Siquijor on a Budget: Complete Money-Saving Guide

Siquijor Budget Reality

Good news: Siquijor is one of the most affordable destinations in the Philippines. Unlike Boracay or Palawan, prices haven’t inflated dramatically, and genuine budget travel is still possible.

Daily Budget Ranges:

Level	Per Day	Experience
Shoestring	₱800-1,200	Dorms, local food, careful spending
Budget	₱1,200-2,000	Private room, mix of local/tourist
Comfortable	₱2,000-3,500	Nice resort, restaurants, activities

Budget Breakdown: 3 Days on ₱3,500 Total

Yes, it’s possible. Here’s how:

Accommodation (₱1,200 total)

Budget guesthouse: ₱400/night × 3 = ₱1,200
Or: Hostel dorm ₱300/night × 3 = ₱900

Transportation (₱1,100)

Ferry roundtrip (slow): ₱300
Scooter 3 days: ₱800

Food (₱900)

₱100/meal average × 9 meals = ₱900
Mix of local carinderias and simple restaurants

Attractions (₱200)

Cambugahay Falls: ₱30
Balete Tree: ₱20
Salagdoong Beach: ₱40
Other sites: ₱60
Buffer: ₱50

Miscellaneous (₱100)

Water, snacks, small expenses

Total: ₱3,500 for 3 days = ₱1,167/day

Money-Saving Strategies

Accommodation

Choose Wisely:

Siquijor Town has cheapest options (₱400-600)
San Juan costs more but has beach access
Book direct for better rates
Ask for multi-night discounts

Free/Cheap Hacks:

Fan rooms save ₱200-500 vs AC
Cold water showers are fine in tropics
Breakfast-included places add value
Facebook groups have local listings

Transportation

Scooter Economics: The math clearly favors scooter rental:

Option	3-Day Cost
Scooter rental	₱1,200 + ₱200 gas = ₱1,400
Tricycle tour (1 day) + hops	₱2,000+

More Savings:

Slow ferry saves ₱100-200 over fast ferry
Rent from local shops, not resorts
Share scooter costs with travel partner
Walk within towns

Food & Drink

Eat Local:

Where	Meal Cost
Carinderia (local eatery)	₱50-80
Local restaurant	₱100-150
Tourist restaurant	₱200-400
Resort restaurant	₱300-500+

Specific Savings:

Carinderias serve filling meals for ₱50-80
Markets have fresh fruit (₱20-50)
Bakeries have fresh pandesal (₱5 each)
Buy water in big bottles (₱25-40)
Skip alcohol or buy from stores (₱40-60/beer)

Where to Find Cheap Eats:

Near markets in any town
Near churches (locals eat nearby)
Away from beach areas
Ask locals “saan murang kainan?” (where’s cheap food?)

Attractions

Free Activities:

Beach walking and swimming
Sunset watching at Paliton
Church visits
Town exploration
Morning markets

Cheap Activities:

Cambugahay Falls: ₱30
Balete Tree: ₱20
Salagdoong: ₱40
Butterfly Sanctuary: ₱30

Skip or Modify:

Cantabon Cave: ₱350-500 (save for splurge day)
Diving: ₱2,000+ per dive (budget-buster)
Resort day passes: Usually not worth it

Sample Budget Itineraries

Ultra-Budget 3 Days (₱3,000)

Day 1:

Slow ferry from Dumaguete (₱150)
Check into budget guesthouse (₱400)
Rent scooter (₱400)
Local lunch (₱60)
Balete Tree (₱20)
Lazi Church (free)
Carinderia dinner (₱60) Day total: ₱1,090

Day 2:

Cambugahay Falls (₱30)
Pack lunch from bakery (₱30)
Salagdoong Beach (₱40)
Local dinner (₱70)
Accommodation (₱400) Day total: ₱570

Day 3:

San Juan beaches (free)
Paliton sunset (free)
Local meals (₱120)
Ferry home (₱150)
Gas total (₱150) Day total: ₱820

3-Day Total: ₱2,880

Comfortable Budget 3 Days (₱5,000)

Daily Breakdown:

Accommodation: ₱800/night = ₱2,400
Scooter: ₱450/day = ₱1,350
Food: ₱300/day = ₱900
Attractions: ₱200
Ferry: ₱350 roundtrip
Miscellaneous: ₱300

What’s Different:

Private room with AC
Mix of local and tourist restaurants
All major attractions
More comfort, same experiences

Free & Cheap Activities

Completely Free

Paliton Beach sunset - Best free activity on island
San Juan beach walking - Pretty coastline
Church visits - Beautiful and cultural
Town exploration - Markets, plazas, local life
Sunrise anywhere - Early risers rewarded

