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

Should you visit Puerto Princesa or Wollongong?

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 Wollongong 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 Wollongong?

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.

Wollongong

Wollongong is south of Sydney in New South Wales. It is also the third largest city in the state. Wollongong has a unique geography in that it is only six kilometers wide at its widest point and is forty kilometers long. It is squeezed in between the mountains and the ocean and in the process of growth, has swallowed several coastal towns between Dapto and Port Kembla. Wollongong is home to the University of Wollongong and has a diverse population that includes people of Serbian, Croatian, Italian, and Turkish descent among other nationalities. The influence of these cultures is obvious in the city's restaurant and entertainment options. Throughout the city you'll find some wonderful beaches with few crowds and some decent surfing opportunities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Wollongong or Puerto Princesa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Princesa is $73, while the average daily cost in Wollongong is $121. 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 Wollongong in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Princesa $24
    Wollongong $65
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Princesa $48
    Wollongong $130
Compare Hotels in Puerto Princesa and Wollongong

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Princesa or Wollongong? 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 Wollongong


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 Wollongong Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Princesa $51
    Wollongong $39

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Princesa

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

  • Private Transfers Puerto Princesa To Elnido: $260
  • Astoria Water Park Day Pass & Transfers: $234
  • Private Transfer to El Nido: $171
  • El Nido to Puerto Princesa Private Van Transfer: $153
  • Puerto Princesa to El Nido Private Van Transfer: $153
  • Puerto Princesa - El Nido | Private Van Transfer: $149
  • Private Puerto Princesa Airport Transfers: $29
  • Relaxing Massage with optional transfers: $23
  • Private Airport Transfers to/from hotel: $22
  • Arrival airport transfer-Private airport to hotel in central area: $20
  • Transfer between Puerto Princesa and El Nido: $16
  • One-Way Transfer To/From El Nido: $16

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Princesa or Wollongong?

Prices for flights to both Wollongong 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 $20
    Wollongong $30

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 Tour with Dinner: $26
  • Firefly Watching Paddle Boat Tour & Dinner: $27
  • Jungle Firefly Watching Boat Tour & Dinner: $32
  • Firefly Watching Bay Cruise with Dinner: $34
  • Puerto Princesa Fireflies Watching with Dinner: $40
  • Seafood Lunch or Dinner with transfers: $60
  • Underground River and Firefly Watching with Dinner: $81
  • Underground River with Dinner at Kalui: $81
  • Balayong People's Park with Dinner and Show: $117

Typical Food Prices in Wollongong

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Wollongong:


  • Lunch
    $7.79

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Princesa $6.82
    Wollongong $22

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 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
  • Combi Tour : Underground River + Firefly Watching: $81
  • El Nido Day Tour: $81
  • El Nido Island Hopping Day Tour from Puerto Princesa City: $199
  • El Nido Nacpan Inland Tour (TRICYCLE) (Private Tour): $33
  • El Nido Nacpan Inland Tour (VAN) (Private Tour): $63
  • El Nido Package 1: Free & Easy (No Tour): $160

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Princesa $14
    Wollongong $18


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Princesa and Wollongong, we can see that Wollongong 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 Wollongong 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 Wollongong would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wollongong 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 Wollongong Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Puerto Princesa or Wollongong?

Wollongong has a larger population, and is about 66% larger than the population of Puerto Princesa. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Princesa and Wollongong, 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.