How Much Does it Cost to Travel to the Philippines? Exact Prices Revealed 💸🤑

If you’re planning a trip to the Philippines and wondering how much it will cost, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll share details about the expenses of our two-week trip to this beautiful country, covering everything from food and transportation to accommodation and activities. You’ll find helpful information about whether it’s expensive to travel to the Philippines and the prices you can expect.

How much does transportation cost in the Philippines? 

Cheap Flights to the Philippines

Without a doubt, the most expensive part of traveling to the Philippines will be the flights. The price will vary depending on your departure location. We recommend booking your flights in advance. Our trick for finding cheap flights is to use Skyscanner or Kiwi. On these websites, instead of searching for flights on specific dates, you can use the flexible search option to see flight prices for the entire month. This makes it easier to find cheap flights.

Domestic Flight Prices

The Philippines is a country made up of islands—7,641 to be exact—and if you’re heading there, it’s likely to see the beautiful landscapes and beaches, not just the capital. This means you’ll need to take some domestic flights. These are usually affordable, and if you book in advance, you can fly from Manila to Coron for around $30. We flew with two airlines: AirAsia and Cebu Pacific. We booked these flights just a week before our trip, paying $50 per person for the flight to Coron and $35 to Manila. Planning further in advance can help you find even cheaper deals.

Ferry

In some cases, taking a ferry can be cheaper or more convenient than flying between the islands. We took a ferry from Cebu to Bohol and from Coron to El Nido. We recommend booking the ferry at least a few days in advance, as they can sometimes get fully booked and you could end up without transportation. The ferry from Cebu to Bohol cost us $16 per person, and from Coron to El Nido, it was $50 per person.

Renting a Motorcycle

To explore the islands at your own pace, you can rent a motorcycle for just $9 a day. It was a great choice for exploring Bohol, Coron, and El Nido. Just remember to keep the gas tank full, as finding a gas station in some areas can be difficult. Renting a motorcycle in the Philippines is easy—no license is required, and it’s quite common to see children riding bikes. However, be cautious, as very few places offer additional insurance. Gasoline is also fairly inexpensive, and we never spent more than $7 to fill up the tank.

Island Hopping Prices in the Philippines

You have to keep in mind that to see the most amazing spots with crystal-clear waters, you’ll need to pay for tours known as Island Hopping. And it’s definitely worth it. For just $20–$35, we visited some of the most beautiful places, including coral reefs and had the thrilling experience of swimming with fish. Plus, the price usually includes lunch. Don’t forget to bring your snorkeling gear; you’ll use it a lot.

Hidden Costs of Island Hopping

Although Island Hopping is one of the best ways to explore the islands in the Philippines—unless you’re willing to pay for a private tour—you should be prepared to spend more than just the tour price. Why? The guides offer additional services that you’ll likely end up paying for if you don’t come prepared. Here’s a list of must-have items to bring to the Philippines:

• Snorkeling Gear (200-300 PHP ~ $5) – The waters in the Philippines are crystal clear, and you’ll get the chance to see plenty of fish, marine creatures, and beautiful coral reefs. Trust us, you don’t want to miss out on this! If you don’t bring your own snorkeling gear, you’ll end up renting or buying a low-quality one in the Philippines. If you have enough space in your luggage, we highly recommend bringing your own. Basic snorkeling sets on Amazon start at around $15.
• Water Shoes (200-300 PHP) – Many beaches in the Philippines are covered with seashells or dead corals, so it’s best to wear water shoes instead of going barefoot. Luckily, we brought ours because, honestly, we don’t feel comfortable wearing used, damp rental shoes. They’re super cheap, take up little space in your bag, and are worth having! We had very similar to these.
• Waterproof Phone Case (150 PHP) – As we mentioned before, the water in the Philippines is unbelievably clear, making it the perfect place to take underwater photos and videos. If you plan to capture these moments, you’ll need a good-quality waterproof phone case. We didn’t bring one and ended up buying a cheap one locally. At first, it worked fine, but after a few uses, the visibility worsened, and I nearly lost my phone because the strap detached.
• Dry Bag – If you’re visiting beaches or taking boat tours in the Philippines, a dry bag is a must-have to protect your belongings (phone, wallet, and other essentials) from water and sand. We bought a good one in the Philippines, similar to this, and it was extremely useful not just for this trip but for future adventures as well. It’s a small investment that’s totally worth it for any tropical destination!
• Sunscreen – No explanation needed—the sun in the Philippines is intense, and if you don’t want to get sunburned, you’ll need a good sunscreen. We brought our own, but still had to buy more. Bring enough so you don’t have to pay double the price locally.

One thing you can’t bring with you, but might need to budget for, is renting a kayak during island tours. For example, during one of our tours in El Nido, at the Big Lagoon, we were forced to rent a kayak (400-500 PHP for two people) because, according to the guides, it wasn’t safe to swim. But guess what? Once we had already paid for the kayak…

Accommodation Prices in the Philippines

The Philippines offers accommodation for every budget, and in general, it’s quite affordable. One important tip before traveling to the Philippines—or Asia in general—is that the Agoda app often has more options and better prices than Booking. However, we still recommend checking both platforms to compare and get the best deal.

We always choose private rooms with a bathroom, and in the Philippines, prices for this type of accommodation start at just $11 per night. In total, we spent $320 on accommodation during our two-week trip.

How Much Does Food Cost in the Philippines?

We always ate out since our accommodations didn’t have kitchen access. Prices vary a lot, but in general, you can have a good meal for as little as $6 per person (don’t miss out on the delicious tropical fruit juices!). However, we didn’t really like Filipino food, so most of the time, we opted for restaurants serving European cuisine, where prices were slightly higher. That being said, the Philippines is still a very affordable country, and we rarely paid more than $10-15 per person for a meal.

Massage Prices in the Philippines

You can’t visit the Philippines without enjoying an affordable massage! A one-hour massage costs just $9. Without a doubt, there’s nothing better than a relaxing massage after a long day of excursions and water activities.

Can You Pay by Card in the Philippines?

Card payments are rarely accepted in the Philippines. Even in places where you’d expect to use a card—like airports—they often only accept cash. That’s why it’s essential to carry cash for daily expenses and emergencies. ATMs charge around $3-4 per withdrawal, plus any fees your bank might apply.

If you want to avoid foreign transaction fees, we highly recommend checking out our article on Revolut, the travel-friendly card we use on all our trips. We also reviewed their Ultra Plan, which gave us great benefits during our last trip.

Internet in the Philippines

SIM cards in the Philippines are cheap, costing around 40 PHP (less than $1), and you can top them up from 100 PHPdepending on how much data you need. Don’t make the same mistake we did—buying a SIM card at the airport and paying tourist prices (XD). We overpaid, but we had no choice since we needed internet to reach our hotel.

Now, we would definitely choose an Airalo eSIM, which you can buy through the app, with plans starting at just $4.50. If you sign up using this link, you’ll get a 3 EUR discount!

Is It Expensive to Travel to the Philippines?

Shortly, traveling in the Philippines is not expensive if you manage your budget wisely. The country offers a wide range of food, transport, accommodation, and activities for all kinds of travelers.

Now that you have a clear idea of the costs, you can confidently plan your adventure without breaking the bank. Also, check out our guide on everything you need to know before visiting the Philippines!

We hope this information helps you plan your trip to the Philippines! 🌴✈️