A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hangzhou vs. Boracay for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hangzhou or Boracay?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Hangzhou and Boracay. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Hangzhou or Boracay?

Hangzhou

Hangzhou is a city in Eastern China, about an hour by train from Shanghai, renowned for its historic relics and natural beauty. Each year it attracts more than 20 million tourists who come to see what the city has to offer. Set amongst the natural scenery of lakes and mountains, Hangzhou is modern city that coexists with the old. Historic pagodas and cultural sites built around the central lake sit like they belong amidst the skyscrapers and bustling markets of today.

Boracay

A small island in the Philippines known for its resorts and beaches, Boracay is a little escape. Each beach has its own unique character, each with new treasures waiting to be discovered.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines.


Which place is cheaper, Boracay or Hangzhou?

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 Hangzhou is $80, while the average daily cost in Boracay is $66. 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 Hangzhou and Boracay in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hangzhou $24
    Boracay $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hangzhou $48
    Boracay $46
Compare Hotels in Hangzhou and Boracay

Looking for a hotel in Hangzhou or Boracay? 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 Hangzhou


Hotels in Boracay


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hangzhou $8.24
    Boracay $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hangzhou

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hangzhou:


  • Local Bus for Two
    $0.56

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hangzhou

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hangzhou:

  • Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
  • 2-Day Putuo Mountain Self-Guided Tour from Hangzhou by Private Transfer: $282
  • Enduring Memories of Hangzhou West Lake Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer: $128
  • Hangzhou Downtown transfer to Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport: $35
  • Hangzhou Private Transfer to Shanghai with Drop-off Options : $131
  • Hangzhou Private Transfer to Shanghai with stop-over at Wuzhen Water Town: $167
  • Hangzhou Private Transfer: City Hotels to Railway Station: $28
  • Hangzhou Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
  • Hangzhou West Lake Impression Ticket with Private Transfer: $122
  • Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport TransferTo Shanghai Pudong Airport: $140
  • Hangzhou Xiaoshan Int'l Airport Private Departure Transfer from City Area : $29
  • Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport Private Transfer to QianDao Lake : $131

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boracay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boracay:

  • Airport Transfer to Boracay or vice versa: $29
  • Boracay Adventures Transfer Services Via Caticlan: $35
  • Boracay to Caticlan Airport (MPH) - Departure Private Transfer: $26
  • Boracay to Caticlan Airport (MPH) - Departure Private Transfer: $26
  • Private Transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay: $43
  • Shared Transfer from/to MPH for Domestic Passports: $21
  • Two-way Shared Transfer from/to Airport to Hotel: $34
  • Caticlan Airport (MPH) to Boracay - Arrival Private Transfer : $24
  • Caticlan Airport (MPH) to Boracay - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $53
  • Caticlan Airport (MPH) to Boracay - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $53
  • Caticlan: 1-Way or Roundtrip Airport Transfer to Boracay: $27
  • Caticlan: Shared Airport Transfer From/To Boracay: $23

Is it cheaper to fly into Hangzhou or Boracay?

Prices for flights to both Boracay and Hangzhou 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
    Hangzhou $31
    Boracay $25
Typical Food Prices in Hangzhou

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hangzhou:


  • Breakfast Pastries
    $2.38
  • Pizza Hut Lunch
    $11

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hangzhou

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hangzhou.

  • All Inclusive Night Tour with Impression West Lake Show VIP Ticket and Dinner: $117
  • Hangzhou One Day Local Food Tour: $124
  • Private Amazing Hangzhou Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner Option : $170
  • Xitang Water Town Private Night Tour from Hangzhou with Dinner: $203

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hangzhou $20
    Boracay $15

Tours and Activities in Hangzhou

Here are a few actual costs in Hangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Fei Lai Peak (Lingyin Temple) E-Ticket: $12
  • Hangzhou Ghost Market Adventure: Antique Hunt & Bargain Tour: $40
  • A Local Breakfast Experience and TCM visit: $46
  • Hangzhou Bites: Local Guided Market Tour: $49
  • The Key to Zhejiang Culture – Guided Museum Tour: $53
  • Authentic Hangzhou Longjing Tea Culture Experience Tour : $53
  • Best Price: Impression West Lake Show Ticket: $59
  • Skip the Line: Impression West Lake Show Ticket: $65
  • Zhejiang University Guided Campus Tour: $65
  • Zuiyi Hangzhou Impression West Lake Show Ticket: $75
  • Skip the Line Impression West Lake VIP Seat Ticket: $75
  • Jiaxing Wuzhen East and West Day Tour from Hangzhou: $80

Tours and Activities in Boracay

Here are a few actual costs in Boracay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Crystal Kayak Photo-op Experience: $6.27
  • Boracay - Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience: $8.95
  • Banana Boat Adventure: $10
  • Boracay Private Land Tour: $13
  • Flying Donut Water Tubing Experience: $14
  • All-Terrain Vehicle or Buggy Car Experience: $15
  • Boracay UFO Adventure: $16
  • Sunset Cruise with Water Activities: $16
  • Boracay Sunset Cruise: $16
  • Boracay Island Rhythm Sunset Cruise: $17
  • Bandwagon Ride Experience: $17
  • Sunset Cruise Boat Party by Haqqy Life: $18

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hangzhou $10
    Boracay $16


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hangzhou and Boracay, we can see that Hangzhou is more expensive. And not only is Boracay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Boracay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boracay 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 Hangzhou would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hangzhou than you might in Boracay.

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


Which is Bigger, Hangzhou or Boracay?

Hangzhou has a larger population, and is about 820 times larger than the population of Boracay. When comparing the sizes of Hangzhou and Boracay, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.