A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Puerto Princesa vs. Auckland for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Puerto Princesa or Auckland?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Puerto Princesa and Auckland 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: Puerto Princesa or Auckland?

Puerto Princesa

The island of Palawan is known the Philippines' last frontier and its capital, Puerto Princesa, is considered the greenest city in the Philippines. With plenty of land that has yet to be explored and inundated with tourists, Puerto Princesa, also known as "The City of the Living God," is a nature buff's dream. Whether you want to swim with starfish, walk among the mangrove treetops, or visit the world's largest saltwater crocodile at the Palawan Nature Conservation Center, Puerto Princesa and its surrounding area offers plenty of opportunities to get into the great wide open.

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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Auckland or Puerto Princesa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Princesa is $79, while the average daily cost in Auckland is $162. 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 Puerto Princesa and Auckland in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Princesa $22
    Auckland $94
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Princesa $44
    Auckland $188
Compare Hotels in Puerto Princesa and Auckland

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Princesa 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.

Hotels in Puerto Princesa


Hotels in Auckland


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: Puerto Princesa Hotel Prices and Auckland Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Princesa $46
    Auckland $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Princesa

Also for Puerto Princesa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer to/from Puerto Princesa and El Nido: $17
  • Transfer between Puerto Princesa and El Nido: $18
  • Shared Transfer Puerto Princesa/Port Barton: $17
  • Puerto Princesa:El Nido – Shared Van Transfer: $14
  • Van Transfers to/from Sabang or Astoria: $116
  • Transfers to/from Port Barton: $14
  • Shared Airport Transfers to/from hotel: $7.11
  • Relaxing Massage with optional transfers: $23
  • Private Airport Transfers to/from hotel: $21
  • One-Way Transfer To/From El Nido: $16
  • Astoria Water Park Day Pass & Transfers: $232
  • Puerto Princesa City Van Transfers: $23

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Auckland

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Auckland:


  • Bus from Airport
    $8.99
  • Airport Shuttle
    $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Auckland

Also for Auckland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland City by suv: $53
  • Transfer Service: Auckland to Rotorua or Rotorua to Auckland: $172
  • Rotorua to Auckland - Afternoon Transfer with Waitomo Caves: $175
  • Private Transfer from Auckland Port to Auckland Airport (AKL): $41
  • Private Transfer from Auckland Cruise Port to Auckland: $51
  • Private Transfer from Auckland Airport /City to Rotorua: $286
  • Private Transfer from Auckland Airport (AKL) to Auckland Port: $41
  • Private Transfer North Shore or Henderson to Auckland Airport AKL by Luxury Van: $132
  • Private Transfer North Shore or Henderson to Auckland Airport AKL by Luxury Car: $132
  • Private Transfer From Cruise Ship To Auckland CBD Hotels: $86
  • Private Transfer From Cruise Ship To Auckland Airport: $172
  • Private Transfer From Auckland CBD Hotels To Cruise Ship: $86

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Princesa or Auckland?

Prices for flights to both Auckland and Puerto Princesa 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Puerto Princesa $31
    Auckland $43

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Princesa

For Puerto Princesa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Firefly Watching Paddle Boat Tour & Dinner: $27
  • Jungle Firefly Watching Boat Tour & Dinner: $32
  • Firefly Watching Bay Cruise with Dinner: $34
  • Firefly Watching with Dinner: $39
  • Firefly Watching Tour with Dinner: $53
  • Seafood Lunch or Dinner with transfers: $59
  • Underground River with Dinner at Kalui: $80
  • Underground River and Firefly Watching with Dinner: $87
  • Balayong People's Park with Dinner and Show: $116

Typical Food Prices in Auckland

For Auckland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Breakfast
    $4.49

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Auckland

For Auckland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Auckland Dinner Cruise Scenic Views and Seasonal Buffet: $54
  • Harbour Sailing Cruise with 3-Course Dinner: $93
  • Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour: $101
  • Auckland Harbour Sailboat Cruise Including Three Course Dinner: $103
  • Auckland Downtown Food Tour with 5 Locals Favorite Dishes: $123
  • Ponsonby Road Food Tour in Auckland: $135
  • Gourmet Auckland Food Tour A Place at our Table: $243
  • [PRIVATE] SUNSET. Wine. Hot Pool. Dinner: $263
  • Waiheke Island: Private Sunset Wine Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $392
  • Māori Evening Dinner and Private Show Experience: $519
  • From Kiwi Bird Encounter & 3-Course Dinner Tour: $550

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Princesa $6.16
    Auckland $26

Tours and Activities in Puerto Princesa

For Puerto Princesa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2in1 City tour + museum & transportation from cruise port /hotel: $25
  • 3D2N El Nido Experience: $250
  • 3d2n ELNIDO Package tour: $280
  • 5D4N Puerto Princesa & El Nido Experience: $299
  • City tour of Puerto Princesa Palawan (hotel & cruiseship pick up): $20
  • El Nido Day Tour: $80
  • From Honda Bay Island Hopping Full-Day Tour: $40
  • Full Day Excursion: UNESCO Underground River Tour: $48
  • Full-Day UNESCO Underground River Tour: $60
  • Half Day City Joiners Tour | Puerto Princesa: $34
  • Half-Day City Tour from Puerto Princesa: $27
  • Half-Day City Tour | Puerto Princesa: $53

Typical Entertainment Prices in Auckland

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Auckland's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Auckland Sky Tour (for 2)
    $31
  • Waiheke Island Tour (for 2)
    $113

Tours and Activities in Auckland

For Auckland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • "City of Sails" highlights - private tour with German tour guide: $210
  • 2-Hour Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Tour to Lucas Creek Waterfall: $69
  • 2025 Award Winning: Auckland City Highlights Half Day Tour: $92
  • 24 day Greatest Of All Tours Small Group Tour: $3,447
  • 6 Hours Sightseeing Tour in Auckland: $166
  • A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Auckland's Hidden Stories: $15
  • AKL: TAUPO - Maori Rock Carving Cruise, Wai O Tapu & Blue Springs: $274
  • Half-Day CITY HIGHLIGHTS TOUR - Mt.Eden, Tamaki Dr: $86
  • Afternoon Piha Beach and Rainforest Tour from Auckland: $120
  • America's Cup Sailing Experience on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour: $123
  • America’s Cup 2-Hour Sailing Experience Waitemata Harbour: $122
  • Auckland Airport To Ports Of Auckland Private Highlights Tour: $229

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Princesa $13
    Auckland $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Auckland

Also in Auckland, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Auckland Coastal Brewery Kayak Tour: $68
  • Waiheke Island: Scenic Island Wine Tour & Local Wine Tasting: $110
  • Ultimate Auckland Experience Full Day Tour with Brewery Lunch: $143
  • Waiheke Island: The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour: $159
  • Waiheke Island: Wine Tour & Lunch at Award Winning Venue: $168
  • From Small Group Kumeu Wine Tour with Lunch: $180
  • Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch: $183
  • Auckland Coastal Experience - Small Group City & Beach Tour Incl. Wine Tasting: $204
  • City Tour with Wine Tasting and Black Sand Beach: $217
  • Shore Excursion from Auckland - Private Tour & Wine Tasting: $278
  • Waiheke Island Scenic Wine Tour: $301


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Princesa and Auckland, we can see that Auckland is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Princesa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Princesa Expensive? and Is Auckland Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Puerto Princesa or Auckland?

Auckland has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Puerto Princesa. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Princesa and Auckland, 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.