How much does it cost to travel to Puerto Princesa?
You should plan to spend around $73 (₱4,113) per day on your vacation in Puerto Princesa. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $20 (₱1,106) on meals
- $51 (₱2,894) on local transportation
- $49 (₱2,752) on hotels
A one week trip to Puerto Princesa for two people costs, on average, $1,021 (₱57,579). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Puerto Princesa has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Puerto Princesa expensive to visit?
Puerto Princesa is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in the Philippines, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It falls in the average range in the country for its prices. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.
Within Asia, Puerto Princesa is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Yangshuo or Koh Phi Phi.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Puerto Princesa Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Puerto Princesa?
The average Puerto Princesa trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Puerto Princesa travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
Category
|
Cost
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
₱2,752
($49)
|
Local Transportation 1
|
₱2,894
($51)
|
Food 2
|
₱1,106
($20)
|
Entertainment 1
|
₱386
($7)
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
₱7 -
20
($0 - 0)
|
Alcohol 2
|
₱393 -
1,180
($7 - 21)
|
Accommodation Budget in Puerto Princesa
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Puerto Princesa is $24 (₱1,376). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Puerto Princesa is $49 (₱2,752). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Princesa? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Puerto Princesa
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Puerto Princesa is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $51 (₱2,894) per person, per day, on local transportation in Puerto Princesa.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$51
₱2,894
How much does it cost to go to Puerto Princesa? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Puerto Princesa will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Puerto Princesa
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Puerto Princesa can vary, the average cost of food in Puerto Princesa is $20 (₱1,106) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Puerto Princesa should cost around $7.84 (₱442) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Puerto Princesa is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$20
₱1,106
Entertainment Budget in Puerto Princesa
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Puerto Princesa typically cost an average of $6.84 (₱386) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$6.84
₱386
Tips and Handouts Budget in Puerto Princesa
Calculated from travelers like you
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Alcohol Budget in Puerto Princesa
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $14 (₱787) on alcoholic beverages in Puerto Princesa per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$14
₱787
Water Budget in Puerto Princesa
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $0.74 (₱42) on bottled water in Puerto Princesa per day. The public water in Puerto Princesa is not usually considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$0.74
₱42
Puerto Princesa On a Budget
Dining on crab in Palawan, Philippines
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.
Though green and clean, Puerto Princesa has fewer amenities and conveniences compared to larger cities. Be prepared ahead of time or withdraw enough cash to last you during your visit to Palawan in Puerto Princesa, as there aren't many ATMs or banks outside of large resorts throughout the island and even those available may charge you a pricey commission.
Sights
Most travelers don't visit Puerto Princesa for the city itself, as there's not much to do here. While Puerto Princesa does have White Beach (the only beach in town) to explore and a few good diving spots, it's more often used as a transit hub to get to other towns in Palawan. Still, if you have the time, Puerto Princesa may have enough to keep you busy for a day or two before you go on to other trips around Palawan.
Within the city, you can check out the main street, Rizal, which is the most bustling in the area. Most points of interest are local, including Robinson's Mall, and Immaculate Conception Cathedral, which was built in Romanesque style with twin towers. The
Palawan Museum will give you a glimpse into the history and culture of the island through old tools and fossils. Next door is Plaza Cuartel, which is dedicated to the 143 soldiers burnt alive during by the Japanese Army in 1944.
Irawan Eco-Park offers forest canopy tours, the world's longest canopy zipline, and butterfly farm, not to mention the opportunity to check out many species of Palawan's endangered birds.
Activities
This region has it all: beautiful beaches, crystal clear lagoons, kayaking, jungles, wild animals, island hopping, and more.
One of the most popular activities is to visit the nearby Underground River, which is essentially a cave that has met the sea. Enough room is available for boats and kayaks to enter the cave to see the interesting rock formations, clear waters, and beautiful scenery. While many tours are available, and some can be expensive, it's quite possible to do this independently. Check out this great
guide to how to do a DIY tour of the Puerto Princesa Underground River.
Of course, plenty of people come to this area to go scuba diving and snorkeling. And one of the best ways to do this is on a
Liveaboard in the Philippines where you can eat and sleep on the boat for a few days while you dive. Other diving options can be found right off the shore. Naturally, this is also where you can easily go snorkeling, too.
Food and Dining
Within the city, there are numerous restaurants between the airport and the main street, Rizal Street. Head to the 4th District Tiangge for a cluster of stalls which sell inexpensive meals and beer including Vietnamese noodles.
KaLui serves fresh seafood on daily fixed fixed menus and lovely ambiance and is frequented by tourists and locals alike. Be sure to make a reservation, especially for dinner.
For a more local experience, head down to White Beach around the huts, where locals often buy and bring their own beers and cook fresh seafood right at the tables. Don't forget to pitch in for drinks.
If you're feeling saucy or just have an adventurous palate, you may want to try Tamilok, a local delicacy that is also a woodworm found in wood that is submerged seawater, such as Mangroves. Tamilok is prepared much like ceviche, marinated in lime or vinegar, onions and chopped chili peppers.
For a shop that caters to all palates, head to the famed Baker's Hill and try the local favorite, Hopia Ube, a pastry filled with purple yam, reminiscent of Chinese mooncakes, originally introduced by Fujianese immigrants.
Transportation
Fly into Puerto Princesa's tiny airport via Cebu Pacific, Air Asia, Philippine Airlines, Zest Air, and Air Philippines, which fly in on the daily from Manila. From the airport, take a tricycle into the city center, which is very close.
If you're interested in an ocean voyage, take a 29-hour ferry by 2GO Travel from Manila into Puerto Princesa with one stop at the halfway point in Coron.
Within Puerto Princesa, take a tricycle or multicab to get around. Tricycles may not be able to go long distances, so be sure to ask the driver before boarding. Don't be shy to haggle with tricycle drivers. Jeepneys are also available for standard routes. If you are going to tour, arrange transportation with a jeepney or air-conditioned van as public transport may not be reliable.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.