Which place is cheaper, Tianjin or Palawan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Palawan or Tianjin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Palawan or Tianjin? 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 Tianjin?
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.
Tianjin
Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.
Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPalawan $36Tianjin $76
The average daily cost (per person) in Palawan is $36, while the average daily cost in Tianjin is $76. 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 Tianjin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPalawan $13Tianjin $34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPalawan $26Tianjin $68
Compare Hotels in Palawan and Tianjin
Looking for a hotel in Palawan or Tianjin? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Palawan $16Tianjin $36
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
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $150
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $150
- Puerto Princesa - El Nido | Private Van Transfer: $149
- 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin
Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tianjin Private Transfer from Tianjin central to Tianjin Binhai Airport (TSN): $116
- Tianjin Private Transfer from Railway Station to Cruise Port: $80
- Tianjin Private Round Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Pass and Eastern Qing Tombs: $132
- Tianjin Port Private transfers to Tianjin train station: $50
- Tianjin Port Private Round Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Great Wall: $192
- Tianjin International Cruise Port Private Transfer from City Hotels: $80
- Tianjin Cruise Port to Hotels in Beijing Downtown Shared Transfer: $66
- Tianjin Binhai International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
- Tianjin Airport Chauffeur Service, Tianjin Airport Transfer: $13
- Tianjin Airport Chauffeur Service, Tianjin Airport Transfer: $18
- Tianjin Airport (TSN) to Tianjin RoundTrip Private Transfer: $50
- Private Transfer: Tianjin Xingang International Cruise Home Port to Beijing Hotel: $88
Is it cheaper to fly into Palawan or Tianjin?
Prices for flights to both Tianjin 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 $11Tianjin $20
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.Palawan $5.24Tianjin $10
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
Tours and Activities in Tianjin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.
- 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
- 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Beijing Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall: $239
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven: $219
- From Tianjin Xingang Port: Private 2-Day Beijing Tour: $550
- Huangyaguan Great Wall Layover Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $265
- Mutianyu Great Wall Trip with English Speaking Driver from Tianjin Cruise Port: $261
- One Day Huangyaguan Great Wall And Qing Tomb Tour Of Beijing: $260
- Private Beijing Custom Day Tour from Tianjin City by Bullet Train: $278
- Private Beijing Shopping Tour with Bullet Train Experience from Tianjin: $269
- Private Great Wall Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $248
- Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPalawan $7.49Tianjin $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Palawan and Tianjin, we can see that Tianjin 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 Tianjin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tianjin 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 Tianjin 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.