Which place is cheaper, Palawan or Koh Chang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Chang or Palawan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Chang or Palawan, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Koh Chang or Palawan?
Koh Chang
Most people pick Thailand for their destination because they're anxious to collapse on a breathtaking beach. If that is you, Ko Chang does not disappoint. As one the country's most beautiful islands, Ko Chang is full of white beaches and incredible wildlife. Beware, though, you're not the only one with Ko Chang in mind. During the high season, the island can become quite crowded with tourists.
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 Adventure Tours to Thailand, The Best Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Chang $48Palawan $36
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Chang is $48, 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 Koh Chang and Palawan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Chang $24Palawan $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Chang $48Palawan $26
Compare Hotels in Koh Chang and Palawan
Looking for a hotel in Koh Chang 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.
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: Koh Chang Hotel Prices and Palawan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Chang $13Palawan $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Chang
Also for Koh Chang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Trat Airport: Shared Transfers to/from Koh Chang with Ferry: $27
- Private Transfer from Trat to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $208
- Private Transfer from Trat to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $215
- Private Transfer from Koh Chang to Bangkok Airport or Don Muang Airport: $199
- Departure Private Airport Transfer : Koh Chang to Bangkok Airport: $118
- Arrival Bangkok Airport Private Transfer : Trat/ Koh Chang: $118
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Palawan
Also for Palawan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Transfer: $10
- Puerto Princesa - El Nido | Private Van Transfer: $149
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $140
- Private Transfers Puerto Princesa To Elnido: $260
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- Private Puerto Princesa Airport Transfers: $29
- Private Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Transfer: $79
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- Arrival airport transfer-Private airport to hotel in central area: $20
- Arrival Airport transfers from Puerto Princesa Airport to Hotels: $7.50
- Airport Transfers: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Chang or Palawan?
Prices for flights to both Palawan and Koh Chang 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 dayKoh Chang $17Palawan $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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Chang $5.46Palawan $5.24
Tours and Activities in Koh Chang
For Koh Chang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1-Day Adventure in Diving in Koh Chang: $284
- Bubblemaker, experience dive for kids from 8 to 10 years old (Koh Chang): $84
- Full-Day Koh Chang Tour with Lunch : $54
- PADI Discover Scuba Dive Experience: $154
- Private Kayak Experience in Bang Bao Bay with Lunch: $22
Tours and Activities in Palawan
For Palawan, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- El Nido Full Day Tour C with Buffet Lunch : $43
- 2in1 City tour and museum with pick up at hotel or cruise port: $15
- 3 Days Coron Palawan Reefs & Wreck Multi Day Tours: $180
- 3D2N El Nido Experience: $250
- 3dayTour Underground river honda bay citytour w/ airport pick up: $125
- 5D4N Puerto Princesa & El Nido Experience: $299
- City Tour of Puerto Princesa: $35
- City tour of Puerto Princesa Palawan Philippines : $19
- Coron Busuanga Calauit Safari Tour With Black Island (Private): $225
- Coron Busuanga Calauit Safari Tour With Black Island (Shared Tour): $93
- Coron Calauit Safari Tour E: $89
- Coron Culion Island Escapade Private Tour: $132
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Chang $4.68Palawan $7.49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Chang and Palawan, we can see that Koh Chang 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 Koh Chang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Chang 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 Koh Chang Expensive? and Is Palawan Expensive?.
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.