Which place is cheaper, Puerto Princesa or Jaisalmer?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Jaisalmer or Puerto Princesa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Jaisalmer 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: Jaisalmer or Puerto Princesa?
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is located in western part of the Rajasthan state of India. The city is known as the "Golden City" for its Sonar Qila, or 'Golden Fort'. This fort is different than other forts in India in that it is a living fort, meaning that it contains many hotels, homes, and shops for locals and visitors. The city is very close to the Thar Desert, to which excursions can be made.
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 Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines.
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Jaisalmer Prices
India PricesPuerto Princesa Prices
Philippines Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJaisalmer $44Puerto Princesa $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaisalmer is $44, while the average daily cost in Puerto Princesa is $86. 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 Jaisalmer and Puerto Princesa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJaisalmer $13Puerto Princesa $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJaisalmer $26Puerto Princesa $48
Compare Hotels in Jaisalmer and Puerto Princesa
Looking for a hotel in Jaisalmer 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: Jaisalmer Hotel Prices and Puerto Princesa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jaisalmer $11Puerto Princesa $51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaisalmer
Also for Jaisalmer, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer From Jaisalmer To Udaipur Via Ranakpur Jain Temple: $90
- Private transfer from Jaisalmer to Bikaner: $120
- Private Transfer from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur: $37
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Sam Sand Dunes: $19
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Pushkar: $85
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jaipur: $117
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Agra: $181
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer Hotel To Jaisalmer Airport: $13
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer Airport To Jaisalmer Hotel: $13
- Private One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer Hotel To Jaisalmer Airport: $12
- One Way Transfer Service From Jaisalmer Airport To Hotel: $11
- One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur: $42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Princesa
Also for Puerto Princesa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfers Puerto Princesa To Elnido: $260
- Astoria Water Park Day Pass & Transfers: $237
- Private Transfer from Puerto Princesa to El Nido: $203
- Private Transfer to El Nido: $174
- Palawan: Private San Vicente Airport Transfers: $164
- 3day van transportation: airport transfer, city sightseeing van, beach transfers: $120
- Van Transfers to/from Sabang or Astoria: $119
- PrivateTransfer from Puerto Princesa Port to Puerto Princesa city: $60
- Honda Bay Island: Island Tour with Lunch & Transfer: $53
- Puerto Princesa City Van Transfers: $24
- Relaxing Massage with optional transfers: $24
- Private Airport Transfers to/from hotel: $22
Is it cheaper to fly into Jaisalmer or Puerto Princesa?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Princesa and Jaisalmer 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 dayJaisalmer $22Puerto Princesa $34
Typical Food Prices in Jaisalmer
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jaisalmer:
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Dinner$4.54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Jaisalmer Food Tour: Taste the Flavors of the Golden City!: $14
- Camel Trails Sunset Safari with Dinner: $14
- Jaisalmer Heritage & Cultural Walking & Street Food Tour: $26
- Half day, non touristic sand dune ,camel safari with dinner : $29
- Half-Day Camel Tour with Dinner: $34
- Pleasant Sunset Safari With Dinner On Dunes (From 2:00 PM to Approx. 10:00 PM): $35
- Dinner on the Dunes & Camel Safari: $36
- Sunset Safari With Dinner: $37
- Camel Safari Campfire Dinner and Stargazing : $40
- Jeep Safari, Camel Ride, Dinner and Folk Dance: $43
- Half-Day Desert Safari with Camel Ride and Dinner: $46
- Thar Desert: Camel Ride, Sunset, and Dinner with Stargazing: $46
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 Paddle Boat Tour & Dinner: $27
- Jungle Firefly Watching Boat Tour & Dinner: $33
- Firefly Watching Bay Cruise with Dinner: $35
- Firefly Watching with Dinner: $40
- Firefly Watching Tour with Dinner: $55
- Seafood Lunch or Dinner with transfers: $60
- Underground River with Dinner at Kalui: $82
- Underground River and Firefly Watching with Dinner: $89
- Balayong People's Park with Dinner and Show: $119
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jaisalmer $12Puerto Princesa $6.77
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Sam Sand Dunes for Two$3.41
Tours and Activities in Jaisalmer
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jaisalmer.
- Non_touristic Camel safari : $30
- 1 night 2 days Thar Desert Experience Jaisalmer: $42
- 1-Night and 2-Days Thar Desert Safari Tour: $44
- 2 Days Non-Touristic Overnight Thar Desert Camel Safari Tour: $28
- 2-Night Desert Experience with Luxury Camp from Jaisalmer: $233
- 3 Days Private Jaisalmer Tour: $180
- 4-day Jaisalmer And Jodhpur Combo Tour : $222
- 5 Days Udaipur Jodhpur & Jaisalmer Tour: $286
- 8 Days Private Tour Colors of Rajasthan from Jaisalmer: $231
- Agra: Skip-the-Line Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour w/Fatehpur Sikri: $4.54
- An Overnight Non-touristic Camel Safari (2PM to 11:30 AM Next Day): $44
- Best of Jaisalmer (Guided Full Day City Sightseeing Tour by Car): $107
Tours and Activities in Puerto Princesa
For Puerto Princesa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2in1 City tour and museum with pick up at hotel or cruise port: $25
- 3D2N El Nido Experience: $250
- 5D4N Puerto Princesa & El Nido Experience: $299
- City Tour of Puerto Princesa sightseeing excursion: $35
- City tour of Puerto Princesa Palawan Philippines : $20
- El Nido Day Tour: $82
- From Honda Bay Island Hopping Full-Day Tour: $41
- Full Day Excursion: UNESCO Underground River Tour: $49
- Half Day City Joiners Tour | Puerto Princesa: $35
- Half-Day City Tour from Puerto Princesa: $27
- Half-Day City Tour | Puerto Princesa: $55
- Half-day Puerto Princesa City Tour: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJaisalmer $8.76Puerto Princesa $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jaisalmer and Puerto Princesa, we can see that Puerto Princesa is more expensive. And not only is Jaisalmer much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jaisalmer would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaisalmer 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 Jaisalmer.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jaisalmer Expensive? and Is Puerto Princesa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jaisalmer or Puerto Princesa?
Puerto Princesa has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Jaisalmer. When comparing the sizes of Jaisalmer 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.