A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sukhothai vs. Palawan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sukhothai or Palawan?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Sukhothai and Palawan can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Sukhothai or Palawan?

Sukhothai

If you are the kind of wandering traveler looking to find calm and inner peace, you will want to add Sukhothai to your list. Also known as "the dawn of happiness," this area is best known for the ruins of the ancient city of Sukhothai – the capital of Thailand during the 13th century. As the first capital of Siam, the area's temples and monuments are restored and ready for visitors from around the world.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines.


Which place is cheaper, Palawan or Sukhothai?

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 Sukhothai is $80, while the average daily cost in Palawan is $40. 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 Sukhothai and Palawan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sukhothai $26
    Palawan $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sukhothai $52
    Palawan $24
Compare Hotels in Sukhothai and Palawan

Looking for a hotel in Sukhothai or Palawan? 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 Sukhothai


Hotels in Palawan


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: Sukhothai Hotel Prices and Palawan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sukhothai $19
    Palawan $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Palawan

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

  • Shared Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Transfer: $10
  • Puerto Princesa Palawan Private Transfers - Airport Transfers: $27
  • Private for your group - transfers Puerto princesa to elnido: $100
  • Private Van Transfers: Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Vice Versa: $48
  • Private Van Transfer Coron Town to Airport: $70
  • Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $193
  • Private Transfer from Puerto Princesa to El Nido: $203
  • Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $193
  • Private Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Transfer: $79
  • El Nido Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $49
  • El Nido Tour C with Lunch and Transfers: $49
  • El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179

Is it cheaper to fly into Sukhothai or Palawan?

Prices for flights to both Palawan and Sukhothai 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
    Sukhothai $36
    Palawan $17

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Palawan

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

  • El Nido Fishing with Local Fisherman with Sunset Dinner: $136

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sukhothai $37
    Palawan $4.82

Tours and Activities in Palawan

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

  • 3D2N El Nido Experience: $250
  • 3d2n ELNIDO Package tour: $280
  • 5D4N Puerto Princesa & El Nido Experience: $299
  • All-Inclusive El Nido Beach Hopping Private Tour: $153
  • Balabac Tour Semi-Private 4D3N (price varies by group size): $590
  • Best of Puerto Princesa Palawan Signature 3Day Tour in 1 Package: $195
  • City tour of Puerto Princesa Palawan Philippines: $20
  • Coron Culion Island Escapade Private Tour: $132
  • Coron Island Adventure Snorkeling Dugong Watching and More: $130
  • Coron Island Escapade Group Tour with Island Lunch: $48
  • Coron Island Escapade Tour (Shared Tour): $50
  • Coron Island Hopping Tour A (Private Tour): $112

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sukhothai $14
    Palawan $6.89


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