Are you planning to discover the beautiful islands of the Philippines? Then it’s useful to get a good picture of what you’ll approximately spend during your trip. In this article you’ll read everything about the costs you can expect for transportation, accommodations, tours, food and drinks. We also share an average daily budget that fits different types of travelers, from budget backpackers to travelers who travel a bit more luxuriously. This way you’ll know exactly what to expect beforehand and can travel to the Philippines with a realistic budget!

Good to know: For convenience, we’ve converted all prices in this article to dollars.

Transportation costs in the Philippines

Because the Philippines consists of many islands, you often cover considerable distances by ferry or plane during your trip. This makes transportation a bigger expense than in most other countries in Southeast Asia. It’s best to book domestic flights well in advance, as you can sometimes score a ticket for around $44 to $66. If you wait until the last moment, prices can rise significantly to over $132. Popular routes, such as flights to and from Siargao, are especially sensitive to price increases and can be quite expensive. For crossings between islands, you’ll spend an average of a few dozen dollars on ferries, depending on the distance.

Transportation on the islands is often very cheap. In larger cities and towns, buses and jeepneys run where you can travel for a few dollars. In smaller villages, you’re more likely to hop in a tricycle or tuktuk. The price depends on how well you negotiate and how many people you share the ride with, but on average an hour-long ride costs between $6 and $8. Would you rather explore on your own? Renting a scooter is the most common option. Renting a scooter costs an average of about $7 per day.

Food and drink costs in the Philippines

You have complete control over food and drink costs. Especially at local markets and on the beach, you can often score something warm from the barbecue for little money. You can also eat very cheaply at local restaurants. These are called carinderia’s and here you can fill your plate with rice, vegetables, fish or meat for about $3 to $6. In restaurants aimed at travelers, prices are higher. Breakfast costs an average of $4 to $8 and for a main course you usually pay between $7 and $14. A cappuccino costs around $2 and for a local beer on a terrace or in a bar you’ll spend about $2.

Costs for activities, tours and entrance fees

Whether you want to snorkel among colorful reefs, surf tropical waves or discover hidden waterfalls, it’s all possible in the Philippines, but you often have to pay for it. For certain waterfalls and beaches you have to pay a small environmental fee. This costs between $0 and $3, and is used for maintaining the location. For a day of island hopping from Port Barton you pay an average of $33 per person, including lunch. Want to learn to surf in the Philippines? A surf lesson costs an average of $11 per hour. One of the most special tours you can do in the Philippines is the expedition between Coron and El Nido. This four-day tour costs about $627, including three meals per day and all drinks. A bike tour in Manila costs $30 per person.

Hotel and hostel costs in the Philippines

The level of accommodation costs in the Philippines naturally depends heavily on your travel style. Do you like to stay in luxury or do you want to spend the night as cheaply as possible? The period when you travel to the Philippines also affects costs. In high season you often pay more for the same room than in low season.

Are you a backpacker and do you choose to sleep in dorm rooms of nice hostels? Then you should count on $13 to $22 per night. A private room in a hostel costs an average of $22 to $50 per night. For a nice double room in a small-scale boutique hotel you should count on prices between $44 and $66. Looking for more luxury? Then prices are around $55 to $88 per night for a double room. To get an idea of accommodation prices you can check our hostel and hotel tips for the Philippines.

Average daily budget in the Philippines

It’s naturally difficult to say what the average costs are for traveling in the Philippines. You have complete control over this and it depends on your travel style. If you’re a low-budget traveler sleeping in dorms and eating at local restaurants, you can travel with a daily budget starting from $55 per person. Do you sleep in hostels in private rooms and like to dine at trendy restaurants? Then count on an average daily budget of $77. Do you stay in more luxurious hotels and do many activities? Then count on about $88 to $110 per day. Here we don’t include the costs for the flight to the Philippines but we do include domestic flights.

Tips for withdrawing money in the Philippines

The Philippine peso (PHP) is the official currency in the Philippines. You pay with cash in most places. Especially in smaller places you often can’t pay with a credit card, so make sure you always have enough cash with you. Almost everywhere in the Philippines you can withdraw money with your standard bank card. Make sure your card is set for worldwide use and keep in mind that your bank and the ATM charge a fixed commission. Therefore it’s smarter to withdraw a larger amount at once. The BPI bank is the best choice for this. Here you can withdraw up to 20,000 pesos at a time. You’ll find these ATMs mainly in larger cities. On smaller islands or at other banks, the limit is usually around 10,000 pesos per transaction.