"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 ($67-100 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 | $12-20 USD | Backpackers, long-term travelers |
| Mid-Range ⭐ | ₱2,000-3,500/day | $33-58 USD | Couples, small groups, most travelers |
| Comfortable | ₱4,000-6,000/day | $67-100 USD | Families, couples wanting comfort |
Daily Budget Breakdowns
Ultra Budget: ₱700-1,200/day ($12-20 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 ($33-58 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 ($67-100 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)
- Cozy Double Room: ₱1,500-2,000/night ($25-33 USD)
- Twin A-Frame Room: ₱2,500-3,000/night ($42-50 USD)
- Snug Family Room: ₱3,500-4,500/night ($58-75 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: In more local carinderias, expect to spend around ₱80–150 per meal in 2025–2026, depending on how many dishes you order.
- 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 fee: ₱20 per person. Parking (motorbike): around ₱20. (Total ~₱40 per person with a bike).
- Magpupungko entrance: ₱60-100 per person. Visit Magpupungko only during low tide, because the rock pools disappear at high tide. Check the tide schedule in advance, or ask locals, so you don't arrive when the pools are covered.
- Taktak Falls entrance: Entrance fee is usually around ₱30 per person; prices can change slightly over time.
- Coconut View Deck: Free (roadside viewpoint; you just pull over and take photos).
- Maasin River: Entrance fee: around ₱20–50 per person. There are extra fees for activities like the boat cruise or swing, which are usually paid per boat or per jump.
- Pacifico Beach: Free to access. Secret Beach near Malinao (Guiwan Beach): Has an entrance fee around ₱20 per person. Note that these are two different beaches in different parts of the island, not a single combined attraction.
- Cloud 9 Boardwalk: Entrance fee: ₱100 per person (day pass).
- Surf board rental: Around ₱350-500 per day.
- Motorbike rental: ₱350-500/day
Tours (₱1,000-3,500)
- Sugba Lagoon: Joiner tour: around ₱1,500–1,900 per person (usually includes boat, guide, and basic fees). If you go DIY from Del Carmen, boat rental to Sugba Lagoon is usually ₱1,600–2,150 per boat (up to about 6 people), plus a small entrance/environmental fee of around ₱50–100 per person. Splitting the boat with a group can significantly reduce the per-person cost.
- Tri-Island Tour: Joiner tri-island hopping tours typically start around ₱1,500 per person, with some premium or private options going up to around ₱2,000 or more.
- Sohoton Cove: Expect to pay roughly ₱2,500–3,100 per person on a joiner tour to Sohoton Cove, depending on the operator, season, and inclusions.
- Surf lesson (1 hr): ₱500-800. Private lessons usually range from ₱500–900 per hour, including board rental and instructor.
- Island hopping private: ₱3,000-5,000
Transport Costs
From Airport
- To Del Carmen: Tricycle from the airport to Del Carmen town proper is usually around ₱50–100, since it's only a short 5–10 minute ride. FREE (Mariden pickup for direct bookings).
- To General Luna: Shared van: around ₱300 per person (most common option). Habal-habal: ₱150-200. A shared van is the most common and comfortable option. Habal-habal is cheaper but less comfortable, especially with luggage.
Getting Around
- Tricycle (short distance): ₱20-50
- Tricycle (town to town): ₱100-200
- Habal-habal (per trip): ₱100-300
- Motorbike rental: ₱350-500/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. Note: This guide is written from the perspective of staying in Del Carmen (where Mariden Resort is located), so it naturally highlights the advantages of that part of the island. Most of the island’s restaurants, nightlife, and surf schools are in General Luna, which is about 30 km (roughly 45–60 minutes by motorbike) from Del Carmen.
- Book direct with resort - Avoid OTA fees, often includes perks like airport pickup
- Travel off-peak (June-November) - Many people consider June–November to be the off-peak or rainy season in Siargao, with fewer tourists and lower prices. However, Siargao’s weather is quite unpredictable, and heavy rain and storms are more likely from October onwards. Siargao doesn’t have a true dry season, and you can expect some rain year-round.
- Stay longer for weekly discounts - Most resorts offer 10-20% off for 7+ nights
Food
- Eat at carinderias - In more local carinderias, expect to spend around ₱80–150 per meal in 2025–2026 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 (₱1,600-2,150 boat divided by 6 people = ₱265-360 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 ($83-117 USD) | ₱8,000-12,000 ($133-200 USD) | ₱15,000-20,000 ($250-333 USD) |
| 5-Day Trip | ₱8,000-12,000 ($133-200 USD) | ₱15,000-22,000 ($250-367 USD) | ₱25,000-35,000 ($417-583 USD) |
| 7-Day Trip | ₱12,000-18,000 ($200-300 USD) | ₱22,000-32,000 ($367-533 USD) | ₱35,000-50,000 ($583-833 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
- International card ATM fees are roughly ₱250 per withdrawal.
Where to Withdraw
- BDO - General Luna (branch/ATMs on or near Tourism Road)
- Cantilan Bank - General Luna, Del Carmen, and Dapa
- PNB (Philippine National Bank) - Dapa
- Euronet ATMs - multiple in General Luna. Note: Euronet ATMs are easy to find but usually charge higher fees than local bank ATMs, and travelers have reported occasional issues, so use them mainly as a backup.
💡 Tip: Withdraw larger amounts (₱10,000-20,000) to minimize the ₱250 ATM fee. Many places are still cash-only, and ATMs sometimes run out of money on weekends. Bring enough cash for several days, and consider setting up GCash or Maya for QR payments at cafes and shops that support them.
📍 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 ($200-300 USD) for budget travelers, ₱22,000-32,000 ($367-533 USD) for mid-range, and ₱35,000-50,000 ($583-833 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 (₱80-150/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 ₱80-150 vs ₱150-250 in GL. Overall, expect 30-40% savings by staying in Del Carmen. See our comparison guide for details.
Sugba Lagoon joiner tours typically cost ₱1,500-1,900/person. Tri-Island (island hopping) joiner tours start around ₱1,500/person. Sohoton Cove tours run roughly ₱2,500-3,100/person. Surf lessons cost ₱500-800/hour. Many free or low-cost attractions are available like Magpupungko (₱60-100 entrance) and Taktak Falls (around ₱30).
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 - ₱60-100 entrance
- Taktak Falls - ₱30-50 entrance