How much does a trip to the Philippines cost?

Quick answer

• Biggest costs: domestic flights, boat tours and where you stay, more than food or local transport.
• Island fees: El Nido charges an eco-tourism fee and Boracay an environmental and a terminal fee. Keep the receipts.
• Travel tax: foreign tourists who stay less than a year don't pay it.
• Save money: travel in June or late October and November, book flights early and join shared tours.
• Carry cash: most small fees are paid in pesos on the spot.

The short answer

A trip to the Philippines can be very affordable or properly luxurious, and the difference comes down to a few big choices: how many islands you visit, how you move between them, and where you stay. Food, jeepneys and tricycles are cheap. Domestic flights, private boat tours and beachfront resorts in peak season are where budgets stretch.

We don’t quote hotel and tour prices here, because they move with the season and change every year. Instead, here is what drives your costs and the official fees to plan for.

What drives the cost

• Domestic flights. Each island change usually means a flight, and fares jump around Holy Week, Christmas and the January festivals. Book early.
• Boat tours. Island hopping in El Nido, Coron, Bohol or Siargao is the highlight of many trips. Shared group tours cost far less than private boats.
• Where you stay. Beach resorts on popular islands cost more than city hotels, and peak-season rates can be much higher than in the rainy season.
• How fast you travel. Fewer islands with more nights in each saves on flights and transfers, and on tiredness.

Island and environmental fees

Several popular destinations charge small fees to fund conservation and tourism services. They are paid in cash, so keep pesos and the receipts.

• El Nido, Palawan: every visitor pays an Eco-Tourism Development Fee, valid for ten days. It was raised to ₱400 per person in June 2024. Tour operators ask to see the receipt.
• Boracay, Aklan: boat passengers from the Caticlan jetty port pay a terminal fee and an environmental fee, on top of the boat fare. Recent reports put them at ₱150 and ₱300 for foreign tourists, with a lower environmental fee for Filipinos.
• Parks and protected areas such as the Puerto Princesa Underground River charge their own entrance fees, often bundled into tour prices.

Fees change by local ordinance, so check with your hotel or the local tourism office before you go.

The travel tax

The Philippine travel tax is collected by TIEZA from people leaving the country, but foreign tourists who stay less than a year don’t pay it. It applies to Filipino citizens, permanent residents and foreigners who have stayed a year or more. If you are a foreign visitor and the tax appears on your ticket, ask your airline about a refund.

Ways to save

• Travel in the shoulder months, such as June or late October and November, outside the Undas holidays, accepting some rain.
• Book domestic flights early and travel light; cabin-bag-only fares are cheapest.
• Join shared tours instead of hiring private boats.
• Eat where locals eat, at carinderias and markets.
• Use Grab or public transport in cities instead of hotel cars.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Philippines expensive to visit?

It can be cheap or luxurious. Food and local transport are inexpensive, but moving between islands by plane and boat, private tours and beach resorts in peak season push costs up. Fewer islands, more nights in each, is the easiest way to save.

How much is the El Nido environmental fee?

El Nido charges an Eco-Tourism Development Fee to every visitor. It rose to ₱400 per person in June 2024 and is valid for ten days. Keep the receipt, because tour operators ask for it.

What fees do I pay to go to Boracay?

Boat passengers pay a terminal fee at the Caticlan jetty port and an environmental fee, which is higher for foreign tourists than for Filipinos, on top of the boat fare. Recent reports put them at ₱150 and ₱300 for foreign visitors.

Do tourists pay the Philippine travel tax?

No. Foreign visitors who stay in the Philippines for less than a year are exempt. The tax applies to Filipino citizens, permanent residents and foreigners who have stayed for a year or more.

When is the cheapest time to visit?

The rainy season, roughly June to November, outside the Undas holidays at the start of November. Prices for flights and resorts drop, but build in spare days for weather.