Philippines Travel Guide

How much spending money for the Philippines?

The Philippines is outstanding value — street food in Cebu for almost nothing, island-hopping tours in El Nido at accessible prices, and world-class diving in Coron that costs a fraction of comparable sites elsewhere. Here's what to realistically expect day to day.

All prices are in USD. Accommodation and transport between islands are handled as part of your custom trip with us — the costs below cover food, drinks, activities, shopping, and tips.

The Big Picture

Great value — with one thing to plan for.

The Philippines offers some of the best value in Southeast Asia, particularly for food and activities. A full island-hopping tour in El Nido — four hours on the water, visiting three lagoons and two beaches — costs $15–20 per person. A kilo of fresh grilled seafood from a beachside restaurant in Coron runs $8–15. Street food in Cebu is extraordinary at $1–3 a dish.

The costs below focus on what you spend day-to-day once you're on each island — food, drinks, activities, and tips. Everything else is taken care of when we plan your Philippines itinerary.

Island hopping is remarkably affordable

A full-day island hopping tour in El Nido or Coron — including boat, guide, snorkelling gear, and lunch — runs $15–25 per person at the budget level. Private tours cost $80–160 for the boat. Either way, extraordinary value for what you get.

Seafood is a highlight and a bargain

Fresh grilled fish, prawns, squid, and crab at beachside restaurants throughout Palawan and the Visayas are both exceptional and inexpensive. A full seafood dinner for two — enough to leave you genuinely full — runs $15–30 at a mid-range restaurant.

Diving is world-class and reasonably priced

A two-tank dive in Coron — including equipment — runs $60–90. Given that you're diving Japanese WWII wrecks in gin-clear water, this is genuinely remarkable value. Learn-to-dive courses (PADI Open Water) run $300–400 for the full certification.

Carry cash on the smaller islands

Siargao, Coron, and El Nido have limited ATM access and vendors are mostly cash-only. Withdraw enough Philippine pesos before you leave Cebu or Puerto Princesa to cover your planned spending on each island — street food, tours, and local transport are all cash.

Daily Spending by Style

What does a day in the Philippines actually cost?

Realistic daily spending per person — covering food, drinks, activities, tips, and incidentals. Accommodation and all transport between islands are handled as part of your trip with us.

Budget

Local Style

$35–55

per person / day

Street food and local carinderias for every meal, shared island-hopping tours, local tricycle transport, and cheap San Miguel. The Philippines at this level is completely rewarding — the food is genuinely good and the island tours are the same ones everyone takes.

Street food / carinderia meals (3x)$5–10

San Miguel beer / soft drinks$2–5

Shared island-hopping tour$15–20

Tricycle / jeepney transport$2–5

Tips & incidentals$3–8

Mid-Range

Comfortable

$70–120

per person / day

Good restaurants and fresh seafood, shared or semi-private tours, cocktails at a beach bar, a dive or two, and private van or boat transfers where it matters. This is where most of our clients land and the sweet spot for a Philippines trip.

Café breakfast + street food lunch$8–15

Seafood restaurant dinner (pp)$15–30

Cocktails / craft beer$10–20

Activity (dive, tour, surf)$20–60

Transport / tips$8–18

Higher End

Indulgent

$150–280+

per person / day

Private boat charters, fine dining and premium seafood, premium dive operators, and the flexibility to do whatever looks good that day. The Philippines is outstanding value even at this level — a private bangka charter in El Nido costs a fraction of the equivalent in Thailand or Greece.

Fine dining / premium seafood (pp)$40–80

Premium cocktail bars$20–40

Private bangka charter$80–180

Premium dive operator (2 tanks)$80–120

Shopping, tips & incidentals$25–50

Spending by Category

What things actually cost in the Philippines.

Real prices across the most common spending categories. Prices vary between islands — Boracay and popular El Nido restaurants run higher than Siargao or Coron town. These reflect a blend across a typical itinerary.

Prices are estimates based on typical costs at time of writing and may vary by season, location, and operator.

Food & Drink

BudgetMidHigh

Street food / carinderia meal$1–3$1–3$1–3

Local restaurant lunch$3–6$6–12$12–20

Seafood dinner (pp)$6–12$15–30$40–80

San Miguel beer$1–2$2–4$4–7

Cocktail$3–5$5–10$10–18

Fresh buko (young coconut)$0.50–1$1–2$2–4

Café coffee$1.50–3$3–5$5–8

Kilo of grilled seafood$6–10$10–18$20–40

Street food / carinderia meal

Budget$1–3

Mid$1–3

High$1–3

Local restaurant lunch

Budget$3–6

Mid$6–12

High$12–20

Seafood dinner (pp)

Budget$6–12

Mid$15–30

High$40–80

San Miguel beer

Budget$1–2

Mid$2–4

High$4–7

Cocktail

Budget$3–5

Mid$5–10

High$10–18

Kilo of grilled seafood

Budget$6–10

Mid$10–18

High$20–40

Activities & Experiences

BudgetMidHigh

Island hopping tour (shared)$15–20$20–35$80–180

Private bangka charter (half-day)$50–80$80–140$140–220

Scuba dive, 2 tanks + gear$50–65$65–90$90–130

Snorkelling gear rental (day)$3–6$6–10$10–18

Surf lesson (Siargao)$15–25$25–45$50–90

Underground River (Puerto Princesa)$20–30$30–50$50–80

Canyoneering, Kawasan Falls$20–30$30–45$45–70

Kayak rental (per hour)$3–6$6–12$12–20

Island hopping (shared)

