"How much does a Siargao trip cost?" is the most common question we get from guests. The honest answer: it depends entirely on your travel style. You can backpack through Siargao on ₱700/day ($12 USD) or enjoy a comfortable vacation at ₱4,000-6,000/day ($72-108 USD). This guide breaks down every expense category so you can plan your budget accurately. Pro tip: Staying in Del Carmen instead of General Luna can save you 30-40% on your entire trip.
Quick Answer: Daily Budget Ranges
| Travel Style | Daily Budget | USD Equivalent | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra Budget | ₱700-1,200/day | $12-22 USD | Backpackers, long-term travelers |
| Mid-Range ⭐ | ₱2,000-3,500/day | $36-63 USD | Couples, small groups, most travelers |
| Comfortable | ₱4,000-6,000/day | $72-108 USD | Families, couples wanting comfort |
Daily Budget Breakdowns
Ultra Budget: ₱700-1,200/day ($12-22 USD)
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | ₱300-500 (dorm bed/fan room) |
| Food | ₱250-400 (carinderias, cook own meals) |
| Transport | ₱50-100 (shared tricycle, walk) |
| Activities | ₱100-200 (free beaches, mangrove) |
Best for: Backpackers, long-term travelers
Trade-offs: Basic accommodation, limited activities, simple meals
Mid-Range: ₱2,000-3,500/day ($36-63 USD) - Recommended
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | ₱1,200-2,000 (Mariden Double Room) |
| Food | ₱500-800 (mix local + tourist restaurants) |
| Transport | ₱200-400 (motorbike rental shared) |
| Activities | ₱300-500 (1 paid activity every other day) |
Best for: Couples, small groups, most travelers
What you get: Private room, pool access, good food variety, flexibility
Comfortable: ₱4,000-6,000/day ($72-108 USD)
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | ₱2,500-4,000 (A-Frame/Family Room) |
| Food | ₱1,000-1,500 (restaurants, some splurges) |
| Transport | ₱400-600 (private motorbike or habal-habal) |
| Activities | ₱500-1,000 (daily activities, tours) |
Best for: Families, couples wanting comfort
What you get: Space, privacy, no compromises, premium experiences
Accommodation Costs
Del Carmen (Lower Prices)
- Mariden Resort Double Room: ₱1,500-2,000/night ($27-36 USD)
- Mariden A-Frame: ₱2,500-3,000/night ($45-54 USD)
- Mariden Family Room: ₱3,500-4,500/night ($63-82 USD)
- Other Del Carmen options: ₱800-2,500/night
General Luna (Higher Prices)
- Dorm bed: ₱400-700/night
- Budget private room: ₱1,200-2,000/night
- Mid-range hotel: ₱2,500-4,000/night
- Boutique/luxury: ₱5,000-15,000/night
💡 Savings Tip: Stay in Del Carmen = 20-40% cheaper than General Luna for equivalent quality. Read our Del Carmen vs General Luna guide for detailed comparison.
Food Costs
Budget Eats
- Carinderia meal: ₱60-100 ($1-2 USD)
- Street food: ₱20-50
- Local bakery: ₱15-30
- Sari-sari store snacks: ₱10-50
Mid-Range
- Local restaurant: ₱150-250
- Tourist cafe breakfast: ₱200-350
- Pizza/pasta in GL: ₱250-400
- Seafood dinner: ₱300-500
Splurge
- Fine dining in GL: ₱500-1,000
- Resort restaurant: ₱400-800
- Cocktails: ₱150-300 each
💡 Tip: Eat where locals eat = authentic food + 50% cheaper. Ask resort staff for their favorite spots!
Activity Costs
Free Activities
- ☑️ Mangrove Boardwalk (Del Carmen): ₱0
- ☑️ Beach hopping: ₱0
- ☑️ Mariden Resort Pool (guests): ₱0
Budget Activities (Under ₱500)
- Alegria Beach entrance + parking: ₱40 (₱20 entrance + ₱20 motorbike parking)
- Magpupungko entrance: ₱50
- Taktak Falls entrance: ₱30-50
- Maasin River & Coconut Viewdeck: ₱50-100
- Pacifico Beach + Secret Beach: Free entry (fuel cost only)
- Cloud 9 Boardwalk entrance: ₱100
- Surf board rental: ₱300-500/session
- Motorbike rental: ₱400-500/day
Tours (₱1,000-3,500)
- Sugba Lagoon tour: ₱1,500-2,000
- Tri-Island Tour: ₱1,500-2,000
- Sohoton Cove tour: ₱2,800-3,100
- Surf lesson (1 hr): ₱500-800
- Island hopping private: ₱3,000-5,000
Transport Costs
From Airport
- To Del Carmen: ₱100-200 (tricycle) / FREE (Mariden pickup for direct bookings)
- To General Luna: ₱300-500 (van) / ₱150-200 (habal-habal)
Getting Around
- Tricycle (short distance): ₱20-50
- Tricycle (town to town): ₱100-200
- Habal-habal (per trip): ₱100-300
- Motorbike rental: ₱400-500/day
- Van rental (group): ₱2,500-4,000/day
💡 Savings Tip: Rent a motorbike for 3+ days and ask for a discount. Share costs with your travel buddy. See our Transportation Guide for more tips.
