Budget in Perhentian Islands
Part of the Perhentian Islands travel guide — see every topic in All Perhentian Islands Guides.
The Perhentians are inexpensive by any standard: a fan hut on the beach is sixty ringgit, a snorkel trip forty, a two-tank dive under two hundred and fifty, and there is very little to buy. The complications are that boat transfers and water taxis add up faster than expected, food is more expensive than on the mainland because everything arrives by boat, and there is effectively no working ATM — so your budget is whatever you carried across.
Accommodation and food
Fan huts on Long Beach 60–120 ringgit; air-conditioned chalets 150–350; Besar resorts 150–900. Food is where the island premium shows: a simple meal is 15–30 ringgit, a resort restaurant main 30–60, and a beer 15–25 where it is available at all — note that Terengganu is a conservative state and alcohol is not universally sold, though the islands' tourist establishments generally do. Everything is shipped in, which is the reason for the prices.
Getting there and around
The return speedboat from Kuala Besut is 70–100 ringgit, plus the marine park conservation fee collected at the jetty. Kota Bharu airport to the jetty is 60–100 by taxi. On the islands, water taxis are 15–40 ringgit per person per hop and roughly double after dark, which adds up fast if you are staying on Besar and eating on Kecil. Walking between beaches where a path exists is free and saves a genuine amount over a week.
Activities
A half or full-day snorkel boat trip is 40–80 ringgit including gear. A two-tank dive is 180–260 including equipment. An open-water certification course is 1,000–1,400 over three or four days, which is among the cheapest anywhere in the world. Kayak and paddleboard hire is 30–60 for a few hours. That is close to the entire list; there is nothing else to spend money on, which is why the islands work well for a low budget.
The cash problem
There is no ATM you can rely on. What exists is scarce, frequently broken and frequently empty, and card acceptance is patchy and usually carries a surcharge of several per cent. Work out what you will spend, add a dive course or an extra night's contingency, and bring it in cash from Kota Bharu or Kuala Besut. Running out on an island with no ATM and a scheduled boat is a genuinely awkward position that a predictable number of people find themselves in every season.
Budget at a glance
| Backpacker day | RM 100–170 |
|---|---|
| Comfortable day | RM 300–600 |
| Fan hut | RM 60–120 |
| Return boat | RM 70–100 plus the marine park fee |
| Open water course | RM 1,000–1,400 — among the world's cheapest |
| Critical | No reliable ATM — bring all your cash |