A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kao-hsiung vs. Palawan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kao-hsiung or Palawan?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kao-hsiung and Palawan 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: Kao-hsiung or Palawan?

Kao-hsiung

Kaohsiung is the second-most populated city and also the largest port city in the country, located in the south of Taiwan. Compared to Taipei, the lifestyle in Kaohsiung is laid-back and noticeably slower, populated with friendly locals. However, with Taipei in the spotlight, Kaohsiung is often overlooked, though it offers so much in the way of art and culture, history, and delicious food.

Palawan

Palawan is an archipelagic province of the Philippines, named for its largest island which measures about 450 kilometers (or 280 miles) long. The island is known as an ecological frontier with plenty of beaches and resorts as well as opportunities to see a diverse array of wildlife and their habitats on land and sea.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Taiwan, The Best Adventure Tours to Taiwan, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.


Which place is cheaper, Palawan or Kao-hsiung?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Kao-hsiung is $102, while the average daily cost in Palawan is $36. 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 Kao-hsiung and Palawan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kao-hsiung $56
    Palawan $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kao-hsiung $112
    Palawan $26
Compare Hotels in Kao-hsiung and Palawan

Looking for a hotel in Kao-hsiung or Palawan? 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 Kao-hsiung


Hotels in Palawan


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: Kao-hsiung Hotel Prices and Palawan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kao-hsiung $11
    Palawan $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kao-hsiung

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kao-hsiung:

  • Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Port to Kaohsiung Airport (KHH): $71
  • Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Port to Kaohsiung Airport (KHH): $79
  • Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Kaohsiung Port : $71
  • Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Kaohsiung Port: $79
  • Private Kaohsiung Airport to Taitung Resorts Arrival Transfer: $76
  • Kaohsiung International Airport and Kaohsiung City Transfer: $41
  • Kaohsiung Airport -> Kaohsiung Hotel Private Transfer (Large room for luggage) : $35
  • Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Taitung Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $152
  • Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Guanziling Resorts-Round-Trip Transfer: $98
  • Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Guanziling Resorts - Arrival Transfer: $49
  • Guanziling Resorts to Kaohsiung Airport KHH Departure Transfer: $49
  • Explore Kaohsiung - 8 Hours Private Transfers - Best of Kaohsiung Sites: $179

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Palawan

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

  • Arrival Airport transfers from Puerto Princesa Airport to Hotels: $7.50
  • Shared Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Transfer: $10
  • Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
  • Arrival airport transfer-Private airport to hotel in central area: $20
  • Private Puerto Princesa Airport Transfers: $29
  • El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
  • Private Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Transfer: $79
  • Puerto Princesa - El Nido | Private Van Transfer: $149
  • Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $150
  • Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $150
  • Private Transfers Puerto Princesa To Elnido: $260

Is it cheaper to fly into Kao-hsiung or Palawan?

Prices for flights to both Palawan and Kao-hsiung 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
    Kao-hsiung $32
    Palawan $11

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Palawan

For Palawan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Puerto Princesa Fireflies Watching with Dinner: $40

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kao-hsiung $20
    Palawan $5.24

Tours and Activities in Kao-hsiung

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kao-hsiung are as follows:

  • 1 day tour - Kaohsiung: $160
  • Day Tour to Qigu Salt Mountain, Chikan Tower and Anping Castle : $87
  • Food and Culture Walking Tour in Tainan: $78
  • Half-day tour Kaohsiung: $103
  • Kaohsiung /Pingtung Day Tour : $150
  • Kaohsiung Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $48
  • Kaohsiung Suburbs Full-Day Tour: $150
  • Kaohsiung Walking Day Tour: $130
  • Kaohsiung: Experience the Riverside : $159
  • Private Classic Kaohsiung Day Tour: $75
  • Private Custom Kaohsiung Day Tour: $100
  • Private Tour Alishan Culture and Ecology from Kaohsiung: $156

Tours and Activities in Palawan

For Palawan, 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: $15
  • Half-day Puerto Princesa City Tour: $15
  • Coron Town Tour with Maquinit Hot Spring: $16
  • Flyfish ride and Clear Kayak Experience in Coron: $17
  • City tour of Puerto Princesa Palawan Philippines : $19
  • Coron Town Tour: $20
  • Coron Island Hopping Tour A with Kayangan Lake: $25
  • Joiners Puerto Princesa City Tour: $27
  • El Nido Tour D Full Day w/ Beach Lunch: $28
  • Coron Island Hopping Tour B with Skeleton Wreck & Barracuda Lake: $32
  • Coron Island Tour B: $34
  • firefly watching tour : $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kao-hsiung $10
    Palawan $7.49


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kao-hsiung and Palawan, we can see that Kao-hsiung is more expensive. And not only is Palawan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Palawan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Palawan 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 Kao-hsiung would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kao-hsiung than you might in Palawan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kao-hsiung Expensive? and Is Palawan Expensive?.