This seems to be a very popular question so I will be addressing it through this post. Relative to other places of interest in the Philippines, Sagada is affordable. Accommodation is reasonably priced and the guided tours are of standard price. As with any budget, one must break it down to its components to be able to see the parts where additional savings or allowances could be made.
Transportation
This is the biggest chunk of the expense list. If you’re planning to go to Sagada from Manila via Baguio City, you have to pencil in 390 pesos (~10 USD) for the Baguio-Manila trip and 220 pesos (~5.50 USD) for the Baguio-Sagada ride. You also have to keep in mind that the buses make stops at certain locations that may force you to by higher-than-usual priced items. To save money, try packing light snacks like sandwiches. Once you reach Baguio you will have to take a cab from the Victory Liner station to the Lizardo Bus Station at Dangwa. This would cost about 40 pesos (~1 USD).
The roundtrip bus tickets including the cab fare would be about 1300 php (~23 USD). This is pretty much the number you’ll get regardless of your choice of route. The fare total via Bontoc or Banaue would approach or sometimes even exceed the amount.
Accommodation
Luckily, hotel rooms in Sagada continue to be relatively cheap. The town continues to embrace its reputation as a backpacker’s retreat. A night at Mary Daoas’ Residential Lodge would cost a mere 200 to 250 pesos (~4-5 USD) per person. This includes use of the lodge’s kitchen - a facility that could definitely help you save money if you’re willing to cook your own food.
The other hotels, inns and guest houses charge right around the same amount. To budget your accommodations, peg the number at 200 pesos per person per night.
Food
There are plenty of restaurants in Sagada. You may choose to eat in the better known restaurants and shell out close to 200 pesos per meal (~ 5 USD) or eat at a cafeteria environment for half the price. If you really want to save, there are stores in town that sell canned goods at their actual shelf price elsewhere.
If you want to dine in style, set aside about 500 pesos per head per day. With that amount, you’re assured to be eating the best that Sagada could offer three times a day. If you could make do with canned corned beef and tuna, maybe a daily budget of 150 pesos per person per day is more than enough.
Tours
Tours have already been discussed extensively in the tour page. There’s already a matrix for the guide fees. The trick here is know the magic number for each tour activity. For example, it will be in your best interest to do sightseeing tours by six since that is the upper limit for a single-tour-guide group. If you push it to seven, you’ll have to hire an extra tour guide.
For the simple caving, the magic number is four. For your own safety, it’s really much better to have multiple guides if you have more than four/five people in your group. The lamp may be bright but the person following the fourth or fifth person will have many shadows in front of him creating an eclipsed walkway of sorts. We all want to save money but hopefully, no one will compromise safety.
For the Big Falls, the magic number is 10. Utilize your time in your hotel and favorite restaurant to look for other travelers who will be willing to split the costs with you.
The Sightseeing package would cost 400 for a group of 6, the caving - 400 for a group of 4 and the big falls 600 for group of 10. People who go to the Big Falls almost always hire a van for 550 to cut the hike time by half. You can also choose to go for the cave connection - that would cost 400/head regardless of how many you are in the group.
To experience all these in a group of four, set aside about 1000 per person.
Souvenirs
Printed Shirts sell for 150-180 while the hand painted ones sell for about twice as much.
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If you’re going to spend four days in Sagada, eat out every day in the best restaurants, by a couple of trinkets as souvenirs and try to do all the touring that you could get, expect to spend close to 4000 pesos (~100 USD)
If that sounds too much, try cooking your own food and that total expenditure could drop to as low as 3000 pesos (~75 USD) depending on how much you’re willing to give up.
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awesome site. thanks for these tips, man. Ideas, ideas. At least I (we) know now a bit of what to expect. Like putting a foot at the door. Regards.
Comment by Allan — July 22, 2008 @ 1:17 pm
Nice site.Wish i could visit the place soon.
thanks!
Comment by joan — July 31, 2008 @ 6:23 pm
hi…is there any other way to get to Sagada other than Baguio? The travel time is too long for me…any suggestion?
thanks!
Comment by Emily — August 4, 2008 @ 11:52 am
The travel time to Sagada is almost the same for all possible routes, be it via Banawe or Bontoc.
Comment by Angel — August 5, 2008 @ 1:10 am
hi there! me and my husband are planning to go to Sagada, its there any chances that we can put in any other group regarding the tours with guide , because its just the two of us. The photo gallery was amazing.
Comment by Kelly — August 22, 2008 @ 4:27 pm
hi. this is to kelly.. we are also planning to go to sagada by this november. you 2 could join us. I dont know how many of our friends would join us, but only 4 of us would be sure to go.. if you may want join us, please feel free to mail me at jc_celerio@yahoo.com
Comment by joy — September 5, 2008 @ 12:57 am
hello! for joy..how much will be your estimated budget for sagada trip this november?will you have a guide when you go there?
Comment by jhen — September 10, 2008 @ 2:52 am
Chong wala nang babait pa kay tita mary.. guys visit tita mary’s residential lodge the best talaga. well the only fall or tuen off eh yung server sa yogurt house grabe ang sungit at talagang wala syang kagalang galang. Masfere is the best talaga ang sarap ng food try nyo yungbreakfast the best talaga. Lemon pie worth eating din ang bait ng mga tao… I love sagada we went through a treck and it was very beautiful. Thanks sa tips nyp nakatulong talaga. God bless Sagada….
Comment by Ian — September 13, 2008 @ 9:05 pm
well sagada is a place to stay we enjoyed our time and really its a place to go in the Philippines. I have been to some other places in the country and yes even Boracay and as far as iam concern I love sagada much better than any tourist spots in our country. Please never forget to visit Sagada sa lahat ng gustong magtrek or enjoy the refreshing place of sagada always log on to this site. God bless sagada. Masarap ang Yoghurt ang sungit ng serbidora sa Yoghurt house….. Thanks Visit sagada .com….. Bless you all and thank you for all the tips.
Comment by Ian — September 15, 2008 @ 8:50 pm
hi. how strenuous are the trips to the falls and caves? Are the tours arrangement done with the Residential Lodge?how many hours is the trip from Banaue to Baguio? Any recommendation on place to stay in Baguio?
Thanks for this wonderful site. God Bless
Comment by rick — September 22, 2008 @ 2:14 am
i am very interested to visit this place when i’ll go back to phils. I am being influenced by the author of a certain pocketbook that I read where the main setting is in Sagada
Comment by lyn — September 23, 2008 @ 10:24 pm
Thank you so much for your tips it has help us a lot. we sursagada except for the server in Yogurt House ang sungit… Guys it is worth an experience indeed….
Comment by Ian — September 24, 2008 @ 7:22 pm
hi,im from davao.im planning to go to sagada alone to celebrate my birthday this coming april,actually its my first time to go there,and i want to experience all the important events and go to all tourist spot.can u give me some tips?thanks in advance..GOD BLESS..:)
Comment by pau2 — October 29, 2008 @ 9:50 pm
Hi, anyone planning to go on January? It’s just gonna be me and my boyfriend.
Comment by Ann — November 18, 2008 @ 6:34 pm
I want to go alone this December. I am so excited!! How safe is it for a lone traveler?
Comment by yayie — November 23, 2008 @ 4:07 am
We’ve visted Sagada last July and it was awesome! The people are great and our hosts we’re so friendly and accomodating. This site really helped us plan, budget and enjoy our trip! More power and thanks again!
Comment by Heiz — December 5, 2008 @ 9:07 am