# How much does a trip to the Philippines cost?

> Philippines trip cost for 12 days: about $360 to $600 on a budget and $720 to $1,200 mid-range, plus flights, with El Nido tours, ferries, vans and fees priced.

- Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-much-does-a-trip-to-the-philippines-cost
- Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries)
- Published: 2026-09-25

**A 12-day trip to the Philippines costs roughly $360 to $600 per person on the ground on a budget and $720 to $1,200 mid-range, plus the flight.** That is about $30 to $50 a day budget and $60 to $100 mid-range, the same bands as our [daily travel budget by country](https://clevertourists.com/resources/daily-travel-budget-by-country). Food and local transport are cheap; the islands are not, because boat tours, domestic flights and environmental fees are charged per day or per trip. We spent 29 days in the Philippines from 8 November to 7 December 2022: Manila, Sabang, Port Barton, El Nido, Coron, Oslob, Moalboal and Cebu City, so the route below follows ground we covered. The country uses the peso (about 64 PHP to the dollar in late October 2026). The figures are typical 2026 prices from operators and travel-cost sources, not what we spent.

## Philippines trip cost at a glance (12 days, per person)

The totals assume 12 days on the ground, per person, with two people splitting a room at mid-range. Daily bands are the same as our [daily travel budget by country](https://clevertourists.com/resources/daily-travel-budget-by-country): $30 to $50 budget and $60 to $100 mid-range.

• **Budget: about $360 to $600 on the ground**, split roughly as accommodation $130 to $210; food and drink $110 to $180; getting around $50 to $90; sights and activities $40 to $70; extras (SIM, tips, fees) $30 to $50. Dorm beds or fan rooms, local eateries, vans and buses, with one or two group boat tours.

• **Mid-range: about $720 to $1,200 on the ground**, split roughly as accommodation $320 to $540; food and drink $180 to $300; getting around $90 to $140; sights and activities $90 to $140; extras (SIM, tips, fees) $40 to $70. Air-conditioned rooms or resort stays, restaurant dinners, a domestic flight and several island-hopping days.

• **With a return flight from the US** ($720 to $1,085 in our fare snapshot): budget about $1,100 to $1,700, mid-range about $1,450 to $2,300.

The category split is our own approximation of how a daily band divides, not a measured spend. Manila dorm beds averaged about $10 to $15 a night in the one cost guide behind our calculator. Domestic flights between islands sit on top of the daily band if your route needs them.

## Flights: the line that decides the trip

Our site's fare snapshot, taken from travellers' searches around 30 October 2026, shows Philippines round trips averaging about $840 from the US (middle half $720 to $1,085), $873 from the UK, $887 from Australia (middle half $548 to $1,540), $1,012 from Canada and $855 from New Zealand. Regional fares are far lower: about $296 from Japan, $322 from South Korea and $303 from Singapore. The snapshot leans low, so use it as a floor.

If you are already in Asia, the Philippines is a short, cheap hop; from the West the long-haul fare often outweighs the daily costs. Timing matters, and our [best time to visit the Philippines](https://clevertourists.com/resources/best-time-to-visit-philippines) and [El Nido and Coron dry season guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/el-nido-coron-dry-season-best-time-palawan-guide) show when the weather and prices line up. See [how far in advance to book international flights](https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-far-in-advance-to-book-international-flights). From Manila airport into town, see the [Manila airport guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/manila-airport-to-city-guide). Visitors also complete eTravel registration: see the [eTravel guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/philippines-etravel-registration-how-to-fill-out-guide).

## Accommodation: island rooms cost more than city rooms

Manila and Cebu City are cheap; El Nido and Coron cost more for the same standard, and rooms fill in the dry season. Our [where to stay in El Nido](https://clevertourists.com/resources/where-to-stay-in-el-nido) compares areas, and [Coron vs El Nido](https://clevertourists.com/resources/coron-vs-el-nido) compares cost and style. Quieter spots such as Port Barton, Sabang and Moalboal cost less than El Nido town.

