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

Should you visit Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo 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: Lake Tekapo or Boracay?

Lake Tekapo

Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.

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 Tours for Seniors to New Zealand, The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand, The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines.


Which place is cheaper, Boracay or Lake Tekapo?

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 Lake Tekapo is $84, 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 Lake Tekapo and Boracay in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lake Tekapo $59
    Boracay $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lake Tekapo $118
    Boracay $46
Compare Hotels in Lake Tekapo and Boracay

Looking for a hotel in Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo


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.


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

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lake Tekapo -
    Boracay $28

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 Lake Tekapo or Boracay?

Prices for flights to both Boracay and Lake Tekapo 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
    Lake Tekapo $22
    Boracay $25

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lake Tekapo -
    Boracay $15

Tours and Activities in Lake Tekapo

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

  • Indoor Māori Cultural Astronomy Experience: $34
  • Dark Sky Indoor Maori Cultural Astronomy Experience: $36
  • Virtual Stargazing and Astronomy Experience: $52
  • Virtual Stargazing & Astronomy Experience in Lake Tekapo: $54
  • Alpine Stargazing Experience with a Guide: $57
  • Silver River Stargazing Experience in Lake Tekapo: $59
  • Mt. Hay Farm Experience Genuine Country Farming(Carbon Positive): $59
  • Stargazing Experience: $70
  • Chameleon Stargazing Shared Tour: $71
  • Stargazing Experience at Cowan's Observatory: $75
  • Stargazing Experience at Cowan's Private Observatory: $79
  • Lake Tekapo High Country Farm Tour (Carbon Positive): $86

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
    Lake Tekapo -
    Boracay $16


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lake Tekapo and Boracay, we can see that Lake Tekapo is more expensive. And not only is Boracay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lake Tekapo is in Pacific and Boracay 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 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 Lake Tekapo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo Expensive? and Is Boracay Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Lake Tekapo or Boracay?

Boracay has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Lake Tekapo 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.