A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hue vs. Puerto Princesa for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hue or Puerto Princesa?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hue and Puerto Princesa can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Hue or Puerto Princesa?

Hue

Hue is a major city in central Vietnam and was historically the imperial capital. The city was the base for the imperial Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled from 1802 to 1945. During the Vietnam War the city faced many challenges. It was conquered by the Viet Cong and held for 24 days. During this time about 3,000 people were slaughtered for their political views, education level, or religious affiliation.

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 Eco Tours in Vietnam, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Vietnam, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Princesa or Hue?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Hue is $48, while the average daily cost in Puerto Princesa is $73. 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 Hue and Puerto Princesa in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hue $23
    Puerto Princesa $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hue $46
    Puerto Princesa $48
Compare Hotels in Hue and Puerto Princesa

Looking for a hotel in Hue 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.

Hotels in Hue


Hotels in Puerto Princesa


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: Hue Hotel Prices and Puerto Princesa Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hue $12
    Puerto Princesa $51
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hue

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Hue:


  • Cyclo
    $0.48
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.88
  • Taxi Ride to Tombs
    $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hue

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hue:

  • Vinh Moc Tunnels & Khe Sanh: Transfer from Hue or Phong Nha: $43
  • Transfer from Hue to Hoi An with Private Car: $98
  • Transfer from Hue to Hoi An via Hai Van Pass and Golden Bridge: $55
  • Transfer from Hue to Hoi An by Motorbike: $67
  • Transfer from Hue to Da Nang or Hoi An via Bach Ma National Park: $81
  • Transfer from Hue city to Phu Bai airport: $29
  • Transfer from Hue airport to Hue city center or vice versa: $7.10
  • Transfer from Da Nang or Hoi An to Hue via Hue City Tour: $64
  • Transfer between Hue Hotels and Hue Airport: $7.41
  • Sightseeing Transfer Between Hue and Hoi An: $102
  • Sightseeing Transfer Between Hue and Hoi An: $113
  • Roundtrip Transfer to Ba Na Hills - Golden Bridge via Hai Van Pass from Hue City: $85

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Princesa

Also for Puerto Princesa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Shared Airport Transfers to/from hotel: $7.20
  • Arrival Airport transfers from Puerto Princesa Airport to Hotels: $7.50
  • Airconditioned Van Transfers to/from Sabang: $12
  • Transfers to/from Port Barton: $14
  • El Nido to Puerto Princesa van transfer: $14
  • Van Transfer; Puerto Princesa to El Nido: $14
  • One-Way Transfer To/From El Nido: $16
  • Transfer between Puerto Princesa and El Nido: $16
  • Arrival airport transfer-Private airport to hotel in central area: $20
  • Private Airport Transfers to/from hotel: $22
  • Relaxing Massage with optional transfers: $23
  • Private Puerto Princesa Airport Transfers: $29

Is it cheaper to fly into Hue or Puerto Princesa?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Princesa and Hue 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 day
    Hue $15
    Puerto Princesa $20
Typical Food Prices in Hue

Some typical examples of dining costs in Hue are as follows:


  • River Night Market Dinner (for Two)
    $7.99
  • Two Sugarcane Drinks
    $0.80
  • Quick Lunch (for Two)
    $2.20
  • Sitdown Dinner (for Two)
    $4.39

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hue

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hue.

  • Private Healthy Cooking Class In Ancient Vietnamese Garden: $20
  • Hue Walking Street Food Tour: $27
  • Walking street food tour: $30
  • Hue : Vegetarian Cooking Class with Local Family: $31
  • Vietnamese Cooking Class with Local Family in Hue: $31
  • Hue Food Tour by Walking or Cyclo or Motorcycle with Driver: $33
  • Hue Food Tour by Walking or Cyclo or Motorbike with Driver: $33
  • Home Cooking Class in Hue City : $35
  • Hue Walking Food Tour: $35
  • Best Hue Street Food Tour: $35
  • Exploring Hue Food Tour with Local Guide : $35
  • Home Vegan/Vegetarian Cooking Class with Local Girl: $35

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: $26
  • Firefly Watching Paddle Boat Tour & Dinner: $27
  • Jungle Firefly Watching Boat Tour & Dinner: $32
  • Firefly Watching Bay Cruise with Dinner: $34
  • Puerto Princesa Fireflies Watching with Dinner: $40
  • Seafood Lunch or Dinner with transfers: $60
  • Underground River and Firefly Watching with Dinner: $81
  • Underground River with Dinner at Kalui: $81
  • Balayong People's Park with Dinner and Show: $117

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hue $11
    Puerto Princesa $6.82
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hue

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hue are as follows:


  • Boat Ride
    $7.79
  • Bicycle Rental (One Day)
    $1.12
  • Imperial Citadel Entrance
    $3.20
  • Massage at Institute for the Blind
    $1.60

Tours and Activities in Hue

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hue are as follows:

  • Hue - Bach Ma National Park Group Tour : $300
  • Hue City Full-Day Tour with Boat Trip on Perfume River and Lunch: $128
  • Hue City: Full-Day Guided Tour - Imperial City - All Inclusive: $59
  • Hue Private Guided Tour : Citadel, Royal tombs, Thien Mu pagoda: $57
  • 1-day Hue full day city tour: $39
  • 12 Hours Experience Different Hue: $179
  • 13 Days Private Tour Highlights of Cambodia & Vietnam: $4,731
  • 2 Day Motorbike Tour from Hue to Hoi An by Mister T Easy Rider: $160
  • 2,5 hours walking tour inside Hue Imperial city: $35
  • 2-Day Phong Nha-Ke Bang Cave Adventure from Hue: $250
  • 2-Day Sa Pa Adventure with Trekking and Ethnic Homestay: $88
  • 2.5 hours Hue Walking Tour with Tour Guide: $19

Tours and Activities in Puerto Princesa

For Puerto Princesa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Puerto Princesa; Half day City tour: $14
  • PPS CITY TOUR: $14
  • Guided City Walking Tour with Snacks: $14
  • Puerto Princesa City Tour with Snacks: $14
  • Half-Day City Tour with Optional Massage: $14
  • 2in1 City tour and museum with pick up at hotel or cruise port: $15
  • Half-day Puerto Princesa City Tour: $15
  • City tour of Puerto Princesa Palawan Philippines : $19
  • Puerto Princesa Half Day City Tour (shared tour): $22
  • Joiners Puerto Princesa City Tour: $27
  • Puerto Princesa City Tour (Joiners Tour): $28
  • El Nido Nacpan Inland Tour (TRICYCLE) (Private Tour): $33

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hue $5.79
    Puerto Princesa $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hue

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Hue:


  • Beer
    $1.00


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hue and Puerto Princesa, we can see that Puerto Princesa is more expensive. And not only is Hue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hue would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hue 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 Hue.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hue Expensive? and Is Puerto Princesa Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Hue or Puerto Princesa?

Hue has a larger population, and is about 83% larger than the population of Puerto Princesa. When comparing the sizes of Hue 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.