Which place is cheaper, Boracay or Phuket?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Phuket or Boracay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Boracay, 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: Phuket or Boracay?
Phuket
Phuket Island is the holiday gem of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.
Boracay
A small island in the Philippines known for its resorts and beaches, Boracay is a little escape. Each beach has its own unique character, each with new treasures waiting to be discovered.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines.
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Phuket Prices
Thailand PricesBoracay Prices
Philippines Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhuket $132Boracay $60
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $132, while the average daily cost in Boracay is $60. 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 Phuket and Boracay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $61Boracay $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $122Boracay $42
Compare Hotels in Phuket and Boracay
Looking for a hotel in Phuket or Boracay? 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: Phuket Hotel Prices and Boracay Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phuket $12Boracay $25
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
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Longtail Taxi (for Two)$8.95
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$7.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- (Privet)Phuket Transfer: $17
- ATV Bike 1 hr + Zipline Adventure 35 platforms with meal and Free Transfer: $154
- ATV Bike 1 hr+ Skyline Adventure 28 platforms with free Transfer: $129
- Airport Transfer: Phuket Airport HKT to Phuket by Business Car: $113
- Airport Transfer: Phuket to Phuket Airport HKT by Business Car: $113
- Andamanda Phuket Water Park Tickets with Transfers: $110
- Andamanda Water Park Phuket Entry Ticket with Hotel Transfers: $75
- Arrival Private Transfers from Phuket Airport HKT to Phuket City: $125
- Best Ziplines Adventure 30 platforms with free transfer: $124
- Comfortable Private Phuket Airport to Hotel Arrival Transfer: $26
- Departure Private Transfers from Phuket City to Phuket Airport HKT: $125
- Departure Transfer: Phuket to Phuket Airport HKT by Business Car: $113
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boracay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boracay:
- Airport Transfer to Boracay Semi Private: $39
- Boracay Adventures Transfer Services Via Caticlan: $45
- Boracay Transfer Caticlan/Kalibo Airport(MPH/KLO) w/ All Fee: $15
- Boracay to Caticlan Airport (MPH) - Departure Private Transfer: $25
- Boracay to Caticlan Airport (MPH) - Departure Private Transfer: $25
- Poseidon Spa Experience with Round-Trip Transfers: $119
- Private Executive Speedboat Transfer Service: $361
- Private Transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay: $49
- Roundtrip Transfer and Island Hopping Tour: $85
- Shared Transfer from/to MPH for Domestic Passports: $36
- Speedboat and Van Airport Transfer: $25
- Caticlan Airport (MPH) to Boracay - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or Boracay?
Prices for flights to both Boracay and Phuket 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 dayPhuket $41Boracay $22
Typical Food Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$8.63
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.07
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$13
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Thai Noodles$2.69
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Bananas$0.75
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Pizza (for Two)$8.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- Authentic Peranakan Cooking Class & Tasting Menu in Phuket: $29
- Phuket Express Thai Cooking Course with Authentic Recipes: $47
- Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $50
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $51
- Catamaran Sunset Cruise in Phuket with Dinner at Promthep Cape: $52
- 3-Hour Authentic Thai Cooking Experience: $52
- Phuket 10+ Tastings Food Tour & Charming Old Town: $52
- Phuket Coral Island & Sunset Dinner Cruise by Catamaran Yacht: $53
- Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $55
- Simply Thai Cooking Experience: $55
- Phuket Coral Island and Sunset Dinner by Luxury Catamaran: $58
- Coral Island Premium Yacht Half Day Tour with Sunset Dinner: $58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Boracay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Boracay.
- Native Delicacies Cooking Class: $19
- Filipino Cooking Class with Local Instructor: $41
- Boracay Private Island-Hopping Tour and Buffet Dinner: $78
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $46Boracay $14
Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket
Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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One Day Boat Tour$27
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$75
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Thai Oil Massage$19
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Surfboard Rental$8.95
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Phuket Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Self Guided Scavenger Hunts and Gamified Tours: $6.10
- Oto Indoor Play Park Entrance Ticket in Phuket: $7.67
- Rock Beach Swing Phuket Scenic Photo Spot Ticket: $14
- Phuket Tour with Wat Chalong, Karon View Point, Old Town: $15
- Half Day Phuket City tour + Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off: $16
- Phuket Rock Beach Swing Tickets: $16
- Ultimate Virtual Reality Gaming Park Ticket at VAR Live in Phuket: $17
- Phuket Bird Park Admission Ticket: $18
- Rock Beach Swing Ticket with Karon Viewpoint in Phuket: $20
- Phang Nga Bay Skywalk at Samet Nangshe Admission Ticket: $20
- Phuket to Koh Phi Phi by Phi Phi Cruiser: $20
Tours and Activities in Boracay
Here are a few actual costs in Boracay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Crystal Kayak Photo-op Experience: $5.94
- Boracay - Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience: $8.48
- Banana Boat Adventure: $9.92
- Flying Donut Water Tubing Experience: $14
- Sunset Cruise with Water Activities: $15
- Boracay Land Tour (Daytime/Sunset): Willy Rock, Keyhole..etc: $15
- Boracay Sunset Cruise: $16
- Boracay UFO Ride Adventure: $17
- Boracay UFO Adventure: $17
- All-Terrain Vehicle or Buggy Car Experience: $17
- Boracay Island Hopping+Water Slide+Buffet+Beach+Kawa DayTour: $19
- Island and Beach-Hopping Boat Tour with Snorkeling: $19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $6.95Boracay $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:
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Cocktails (for Two)$5.97
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Beer$2.54
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Rooftop, Bars, GoGo & 3 Clubs with Shots: $17
- Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $29
- Chalong Bay Rum Distillery Experience: $40
- Chalong Bay Rum Distillery Experience and Lunch: $52
- Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $86
- Half Day Rum Distillery Tour & Sunset Viewpoint: $95
- Phuket Sightseeing Tour with Rum Distillery: $107
- Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $132
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and Boracay, we can see that Phuket is more expensive. And not only is Boracay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Boracay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boracay 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 Phuket would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phuket than you might in Boracay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Phuket Expensive? and Is Boracay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phuket or Boracay?
Phuket has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Boracay. When comparing the sizes of Phuket and Boracay, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.