A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Eilat vs. Palawan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Eilat or Palawan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Eilat or Palawan? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Eilat or Palawan?

Eilat

Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.

Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.

Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.

Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Palawan

Palawan is an archipelagic province of the Philippines, named for its largest island which measures about 450 kilometers (or 280 miles) long. The island is known as an ecological frontier with plenty of beaches and resorts as well as opportunities to see a diverse array of wildlife and their habitats on land and sea.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best 2-Week Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines.


Which place is cheaper, Palawan or Eilat?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $187, while the average daily cost in Palawan is $43. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Eilat and Palawan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Eilat $105
    Palawan $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Eilat $210
    Palawan $26
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Palawan

Looking for a hotel in Eilat or Palawan? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Eilat


Hotels in Palawan


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Eilat Hotel Prices and Palawan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Eilat $15
    Palawan $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:


  • Local Bus
    $4.20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat

Also for Eilat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer From Ramon airport Eilat to Eilat Hotels or Arava Border : $70

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Palawan

Also for Palawan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Shared Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Transfer: $10
  • PrivateTransfer from Puerto Princesa Port to Puerto Princesa city: $60
  • Private for your group - transfers Puerto princesa to elnido : $100
  • Private Van Transfers: Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Vice Versa: $48
  • Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $170
  • Private Transfers Puerto Princesa To Elnido: $260
  • Private Transfer from Puerto Princesa to El Nido: $203
  • Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $170
  • Private Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Transfer: $79
  • El Nido Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $44
  • El Nido Tour C with Lunch and Transfers: $44
  • El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179

Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Palawan?

Prices for flights to both Palawan and Eilat change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Eilat $69
    Palawan $19

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Eilat $18
    Palawan $5.21

Tours and Activities in Eilat

For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 1 Day Tour to Petra From Eilat: $245
  • 2 day tour to Petra from Eilat: $299
  • Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219
  • Eilat Mountains: Sunset Jeep Adventure to Mount Joash: $63
  • Morning Jeep Tour of Eilat Mountains: $63
  • Summer Night Guided Tour with Picnic in the Mountains: $63
  • From Red Canyon Guided Tour: $78
  • From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $78
  • Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
  • Glass Bottom Boat Cruise in Eilat: $22
  • Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $55
  • Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $215

Tours and Activities in Palawan

For Palawan, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • El Nido Full Day Tour C with Buffet Lunch : $45
  • 2in1 City tour and museum with pick up at hotel or cruise port: $25
  • 3D2N El Nido Experience: $250
  • 5D4N Puerto Princesa & El Nido Experience: $299
  • All-Inclusive El Nido Island Hopping Private Tour: $153
  • Balabac Tour Semi-Private 4D3N (price varies by group size): $590
  • City Tour of Puerto Princesa sightseeing excursion: $35
  • City tour of Puerto Princesa Palawan Philippines : $20
  • Coron Calauit Safari Tour E: $146
  • Coron Culion Island Escapade Private Tour: $132
  • Coron Island Escapade Group Tour with Island Lunch: $48
  • Coron Island Escapade Tour (Shared Tour): $50

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Eilat $30
    Palawan $7.44


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Palawan, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Palawan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Palawan is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Palawan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Palawan and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat than you might in Palawan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eilat Expensive? and Is Palawan Expensive?.