Cost of Living in Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa runs on tricycles -- motorized three-wheelers that serve as the city's primary mode of transport. The regulated minimum fare is PHP 15 ($0.27) per person for short hops, with longer rides across the city costing PHP 25-50 ($0.45-0.89). A tricycle from the airport to the city center is a fixed PHP 50 ($0.89) per person. The city uses a color-coding system: blue tricycles operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; white tricycles on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; and all tricycles run on Sundays. You can download the PPC TODA app (the official Puerto Princesa tricycle drivers' federation app) to book rides, see exact fare calculations, and pay cashlessly -- a surprisingly modern touch for a provincial city. For shared public transport, multicabs (small minibuses) and jeepneys run along fixed routes, primarily up and down the national highway and through the city center, for PHP 10-15 ($0.18-0.27) per ride. A jeepney from the airport to town costs just PHP 10, and the multicab to San Jose New Market runs PHP 12.

Internet in Puerto Princesa has improved significantly in recent years, but it remains a step behind Manila, Cebu, or Davao -- an important consideration for nomads who rely on stable video calls and large file transfers. The two main fiber providers are PLDT (the most widely available, generally considered the most reliable) and Converge, which expanded to Palawan in 2023 with 14,000 new ports. A PLDT or Converge fiber plan runs PHP 1,500-1,999/month ($27-36) for 25-50 Mbps, with higher-tier plans reaching 100 Mbps for PHP 2,500-3,000 ($45-54). Occasional outages happen three to four times per year, usually lasting a few hours -- not catastrophic but enough to warrant a backup plan. Globe fiber is also available in select areas. Starlink satellite internet has arrived in some accommodations (like Hills Nature Resort) at around PHP 2,700/month ($48), offering 40-100 Mbps with low latency -- an excellent backup or primary option if you are located outside the fiber coverage footprint. The city government has also deployed free public WiFi through its FreeWifi4All program, with a revamped DICT coworking center powered by Starlink that opened to the public in August 2025.

Ospital ng Palawan (ONP) is the main government hospital, located on a 1.6-hectare compound at 220 Malvar Street in the city center. It is a Level 2 hospital offering clinical laboratory services, radiology, ultrasonography, dental care, maternal and child services, orthopedics, and both major and minor surgeries. Notably, ONP houses a hyperbaric chamber -- critical for treating decompression sickness from diving, which is relevant given Palawan's popularity with scuba divers. For non-emergency care, the Palawan Cooperative Hospital (formerly MMG Hospital) on Malvar Street in Barangay Mandaragat operates a polyclinic with outpatient clinics, laboratory, and radiology services at more affordable cooperative rates. A new Puerto Princesa City Health Complex in Barangay Sta. Monica was targeted for completion in August 2025, adding further capacity. Several private clinics and diagnostic centers operate along Rizal Avenue and Malvar Street, handling routine consultations (PHP 300-500/$5.36-8.93), blood tests (PHP 500-1,500/$8.93-26.79), and dental cleanings (PHP 500-1,000/$8.93-17.86). Pharmacy chains including Mercury Drug, Generika Drugstore, Rose Pharmacy, and Watsons are present in the city, with generic medications available at significantly lower prices than branded alternatives.

Most passport holders enter the Philippines visa-free for 30 days, extendable at the Puerto Princesa Immigration Field Office (located in the city center). The first extension adds 29 days (to 59 total), after which you can extend in one-month, two-month, or six-month increments. Puerto Princesa's immigration office processes a maximum two-month extension per visit, unlike Manila or Cebu where six-month extensions are available in one go -- plan your extension timing accordingly. Extension fees escalate: the first 29-day extension costs about PHP 3,030 ($54), while subsequent months add PHP 1,000-2,000 ($18-36) each. After your initial 30 days, you will also need to obtain an ACR I-Card (Alien Certificate of Registration, PHP 3,000/$54) and pay the Express Lane Fee. Alternatively, the new Philippine Digital Nomad Visa (launched mid-2025) grants 12 months renewable to 24 months, requires $24,000 annual income proof, and eliminates the extension treadmill entirely -- applicants are not considered Philippine tax residents, so no local income tax applies.