Under ₱50

Cambugahay Falls (₱30) - Don’t miss
Balete Tree (₱20) - Quick stop
Guiwanon Marine Park (₱30) - Mangroves
Butterfly Sanctuary (₱30) - Pleasant detour
Fresh buko (coconut) (₱30-40) - Refreshing

Under ₱100

Salagdoong Beach (₱40) - Cliff jumping included
Tubod Marine Sanctuary (₱50) - Snorkeling
Capilay Spring (free-₱20) - Local swimming spot

Where NOT to Spend

Budget Busters to Avoid:

Item	Cost	Alternative
Resort restaurants	₱300-500/meal	Carinderias (₱60)
Cocktails at beach bars	₱150-250	Store beer (₱50)
Package tours	₱1,500-2,500	DIY with scooter
Tourist souvenir shops	Marked up	Local markets
Bottled water (small)	₱20-25	Big bottles (₱35)
Fast ferry	₱250-350	Slow ferry (₱150)

Money Matters

Cash is King

Siquijor runs on cash. Plan accordingly.

ATMs:

Siquijor Town: BDO, Landbank (most reliable)
San Juan: Limited/unreliable
Other areas: None

Critical Tips:

Withdraw enough before arriving
ATMs can run out on weekends
Bring backup cash
₱5,000-8,000 for 3-day budget trip
Small bills (₱20, ₱50, ₱100) useful

Credit Cards

Accepted at:

Larger resorts
Some restaurants
Few other places

Not accepted at:

Local eateries
Tricycles
Markets
Most attractions
Small businesses

Money Saving Summary

Do:

Use slow ferry (saves ₱100-200)
Eat at carinderias (saves ₱100-200/day)
Rent scooter vs tours (saves ₱500+/day)
Book direct (saves 10-20%)
Buy big water bottles
Skip resort restaurants

Don’t:

Exchange money on island (bad rates)
Rely on ATMs being available
Book tourist packages
Eat every meal at restaurants
Buy overpriced tourist souvenirs

Budget Accommodation Tips

Finding the Best Deals

Walk around on arrival - Siquijor Town has unlisted guesthouses
Ask locals - “May murang tuluyan ba?” (Any cheap places to stay?)
Check Facebook - “Siquijor Backpackers” groups
Negotiate - Multi-night stays get discounts
Off-peak visit - Rainy season = 20-40% cheaper

What to Expect for ₱400-600

Simple but clean room
Fan (no AC) or basic AC
Cold water shower
Private or shared bathroom
Usually no breakfast
Basic WiFi (maybe)

What to Expect for ₱800-1,200

Private room with AC
Hot water
Breakfast often included
Better location
Decent WiFi

Food on a Budget

Where to Eat Cheap

Carinderias (₱50-80):

Point at what looks good
Rice + 2 dishes = full meal
Near markets and churches
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner

Bakeries (₱20-50):

Fresh pandesal (bread rolls)
Filipino pastries
Empanadas
Good for breakfast

Markets (₱30-80):

Fresh fruit
Cooked food stalls
Barbecue on sticks (₱10-20 each)
Early morning best

Local Restaurants (₱80-150):

Filipino food at fair prices
Larger portions than carinderias
Better atmosphere
Still affordable

Budget Food Day

Breakfast: Pandesal + coffee (₱30-40) Lunch: Carinderia meal (₱60-80) Snack: Fruit from market (₱20-30) Dinner: Local restaurant (₱100-120) Total: ₱210-270

Compare to tourist restaurant day: ₱600-800+

Best Time for Budget Travel

Low Season (June-November)

Savings:

20-40% off accommodation
Fewer tourists = more negotiating power
Same attractions, less crowded

Trade-offs:

Afternoon rain common
Some rough seas
Slightly less ideal conditions

Shoulder Season (June, November-December)

Best balance of weather and prices.

High Season (February-May, Holy Week)

Most expensive. Book ahead if visiting then.

Final Budget Tips

Timing matters - Rainy season saves money
Scooter is essential - Best investment for budget travel
Local food is delicious - Not just cheap, actually good
Cash planning critical - Don’t get stuck without
Simple pleasures free - Sunsets, beaches, exploring cost nothing
Skip the package - DIY is cheaper AND better
Bargain respectfully - Fair prices, not exploitative ones
Value over price - Cheapest isn’t always best

The Bottom Line

Siquijor is genuinely budget-friendly. You can experience everything the island offers—waterfalls, beaches, heritage sites, local culture—without financial stress.

The island rewards budget travelers. Eating at local carinderias connects you to daily life. Renting a scooter gives you freedom. Staying in simple guesthouses introduces you to friendly owners.

Budget travel in Siquijor isn’t about sacrifice—it’s about authenticity.

Plan your trip with our Complete 3-Day Itinerary or check Where to Stay for accommodation options at every budget level.