10 Money-Saving Tips
Accommodation
- Stay in Del Carmen (30-40% cheaper than GL) - Same attractions, less tourist markup
- Book direct with resort - Avoid OTA fees, often includes perks like airport pickup
- Travel off-peak (June-October) - Lower accommodation rates
- Stay longer for weekly discounts - Most resorts offer 10-20% off for 7+ nights
Food
- Eat at carinderias - ₱60-100/meal vs ₱200-300 at tourist spots
- Buy food supplies in Dapa (major savings!) - Dapa has the cheapest prices on the island. Stock up on water, snacks, and meals for your day trips. Bring containers to pack food - saves 30-50% compared to buying at tourist spots
- Buy from local markets - Fresh produce, fish at local prices
- Share meals - Portions are often big enough for two
- Drink local beer, not imported - San Miguel vs imported saves ₱50+/bottle
Activities & Transport
- Do free activities - Mangrove Boardwalk, beach hopping, sunset watching
- Share tour costs - Find other travelers to split boat tours like Sugba Lagoon (₱1,500-2,000 boat divided by 6 people = ₱250-330 each) or Sohoton Cove
The Biggest Savings: Staying in Del Carmen instead of General Luna can save you 30-40% on accommodation, food, and transport - without sacrificing any Siargao experiences!
Del Carmen vs General Luna: Cost Comparison
| Item | Del Carmen | General Luna |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range room | ₱1,500-2,000 | ₱2,500-4,000 |
| Local meal | ₱80-120 | ₱150-250 |
| Coffee | ₱50-80 | ₱120-180 |
| Tricycle ride | ₱30-50 | ₱50-100 |
| Motorbike rental | ₱400-450 | ₱450-600 |
| Daily average | ₱2,000-3,000 | ₱3,500-5,000 |
| Savings | 30-40% | - |
Save up to 40% on your entire trip by choosing Del Carmen as your base. That's ₱1,000-1,500 back in your pocket every single day.
View Del Carmen RatesSample Budgets by Trip Length
| Trip Length | Budget | Mid-Range | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Trip | ₱5,000-7,000 ($90-127 USD) | ₱8,000-12,000 ($145-218 USD) | ₱15,000-20,000 ($272-363 USD) |
| 5-Day Trip | ₱8,000-12,000 ($145-218 USD) | ₱15,000-22,000 ($272-400 USD) | ₱25,000-35,000 ($454-636 USD) |
| 7-Day Trip | ₱12,000-18,000 ($218-327 USD) | ₱22,000-32,000 ($400-582 USD) | ₱35,000-50,000 ($636-909 USD) |
All estimates include accommodation, food, activities, and local transport. Flights not included.
For day-by-day itineraries at each budget level with specific activity recommendations, see our Sample Itineraries guide. To understand the cost differences between staying in Del Carmen versus General Luna, check our location comparison guide.
Payment & ATM Tips
Cash is King
- Most places are cash-only
- ATMs available in GL (limited in Del Carmen)
- Bring enough cash for 3-4 days minimum
- ATM fees: ₱250 per withdrawal (international cards)
Where to Withdraw
- BDO - General Luna
- Landbank - Dapa
- Metrobank - Dapa
💡 Tip: Withdraw larger amounts (₱10,000-20,000) to minimize the ₱250 ATM fee. ATMs can run out of cash on busy weekends, so don't wait until you're broke!
📍 Maximize Your Budget at Mariden Resort
Located in Del Carmen (30-40% cheaper than GL), Mariden Resort offers exceptional value:
- Double rooms from ₱1,500/night — Best value in the area
- Free airport pickup — Save ₱200-500 vs taxi
- 5 minutes to Sugba Lagoon port — Save on transport
- Pool, WiFi, breakfast available — All-in-one convenience
- Local food recommendations — Eat well, spend less
Frequently Asked Questions
A week in Siargao costs ₱12,000-18,000 ($220-330 USD) for budget travelers, ₱22,000-32,000 ($400-580 USD) for mid-range, and ₱35,000-50,000 ($635-910 USD) for comfortable travel. This includes accommodation, food, activities, and transport.
Siargao is moderately priced compared to other Philippine destinations. General Luna (the tourist hub) has higher prices, but Del Carmen offers 30-40% savings on accommodation and food. Budget travelers can spend as little as ₱700/day ($12 USD).
Stay in Del Carmen instead of General Luna (30-40% cheaper), eat at local carinderias (₱60-100/meal), do free activities like Mangrove Boardwalk and beaches, rent a motorbike to share costs, and visit during off-peak season (June-November) for accommodation discounts.
Del Carmen is significantly cheaper. Mid-range rooms cost ₱1,500-2,000/night vs ₱2,500-4,000 in GL. Local meals are ₱80-120 vs ₱150-250 in GL. Overall, expect 30-40% savings by staying in Del Carmen. See our comparison guide for details.
Sugba Lagoon tours cost ₱1,500-2,000/person. Tri-Island (island hopping) tours are ₱1,500-2,000/person. Sohoton Cove tours run ₱2,800-3,100/person. Surf lessons cost ₱500-800/hour. Many free or low-cost attractions are available like Magpupungko (₱50 entrance) and Taktak Falls (₱30-50).
Cash is king in Siargao. Most local restaurants, shops, and tour operators only accept cash. ATMs are available in General Luna and Dapa, but have ₱250 fees per withdrawal for international cards. Bring enough cash for 3-4 days minimum and withdraw larger amounts to minimize fees.
Related Guides
Plan Your Trip:
- Sample Itineraries - Day-by-day trip plans with budgets
- Del Carmen vs General Luna - Choose your base
- Best Time to Visit - Weather and seasonal planning
- Transportation Guide - Getting around the island
- Siargao Airport Guide - Arrivals and transfers
Free & Budget Activities:
- Mangrove Boardwalk - Free nature walk
- Alegria Beach - ₱40 (₱20 entrance + ₱20 parking)
- Magpupungko Rock Pools - ₱50 entrance
- Taktak Falls - ₱30-50 entrance