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

Should you visit Sukhothai or Puerto Princesa?

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 Puerto Princesa can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Sukhothai or Puerto Princesa?

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.

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.

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, Puerto Princesa 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 $82, while the average daily cost in Puerto Princesa is $86. 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 Puerto Princesa in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sukhothai $26
    Puerto Princesa $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sukhothai $52
    Puerto Princesa $48
Compare Hotels in Sukhothai and Puerto Princesa

Looking for a hotel in Sukhothai or Puerto Princesa? 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 Puerto Princesa


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 Puerto Princesa Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sukhothai $19
    Puerto Princesa $51

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: $15
  • Van Transfers to/from Sabang or Astoria: $119
  • Transfers to/from Port Barton: $14
  • Shared Airport Transfers to/from hotel: $7.29
  • Relaxing Massage with optional transfers: $24
  • Private Airport Transfers to/from hotel: $22
  • One-Way Transfer To/From El Nido: $16
  • Astoria Water Park Day Pass & Transfers: $237
  • Puerto Princesa City Van Transfers: $24

Is it cheaper to fly into Sukhothai or Puerto Princesa?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Princesa 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
    Puerto Princesa $34

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: $33
  • Firefly Watching Bay Cruise with Dinner: $35
  • Firefly Watching with Dinner: $40
  • Firefly Watching Tour with Dinner: $55
  • Seafood Lunch or Dinner with transfers: $60
  • Underground River with Dinner at Kalui: $82
  • Underground River and Firefly Watching with Dinner: $89
  • Balayong People's Park with Dinner and Show: $119

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sukhothai $38
    Puerto Princesa $6.77

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: $25
  • 3D2N El Nido Experience: $250
  • 5D4N Puerto Princesa & El Nido Experience: $299
  • City Tour of Puerto Princesa sightseeing excursion: $35
  • City tour of Puerto Princesa Palawan Philippines : $20
  • El Nido Day Tour: $82
  • From Honda Bay Island Hopping Full-Day Tour: $41
  • Full Day Excursion: UNESCO Underground River Tour: $49
  • Half Day City Joiners Tour | Puerto Princesa: $35
  • Half-Day City Tour from Puerto Princesa: $27
  • Half-Day City Tour | Puerto Princesa: $55
  • Half-day Puerto Princesa City Tour: $15

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sukhothai $14
    Puerto Princesa $14


When comparing the travel costs between Sukhothai and Puerto Princesa, we can see that Puerto Princesa is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Sukhothai or Puerto Princesa?

Puerto Princesa has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Sukhothai. When comparing the sizes of Sukhothai and Puerto Princesa, 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.