Which place is cheaper, Auckland or Palawan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Palawan or Auckland?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Palawan or Auckland? 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: Palawan or Auckland?
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.
Auckland
Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand on an isthmus between the Northland Peninsula and the other parts of the North Island. Auckland is not only a city but also a region. In 2010 New Zealand combined what had previously been four separate cities into one region. These cities include the southern city of Manukau, the western city of Waitakere, the North Shore in the north, and Auckland City. The City of Auckland is the largest city in Polynesia and is very diverse with many expatriates from elsewhere in Polynesia. This diversity becomes most apparent in Auckland's many festivals and sporting events.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPalawan $36Auckland $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Palawan is $36, while the average daily cost in Auckland is $139. 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 Palawan and Auckland in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPalawan $13Auckland $88
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPalawan $26Auckland $176
Compare Hotels in Palawan and Auckland
Looking for a hotel in Palawan or Auckland? 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: Palawan Hotel Prices and Auckland Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Palawan $16Auckland $16
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: $150
- Private Transfers Puerto Princesa To Elnido: $260
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $150
- 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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Auckland
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Auckland:
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Bus from Airport$9.51
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Airport Shuttle$15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Auckland
Also for Auckland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Auckland Port to Auckland Airport (AKL): $55
- Private Transfer from Auckland City to Auckland Cruise Port: $39
- Private Transfer from Auckland Airport (AKL) to Tauranga Port: $145
- Private Transfer from Auckland Airport (AKL) to Auckland Port: $55
- Private Transfer North Shore or Henderson to Auckland Airport AKL by Luxury Car: $112
- Private Transfer From Cruise Ships To Auckland Airport : $121
- Private Transfer From Auckland CBD Hotels To Cruise Ship: $72
- Private Luxury Transfers from Auckland Airport TO Auckland Hotels: $145
- Private Auckland Airport Transfer to/from Auckland Hotels - Van: $109
- Premium Auckland Airport Transfer: $84
- Luxury Airport transfers in Auckland : $139
- Luxury Airport Transfers Auckland : $133
Is it cheaper to fly into Palawan or Auckland?
Prices for flights to both Auckland and Palawan 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 dayPalawan $11Auckland $27
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
Typical Food Prices in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$4.75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Auckland Harbour 3-Course Dinner Cruise with Welcome Drink: $89
- Auckland Harbour Sailboat Cruise Including Three Course Dinner: $90
- Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour: $104
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Palawan $5.24Auckland $27
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
- 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 Calauit Safari Tour E: $89
- Coron Culion Island Escapade Private Tour: $132
- Coron Island Escapade Group Tour with Island Lunch: $48
- Coron Island Escapade Tour (Shared Tour): $50
- Coron Island Escapade Tour C: $43
Typical Entertainment Prices in Auckland
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Auckland's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Auckland Sky Tour (for 2)$33
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Waiheke Island Tour (for 2)$120
Tours and Activities in Auckland
For Auckland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-Hour Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Tour to Lucas Creek Waterfall: $66
- 4 Hours Private Tour in Auckland : $241
- 6 Hours Sightseeing Tour in Auckland: $127
- Afternoon Piha Beach and Rainforest Tour from Auckland: $112
- All Auckland City Hotels to Cruise Ship / Port: $48
- America’s Cup 2-Hour Sailing Experience Waitemata Harbour: $113
- Auckland Best Top 5 Spots Half day Tour small group : $115
- Auckland Bioluminescence Kayak Tour: $66
- Auckland City & West Coast Luxury Tour: $205
- Auckland City Highlights Experience - Fully Guided Small Group Day Tour: $196
- Auckland City Highlights Half Day Tour: $95
- Auckland City Highlights and Hidden Gems Half Day Tour: $109
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPalawan $7.49Auckland $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Auckland
Also in Auckland, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Waiheke Island: Scenic Wine Tour Tasting Wines on Waiheke: $92
- Muriwai Scenic Wine Tour from Auckland: $106
- Waiheke Island: The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour: $131
- Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch: $148
- Waiheke Island: Tour with Wine Tastings and Restaurant Lunch: $148
- From Waiheke Island Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch: $151
- From Small Group Kumeu Wine Tour with Lunch: $169
- Small-Group Kumeu Wine Country Tour Includes Wine Tastings & Lunch: $172
- Piha Waitakere Rainforest Wine Tour from Auckland: $178
- Auckland Coastal Experience - Small Group City & Beach Tour Incl. Wine Tasting: $196
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Palawan and Auckland, we can see that Auckland is more expensive. And not only is Palawan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Palawan is in Asia and Auckland is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Auckland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Auckland 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 Palawan Expensive? and Is Auckland 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.