## Transport: vans, ferries and short flights

Shared vans are the budget default. Puerto Princesa to El Nido takes about 5 to 6 hours for roughly ₱650 to ₱900 (≈ $10.2–14.1) in 2026, with fuel surcharges possible; see the [Puerto Princesa to El Nido guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/puerto-princesa-to-el-nido-van-bus-guide). El Nido to Coron by ferry costs roughly ₱2,200 to ₱2,800 (≈ $35–44) one way (about $35 to $45), against a flight that is considerably dearer; see [El Nido to Coron: ferry vs flight](https://clevertourists.com/resources/el-nido-to-coron-ferry-vs-flight-palawan-island-guide).

In Cebu, the Ceres bus from Cebu South Bus Terminal to Oslob takes about 4 hours for roughly ₱269 (≈ $4.2) non-aircon to ₱330 (≈ $5.2) aircon; see the [Cebu City to Oslob and Moalboal guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/cebu-city-to-oslob-moalboal-bus-transfer-guide).

## Island hopping, fees and extras

Tours are the large daily cost. Joiner tours for El Nido Tour A were selling for roughly ₱1,200 to ₱1,500 (≈ $18.8–24) per person in 2026, Tour B ₱1,300 to ₱1,600 (≈ $20–25), Tour C ₱1,400 to ₱1,800 (≈ $22–28) and Tour D ₱1,200 to ₱1,500 (≈ $18.8–24). Add the Eco-Tourism Development Fee of ₱400 (≈ $6.3) per person, paid once per stay, the ₱200 (≈ $3.1) lagoon fee and optional kayak rentals; see the [El Nido tour guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/el-nido-tour-a-b-c-d-which-island-hopping-tour-best). Private outrigger boats for two were quoted around ₱13,000 to ₱14,000 (≈ $204–220). Over four tour days, tours and fees alone come to roughly $95 to $115 per person.

Food stays cheap: carinderia meals and local grills are a few dollars; see [what to buy at a grocery store in the Philippines](https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-to-buy-at-a-grocery-store-in-the-philippines) and [tipping in the Philippines](https://clevertourists.com/resources/tipping-in-the-philippines-restaurants-guide). Drinking water can add a line to the budget; see [can you drink tap water in the Philippines](https://clevertourists.com/resources/can-you-drink-tap-water-in-the-philippines).

Check [is the Philippines safe to visit](https://clevertourists.com/resources/is-the-philippines-safe-to-visit) and [tourist scams in the Philippines](https://clevertourists.com/resources/tourist-scams-in-the-philippines), the [visa guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/do-i-need-a-visa-to-visit-the-philippines), and price [travel insurance](https://clevertourists.com/resources/travel-insurance-for-international-trips) for boat-heavy trips.

## How to bring the total down

• **Join group tours, not private boats.** Joiner seats cost a fraction of a charter.

• **Take the ferry or van** between towns instead of flying.

• **Space out the paid days.** Mix a tour day with a free beach day; our own route spent 6 nights in El Nido, 4 in Coron and 7 in Moalboal.

• **Pick the right season.** Peak season costs more. See [what to pack for Palawan](https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-to-pack-for-the-philippines-palawan-island-hopping).

• **Plan the route first.** See our [2-week Palawan itinerary](https://clevertourists.com/resources/philippines-itinerary-2-weeks-palawan) and [our 4-week route from Palawan to Cebu](https://clevertourists.com/resources/philippines-itinerary-our-4-week-route-palawan-to-cebu), and [things to know before visiting the Philippines](https://clevertourists.com/resources/things-to-know-before-visiting-the-philippines).

To price your own dates, group size and style, try the [Philippines trip cost calculator](https://clevertourists.com/tools/trip-cost-calculator/philippines).

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does a week in the Philippines cost?

A week on the ground is roughly $210 to $350 budget at $30 to $50 a day or $420 to $700 mid-range at $60 to $100, before the flight and any domestic flights.

### Is the Philippines cheap?

Food and local transport are cheap, but island-hopping tours, domestic flights and environmental fees make resort islands cost more than the mainland.

### How much is an El Nido island-hopping tour?

Joiner Tours A to D sold for roughly ₱1,200 to ₱1,800 (≈ $18.8–28) per person in 2026, plus a ₱400 (≈ $6.3) eco-tourism fee paid once and a ₱200 (≈ $3.1) lagoon fee.

### How much is the ferry from El Nido to Coron?

Roughly ₱2,200 to ₱2,800 (≈ $35–44) one way, about $35 to $45.

### What currency does the Philippines use?

The Philippine peso, about 64 PHP to the US dollar in late October 2026.