Which place is cheaper, Cebu or Ao Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Ao Nang or Cebu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Cebu? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Ao Nang or Cebu?
Ao Nang
If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.
Cebu
Cebu Island is an important island in the Visayas region of the Philippines, characterized by its main port at Cebu City as well as many natural features. The most-visited areas include islands of Mactan, Bantayan, Badian, Malapascua and Camotes, all which have resorts and hotels. Scuba diving and snorkeling are common activities along the shoreline, while hiking the mountainous spine of the island is popular inland.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines.
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Ao Nang Prices
Thailand PricesCebu Prices
Philippines Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAo Nang $136Cebu $80
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $136, while the average daily cost in Cebu is $80. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Ao Nang and Cebu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAo Nang $52Cebu $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAo Nang $104Cebu $50
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Cebu
Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or Cebu? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Ao Nang Hotel Prices and Cebu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ao Nang $64Cebu $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Krabi: Ao Nang To or From Phi Phi By Fast Speedboat Transfer: $31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cebu HTL-APT (CEB): $31
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cebu APT-HTL (CEB): $18
- Private Airport to Hotel Transfer in Cebu City: $35
- Oslob Private Van Transfer between Cebu, Mactan or Mandaue City: $175
- Mactan-Cebu Island Hopping Cruise with Lunch & Roundtrip Transfer: $196
- Kawasan Falls Canyoneering w/ Lunch & Transfers from Cebu City: $122
- Danasan Eco Adventure Park Including Round-Trip Hotel Transfer: $161
- Cordova Private Transfer from Cordova city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $28
- Private One-Way Airport Transfer: $26
- Private Car Transfer with Driver (Flexible Routes): $28
- Oslob Whale Shark Encounter & SUMILON with Transfers: $196
- One-way Airport Transfer to Cebu City Hotels: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Cebu?
Prices for flights to both Cebu and Ao Nang change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAo Nang $49Cebu $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cebu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cebu.
- Carbon Market Food Tour & Bars with Jeepney Ride: $16
- Highlands Guided Tour with STREET FOOD TOUR OPTION: $45
- The Ultimate Cebu Food Tour: Local Tastes & Cultural Journey: $70
- Cebu City: Historical Street and Food Tour: $89
- Cebu Traditional Cuisine Cooking Class: $98
- Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $100
- Cebu Traditional Bamboo Cooking Class: $107
- Cebu Traditional Bamboo Cooking: $110
- Cebu Vegetarian Cooking Class: $110
- Cebu Traditional Cuisine Cooking Class: $110
- 5-Hour Evening Tour from Cebu with Dinner: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ao Nang $13Cebu $17
Tours and Activities in Cebu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cebu are as follows:
- BEST OF Cebu City Heritage with Uphill Tour | Joiners: $64
- Cebu Steet food, historical and mountain tour: $110
- 3-Hour Small Group Cebu City Tour: $38
- Aqua Sports Adventure Package with 3 Water Activities: $129
- BEST OF Cebu City Heritage with Uphill Tour: $61
- BEST OF Guided Heritage City Joiners Tour: $44
- Badian Canyoneering Adventure and Kawasan Waterfalls Private Tour: $149
- Badian Cebu Canyoneering Experience: $146
- Badian Cebu Canyoneering Experience: $103
- Balamban Uphill Adventure Tour in Cebu: $100
- Best Seller Cebu City Group Tour: $53
- Bohol Countryside Day Tour From Cebu City | Lunch at Loboc River Cruise: $145
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAo Nang $17Cebu $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Cebu
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cebu:
- Makati Pub Crawl with Optional City Tour: $18
- Cebu City Light's Pub Crawl: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Cebu, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Cebu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cebu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cebu and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Ao Nang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ao Nang than you might in Cebu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ao Nang Expensive? and Is Cebu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Cebu?
Cebu has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Cebu, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Ao Nang or Cebu?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Ao Nang or Cebu in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Ao Nang as well as Cebu. Ao Nang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cebu throughout the year.
August to October in Ao Nang is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Cebu. Ao Nang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Ao Nang usually gets more rain in July than Cebu. Ao Nang gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Cebu. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ao Nang in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Cebu averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAo Nang 28°C (82°F)Cebu 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Ao Nang or Cebu in the Autumn?
Both Cebu and Ao Nang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ao Nang throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cebu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Ao Nang is December to March. The rainy season in Ao Nang is August to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Cebu. It's quite rainy in Ao Nang. In October, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Cebu. Ao Nang gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In October, Ao Nang is generally around the same temperature as Cebu. Daily temperatures in Ao Nang average around 27°C (81°F), and Cebu fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAo Nang 27°C (81°F)Cebu 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Ao Nang or Cebu in the Winter?
Both Cebu and Ao Nang during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ao Nang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round.
December to March is the dry season in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually gets less rain in January than Cebu. Ao Nang gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Cebu in the winter. The daily temperature in Ao Nang averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Cebu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAo Nang 28°C (82°F)Cebu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Ao Nang or Cebu in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ao Nang and Cebu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ao Nang year-round. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Ao Nang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Cebu. Ao Nang gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In the spring, Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Cebu. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ao Nang in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Cebu averages at about 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAo Nang 29°C (84°F)Cebu 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Cebu and Ao Nang
| Ao Nang | Cebu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.