Which place is cheaper, Boracay or Tokyo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tokyo or Boracay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tokyo or Boracay? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Tokyo or Boracay?
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
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 2-Week Tours in Japan, The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, and The Best Adventure Tours to Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTokyo $157Boracay $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Tokyo is $157, while the average daily cost in Boracay is $56. 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 Tokyo and Boracay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTokyo $76Boracay $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTokyo $152Boracay $46
Compare Hotels in Tokyo and Boracay
Looking for a hotel in Tokyo 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: Tokyo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tokyo $17Boracay $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer between Narita and Tokyo or Disney or Yokohama: $223
- Airport transfer between Haneda and Tokyo or Disney or Yokohama: $123
- Arrival Private Transfer: Haneda Airport HND to Tokyo in Sedan: $278
- Departure Private Transfer Tokyo to Haneda Airport (HND): $182
- Departure Private Transfer: Tokyo to Haneda Airport HND in Sedan: $278
- Departure Transfer from Tokyo City to Haneda Airport HND by van: $76
- From Haneda Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Tokyo City: $88
- From Tokyo:Private tour to Kamakura with Round-way transfer: $599
- Fuji-Q Highland 1-Day Pass with Private Transfer: $239
- Hakuba: Private transfer from/to Tokyo/HND by minibus max 9: $815
- Haneda Airport (HND) Private Transfer to Central Tokyo: $98
- Haneda Airport (HND) Private Transfer to/from Central Tokyo: $110
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boracay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boracay:
- Speedboat Caticlan to Boracay Transfer (Oneway): $81
- Boracay Transfer round trip with Island Hopping: $69
- PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSFER TO BORACAY: $59
- Caticlan: Shared Airport Transfer From/To Boracay: $54
- Private Transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay: $43
- Caticlan: Ferry Boat Airport Transfer To Boracay: $41
- Boracay Adventures Transfer Services Via Caticlan: $35
- Departure: Ferry boat Transfer Boracay to Caticlan Airport: $30
- Airport Transfer to Boracay or vice versa: $26
- Shared Transfer from/to MPH for Domestic Passports: $21
Is it cheaper to fly into Tokyo or Boracay?
Prices for flights to both Boracay and Tokyo 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 dayTokyo $37Boracay $14
Typical Food Prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
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Late Night Noodles$5.22
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Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$5.22
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Meal at Airport$6.80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Takoyaki cooking experience in Kabukicho, Shinjuku: $22
- Easy Ramen Cooking Experience in Kabukicho, Shinjuku: $25
- 2 Hours Japanese Style Pub and Food Tour in Ueno: $33
- 【Contemporary Culture】food tour I Always Visit in Shibuya: $35
- Private Sushi Roll Cooking Class in Japan: $38
- 【Contemporary Culture】Food tour I Always Visit in Shibuya: $38
- Ueno Private Walking Tour and Night Food Tour: $40
- Tokyo Best Cooking Class! Sushi Making Experience in Tsukiji: $52
- Tokyo Best Cooking Class！ Sushi making class in Tsukiji: $55
- Wagyu and 7 Japanese Dishes Cooking Class: $59
- Japanese Traditional Cooking Class: $59
- Tokyo Wagyu Culinary Tour Cooking Culture and Tasting: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tokyo $68Boracay $15
Tours and Activities in Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- Japan: Zen and Tea Ceremony Audio Guided Tour: $3.16
- Ancient Orient Museum Admission Ticket: $3.79
- Samurai and Bushido Audio Guided Tour: $4.55
- 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour Subway Ticket: $5.05
- Akihabara Walking Tour with Otaku and Photography: $6.31
- Ueno: Self-Guided Tour of Ameyoko and Hidden Gems: $6.32
- Shibuya Sightseeing with an Audio Guide: $6.32
- Local Food and Bar Tour in Ginza: $6.32
- Audio Guide Tour: Deeper Experience of Shinjuku Sightseeing: $6.32
- Asakusa（Tokyo）: Smartphone Audio Guide Tour: $6.32
- Tokyo Local Bar Hopping Tour in Shibuya: $6.32
- Ueno Park Self-Guided Tour with Audio Guide: $6.32
Tours and Activities in Boracay
Here are a few actual costs in Boracay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Hours Boracay Land Tour via Etrike: $26
- Aklan Tibiao Antique Tour : $190
- Atv Mainland Adventure with lunch: $63
- Best Boracay Sunset Party Boat Experience: $45
- Boracay - Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience: $9.02
- Boracay ATV Tour and Kawa Hot Bath: $85
- Boracay Buggy Car Adventure: $105
- Boracay Cliff Jumping & Snorkeling Experience (Private): $105
- Boracay Eco-Hopping Tour: $86
- Boracay Helicopter Tour with Red Whale Party Yacht: $204
- Boracay Hopping Tour with Standard Boodle Fight Lunch: $36
- Boracay Island Hopping +Banana Boat (Shared Tour): $41
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTokyo $33Boracay $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Tokyo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
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Sake$3.91
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: $25
- 3-Hour Tokyo Pub Crawl Weekly Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $52
- Private Shinjuku Nightlife Walking Tour & Golden-Gai Bar Crawl: $79
- barhopping tour&bar crawl in Retro Town Shimokitazawa: $82
- Toshimaya Sake Brewery Tour with Sake Tasting: $88
- Tokyo | 3 Hours Brewery Tour with Sake Sommelier: $101
- Private Sake Tasting at 300 Years Old Sake Brewery in Tokyo : $104
- 【Harajuku】Night Pub Crawl with Local Japanese: $125
- Private Local Craft Brewery Tour in Tokyo: $150
- Wooden Barrel Sake Brewery Tour and Unlimited Tasting Near Tokyo: $161
- Private Walking Tour with Sake Brewery Visit in Chichibu: $190
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tokyo and Boracay, we can see that Tokyo 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 Tokyo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tokyo 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 Tokyo Expensive? and Is Boracay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tokyo or Boracay?
Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 3620 times larger than the population of Boracay. When comparing the sizes of Tokyo 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.