A trip within the Philippines costs about ₱1,300 to ₱2,400 per person per day on a backpacker budget and ₱3,200 to ₱5,900 mid-range, not counting the trip there. Getting there adds about ₱2,200 to ₱6,800 per person each way by plane, or much less by bus and ferry on short island hops. Pagadian, Dumaguete and Siquijor are the cheapest destinations, while Boracay and El Nido cost the most. Use the calculator below to compare routes from your starting city.
Estimate your trip cost
Choose where you’re starting from and where you’re going. The calculator compares plane, bus and ferry, van and taxi options, then adds your hotel, local transport, food and tours.
Your route
Estimates based on typical 2026 fares and prices, with two travelers per hotel room. Fares and rates rise during Holy Week, Christmas and long weekends, so check live prices before booking. Klook links are affiliate links; we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Backpacker, mid-range or luxury: what you get
Backpacker estimates assume hostel dorms or basic inns, carinderia meals and jeepneys or tricycles. Mid-range covers air-conditioned hotels, sit-down restaurants and joined tours. Luxury means beachfront resorts, private transfers and private boat tours. You can mix them, for example a backpacker food budget with a 3-star hotel.
How to lower your trip cost
Compare the route options before booking. A bus and ferry trip is often a fraction of the airfare for short island hops like Cebu to Bohol or Dumaguete to Siquijor, while long routes like Manila to Mindanao are usually cheaper and much faster by plane once you count meals and lost days. Travel with a group to split boats, vans and rooms, and avoid Holy Week, Christmas and long weekends.
Trip budget questions
How much does a 3-day trip to Cebu cost?
Not counting transport to Cebu, a 3-day, 2-night Cebu City trip costs about ₱5,050 per person on a backpacker budget, ₱12,600 mid-range and ₱38,400 luxury, based on two travelers sharing a room. A round-trip flight from Manila adds about ₱5,400 per person.
What is the cheapest way to travel between islands in the Philippines?
Ferries and buses are usually cheapest for short hops like Cebu to Bohol, Dumaguete to Siquijor or Cagayan de Oro to Camiguin. For long routes such as Manila to Cebu or Manila to Davao, a flight often costs about the same as bus and ferry and saves a full day or more of travel.
What is the cheapest island destination in the Philippines?
Among popular destinations, Pagadian, Dumaguete, Siquijor and Moalboal are the most affordable, with lower room rates and cheap local food. Boracay, El Nido and Coron are the most expensive because of resort pricing, boat-based tours and higher airfares.
Which cities can I start my trip from?
You can start from more than 40 cities and destinations, including Metro Manila, Clark, Baguio, Cebu City, Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga and Pagadian. The calculator compares plane, bus and ferry, private van and taxi routes, including connecting flights through Manila or Cebu.
How accurate are these estimates?
They are planning estimates based on typical 2026 fares, hotel rates, local transport, food and tour prices. Use them to set a budget range, then check live prices before booking, especially around Holy Week, Christmas and long weekends.
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