Budget$15–20

Mid$20–35

High$80–180

Private bangka (half-day)

Budget$50–80

Mid$80–140

High$140–220

Scuba dive, 2 tanks + gear

Budget$50–65

Mid$65–90

High$90–130

Surf lesson (Siargao)

Budget$15–25

Mid$25–45

High$50–90

Underground River

Budget$20–30

Mid$30–50

High$50–80

Canyoneering, Kawasan Falls

Budget$20–30

Mid$30–45

High$45–70

Local Transport

BudgetMidHigh

Tricycle (short ride)$0.50–1.50$1.50–3$3–6

Habal-habal motorbike (Siargao)$2–5$5–10$10–20

Motorbike rental (per day)$8–12$12–20$20–35

Jeepney / local bus$0.30–1$0.30–1$0.30–1

Tuk-tuk / e-trike$1–3$2–5$5–10

Tricycle (short ride)

Budget$0.50–1.50

Mid$1.50–3

High$3–6

Habal-habal motorbike

Budget$2–5

Mid$5–10

High$10–20

Motorbike rental (per day)

Budget$8–12

Mid$12–20

High$20–35

Jeepney / local bus

Budget$0.30–1

Mid$0.30–1

High$0.30–1

Good to Know

ItemNote

Tipping at restaurantsNot expected — rounding up or leaving 10% is appreciated at sit-down restaurants

Tipping guides / boatmen$3–8 per person for day tours is standard and genuinely appreciated

Local currencyPhilippine peso (PHP) — cash essential on smaller islands; ATMs limited outside Cebu, Boracay, and Puerto Princesa

Environmental feesMost islands charge entry and environmental fees of $1–5 per person — budget for these across the trip

Cash on smaller islandsCash is essential on smaller islands — street food, tours, and local transport are all cash-only

Tipping at restaurants

Not expected — rounding up or 10% at sit-down restaurants is appreciated

Tipping guides / boatmen

$3–8 per person for day tours is standard and appreciated

Local currency

Philippine peso (PHP) — cash essential on smaller islands; ATMs limited outside main hubs

Environmental fees

Most islands charge entry and environmental fees of $1–5 per person

Cash on smaller islands

Cash is essential on smaller islands — street food, tours, and local transport are all cash-only

From Our Experience

How to make your money go further.

Eat the seafood — everywhere

The Philippines has some of the best and most affordable fresh seafood in Southeast Asia. Choose your fish, prawn, or squid from the display, have it grilled with garlic or in a coconut curry, and eat it on a plastic table by the water for $8–15 total. It's one of the great simple pleasures of a Philippines trip and a fraction of what the equivalent would cost at home.

Carry cash on the smaller islands

Philippine pesos are essential throughout the trip — street food vendors, tour boatmen, market stalls, and most local restaurants are cash only. Card acceptance is improving in the cities but on the islands it remains limited. We make sure you know exactly what to expect at each stop so you're never caught short.

Shared tours are excellent — private is transformative

Shared island-hopping tours in El Nido and Coron are excellent value and perfectly enjoyable — you visit the same lagoons as everyone else, on a bangka with 10–15 other travellers. If budget allows, upgrading to a private boat for even one day changes the experience completely: the same lagoons at your own pace, arriving before the crowds, staying as long as you like.

Prices vary a lot between islands

Boracay's White Beach is the most expensive stop on a typical Philippines itinerary — restaurants and bars on the main strip run noticeably higher than anywhere else. Siargao is relaxed and affordable. Coron is cheaper than El Nido. Cebu city sits in the middle. We give you a clear picture of what to expect at each stop when we design your trip, so there are no surprises mid-journey.

Factor in environmental and island entry fees

Almost every island and lagoon in the Philippines charges a small environmental fee — typically $1–5 per person per visit. They add up across a 14-day itinerary. Budget roughly $30–50 per person for the trip to cover entrance fees, reef taxes, and national park charges without any surprises.

Ask us before you go

Spending varies considerably between Cebu, Siargao, Boracay, and Palawan. Boracay's White Beach runs higher than most islands. Coron is cheaper than El Nido. When we design your trip we'll give you a clear picture of what to expect at each stop — so you arrive with the right amount and spend it on what matters.

How much spending money for the Philippines?

Great value — with one thing to plan for.

Island hopping is remarkably affordable

Seafood is a highlight and a bargain

Diving is world-class and reasonably priced

Carry cash on the smaller islands

What does a day in the Philippines actually cost?

Local Style

Comfortable

Indulgent

What things actually cost in the Philippines.

How to make your money go further.

Eat the seafood — everywhere

Carry cash on the smaller islands

Shared tours are excellent — private is transformative

Prices vary a lot between islands

Factor in environmental and island entry fees

Ask us before you go

Let's build your Philippines trip.