefly Watching Bay Cruise with Dinner: $35
- Puerto Princesa Fireflies Watching with Dinner: $40
- Seafood Lunch or Dinner with transfers: $61
- Underground River and Firefly Watching with Dinner: $83
- Underground River with Dinner at Kalui: $83
- Balayong People's Park with Dinner and Show: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eilat $16Puerto Princesa $6.92
Tours and Activities in Eilat
For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Tour to Petra From Eilat: $217
- Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219
- From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $64
- Full Day Petra Tour from Eilat: $289
- Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
- Glass Bottom Boat Cruise in Eilat: $30
- Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $55
- Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
- Petra 2-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Authentic Lunch: $290
- Petra and Wadi Rum 2 day tour from Eilat: $299
- Private Scuba Diving Tour with Transportation and Guide : $220
- Private Tour to Timna Park from Eilat: $242
Tours and Activities in Puerto Princesa
For Puerto Princesa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3D2N El Nido Experience: $250
- 5-Hours Farmstay Experience: $65
- 5D4N Puerto Princesa & El Nido Experience: $299
- City Tour of Puerto Princesa: $35
- City tour of Puerto Princesa Palawan Philippines : $20
- Combi Tour : Underground River + Firefly Watching: $83
- El Nido Day Tour: $83
- El Nido Island Hopping Day Tour from Puerto Princesa City: $199
- Enchanted Philippines: 10 days of adventure.: $2,682
- From Honda Bay Island Hopping Full-Day Tour: $42
- Group Underground River Tour, from Puerto Princesa w/ Lunch: $60
- Half-Day City Tour | Puerto Princesa: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEilat $27Puerto Princesa $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Puerto Princesa, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Princesa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Princesa 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat than you might in Puerto Princesa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eilat Expensive? and Is Puerto Princesa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Eilat or Puerto Princesa?
Puerto Princesa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Eilat. When comparing the sizes of Eilat 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.