Daily costs per person in Philippine Pesos. Siargao is one of the Philippines' best-value island destinations — cheap eats, affordable surf lessons, and hostels make it very backpacker-friendly.
Daily cost breakdown
Currency: PHP (Peso) (1 USD ≈ ₱56)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | ₱400–700 | ₱1,500–3,000 | ₱6,000+ | Dorm bed → AC bungalow → beachfront villa |
| Food | ₱250–500 | ₱600–1,200 | ₱2,500+ | Carinderia & market → restaurants → resort dining |
| Transport | ₱200–500 | ₱500–800 | ₱1,500+ | Motorbike rental → tricycles → private driver |
| Activities | ₱300–800 | ₱1,500–2,500 | ₱5,000+ | Board rental/free surf → lessons/tours → dive packages |
| Drinks | ₱80–200 | ₱300–600 | ₱1,000+ | San Miguel/market beer → bar cocktails → resort drinks |
| Daily Total | ₱1,230–2,700 | ₱4,400–8,100 | ₱16,000+ | $22–48 → $79–145 → $286+ |
Money-saving tips
Surf on budget
Multi-day surf packages (3–5 days) bring the per-day lesson cost down to ₱1,000–1,500. Board-only rental is ₱300–500/day. Bring or buy reef booties — they save painful reef cuts.
Carinderia meals
Skip the tourist restaurants for daily meals — carinderias near the public market serve Filipino dishes for ₱60–120 per plate. Tapsilog breakfast sets are ₱80–100 and fuel a full morning of surfing.
Motorbike everything
Rent a motorbike (₱500/day) instead of taking tricycles (₱200–500 per trip). Over a week the savings are massive and you get complete freedom to explore hidden spots.
Hostel dorms
Dorm beds in GL from ₱400–700/night at places like Mad Monkey, Greenhouse, and Island Life. They also organize group activities, shared meals, and boat-sharing — built-in travel companions.
Share boats
Private bangka boats (₱3,000–5,000/day) split among 4–6 people cost about the same as group tours but with complete flexibility on timing and destinations.
Cook & shop local
Some hostels have kitchens. The GL market sells fresh fruit, vegetables, and fish cheaply. A market-bought dinner costs ₱50–100 vs ₱200–400 at restaurants.
