Which place is cheaper, Palawan or Koh Lanta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Lanta 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 Koh Lanta 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: Koh Lanta or Palawan?
Koh Lanta
Located on the southern coast of Thailand is a place populated by long beaches and diving hotspots. Consisting of several islands, Koh Lanta is a large island with nine beaches along the coast. The beautiful scenery makes this a quiet and relaxing spot for tourists. The crowds on this island tend to be older than the party-seekers on Ko Phi Phi so you'll find more activities like serene walks on the beach or travelers catching a sunset.
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 Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best Sightseeing 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 Lanta $48Palawan $36
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lanta 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 Lanta and Palawan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Lanta $24Palawan $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Lanta $48Palawan $26
Compare Hotels in Koh Lanta and Palawan
Looking for a hotel in Koh Lanta 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 Lanta Hotel Prices and Palawan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Lanta $5.66Palawan $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Lanta:
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Ferry from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lanta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lanta:
- Pravate Transfer Lanta Island to Krabi Airport, Krabi Town, Ao nang: $74
- One-Way Transfer from Koh Lanta to Krabi Town or Airport by Minivan: $11
- Koh lanta to phuket any hotel Private transfer: $171
- Koh Lanta :Krabi Airport Private Transfer:From Airport or Hotel: $111
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
- Arrival airport transfer-Private airport to hotel in central area: $20
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- Private Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Transfer: $79
- Private Puerto Princesa Airport Transfers: $29
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $150
- Private Transfers Puerto Princesa To Elnido: $260
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $150
- Puerto Princesa - El Nido | Private Van Transfer: $149
- Shared Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Transfer: $10
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lanta or Palawan?
Prices for flights to both Palawan and Koh Lanta 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 Lanta $11Palawan $11
Typical Food Prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Lanta:
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Casual Breakfast$4.36
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Casual Lunch$7.36
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Casual Dinner$12
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Lanta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Koh Lanta.
- Cooking Experience at Lanta Thai Cookery School From Koh Lanta: $48
- Sukho Cuisine Thai Cooking School From Koh Lanta: $52
- Cooking Class and Market Tour at Lanta Thai Cookery School on Koh Lanta: $53
- Cooking Class & Market Tour with Thai Master Chef at Sukho Cuisine, Lanta: $62
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 Lanta $31Palawan $5.24
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Lanta
Here are a few typical costs in Koh Lanta for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Emerald Cave Tour$19
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Yoga Session (1 Hour)$9.55
Tours and Activities in Koh Lanta
Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lanta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4 Island Tour to Emerald Cave by Longtail Boat from Koh Lanta: $28
- 4 Islands Day Tour By Opal Travel Speedboat: $42
- Full Day Sea Cave and Mangrove Kayaking Tour From Koh Lanta: $52
- Half Day 2 Caves Ko Skull Tour Ko Lanta and Kayaking Ko Talabeng: $25
- Half Day Mangrove Forest Kayaking Tour From Koh Lanta: $29
- Koh Ha Koh Rok Day Tour by Opal Travel Speed boat: $47
- Koh Ngai, Koh Muk + Emerald Cave Snorkeling Tour by Classic Longtail Boat: $32
- Koh Phi Phi Day Tour by Opal Travel Speedboat: $42
- Lanta 4 Islands + Emerald Cave Snorkeling Tour: $26
- Lanta 4 Islands tour (Longtail boat): $26
- Lanta Mangrove Tour with Sea Cave Kayaking at Koh Talabeng: $30
- Lanta Old Town and Mangrove Forest Sightseeing Tour: $40
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Lanta $3.79Palawan $7.49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Lanta and Palawan, we can see that Koh Lanta 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 Lanta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Lanta 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 Lanta 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.