Which place is cheaper, Koh Phi Phi or Palawan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Palawan or Koh Phi Phi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Palawan or Koh Phi Phi? 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 Koh Phi Phi?
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.
Koh Phi Phi
The islands of Koh Phi Phi, off the coast of southwestern Thailand, are very popular with travelers because of their unrivaled tropical scenery, clear blue waters, relaxing atmosphere, and undersea attractions. However, in the last decade, Koh Phi Phi has seen a huge surge in tourism, adding to the crowds and pollution of the main (and only populated) island, known as Koh Phi Phi Don.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Thailand, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPalawan $36Koh Phi Phi $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Palawan is $36, while the average daily cost in Koh Phi Phi is $72. 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 Koh Phi Phi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPalawan $13Koh Phi Phi $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPalawan $26Koh Phi Phi $80
Compare Hotels in Palawan and Koh Phi Phi
Looking for a hotel in Palawan or Koh Phi Phi? 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 Koh Phi Phi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Palawan $16Koh Phi Phi $6.89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Palawan
Also for Palawan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfers Puerto Princesa To Elnido: $260
- Puerto Princesa - El Nido | Private Van Transfer: $149
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $140
- Private Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Transfer: $79
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- Private Puerto Princesa Airport Transfers: $29
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- Arrival airport transfer-Private airport to hotel in central area: $20
- Shared Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Transfer: $10
- Arrival Airport transfers from Puerto Princesa Airport to Hotels: $7.50
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Phi Phi:
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Ferry to Maya Beach (for 2)$15
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Longboat Taxi$2.73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Phi Phi
Also for Koh Phi Phi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Superfast Transfer from Koh Phi Phi to Krabi by Arisa Speed Boat: $28
- Speedboat Transfer Phi Phi Tonsai to Phuket with Dropoff Service: $24
- One-Way Departure Transfer from Phi Phi Island (Speedboat) to Phuket Airport : $52
- Koh Phi Phi to Phuket VIP Speed Boat Transfer: $22
Is it cheaper to fly into Palawan or Koh Phi Phi?
Prices for flights to both Koh Phi Phi 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 $11Koh Phi Phi $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
Typical Food Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Phi Phi:
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Crepe$1.64
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Sit Down Lunch$9.27
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Casual Lunch$5.73
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Coconut Donut$0.27
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Lunch at Mexican Restaurant (for 2)$11
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Sit Down Dinner$14
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Palawan $5.24Koh Phi Phi $45
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 Koh Phi Phi
For Koh Phi Phi, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental$8.18
Tours and Activities in Koh Phi Phi
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Phi Phi.
- 6 Hours Private Tour Around Phi Phi Islands From Phi Phi: $161
- Early Bird Phi Phi Islands Tour From Phi Phi by Speedboat: $57
- Ferry from Phi Phi Islands to Phuket with Dropoff Service by Royal Jet Cruiser: $13
- Half Day & Sunset Phi Phi Island Tour From Phi Phi by Speedboat: $57
- Half Day Tour Around Phi Phi Islands By Private Longtail Boat From Phi Phi: $107
- Half-Day Morning Bamboo Island Tour from Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $21
- Koh Phi Phi to Phuket by Phi Phi Cruiser: $17
- Maya Bay Sunset and Plankton Swimming Tour: $70
- PHI PHI ISLAND - Sunrise Trip From Phi Phi Don By Phi Phi Local Tour: $53
- Phi Phi 7 Islands Full-Day Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $27
- Phi Phi Island Half Day Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $18
- Phi Phi Island To Phuket By Phi Phi Cruiser: $17
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPalawan $7.49Koh Phi Phi $5.66
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Phi Phi from other travelers:
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Mojito Bucket$14
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Banana Daiquiri$5.46
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Palawan and Koh Phi Phi, we can see that Koh Phi Phi 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 Phi Phi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Phi Phi 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 Koh Phi Phi 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.