Daily costs per person in US dollars. Bohol is one of the Philippines' most affordable destinations — these ranges cover the spectrum from backpacker to comfortable resort stay.
Daily cost breakdown
Currency: PHP (Philippine Peso) (Cash preferred outside resorts)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $8–20 | $25–60 | $80+ | Fan rooms → A/C guesthouses → beach resorts |
| Food | $5–12 | $12–25 | $35+ | Carinderias → local restaurants → resort dining |
| Transport | $5–10 | $10–25 | $40+ | Motorbike rental → tricycle → private car hire |
| Activities | $5–15 | $15–40 | $60+ | Snorkelling → group diving → private boat trips |
| Entry Fees | $2–8 | $8–15 | $15–30 | Chocolate Hills, tarsier sanctuary, caves |
| Daily Total | $25–65 | $70–165 | $230+ | Budget backpacker → comfortable mid → resort luxury |
Money-saving tips
Stay on Panglao, not Alona Beach
Accommodation a 5-minute motorbike ride from Alona Beach is 40-60% cheaper than beachfront rooms. Fan rooms and local guesthouses start from 500 PHP per night.
Hire a motorbike
Renting a scooter for 350-500 PHP per day gives you total freedom to explore Bohol's countryside, hills, and coast at your own pace — far cheaper than hiring a driver or joining group tours.
Eat at local carinderias
Filipino carinderias (local eateries) serve rice, grilled meat, and vegetable dishes for 60-120 PHP. Skip the tourist restaurants on Alona Beach and eat where the locals do.
Combine Chocolate Hills & tarsiers
Book a countryside tour that covers both highlights in one trip rather than paying separate entrance fees and transport on different days. DIY by motorbike is the cheapest option.
Snorkel instead of dive
Balicasag Island snorkelling trips cost 800-1,200 PHP compared to 2,500-3,500 PHP for diving. The reef wall is visible from the surface and you can still see turtles and fish schools.
Travel by ferry from Cebu
Fast ferries from Cebu City to Tagbilaran run 2-4 times daily and cost 500-800 PHP for 2 hours — much cheaper than flying and the views of the Visayan islands are spectacular.
