Which place is cheaper, Beijing or Cebu?
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 Cebu or Beijing?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Beijing? 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: Cebu or Beijing?
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.
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Cebu Prices
Philippines PricesBeijing Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $80Beijing $91
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $80, while the average daily cost in Beijing is $91. 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 Cebu and Beijing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Beijing $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Beijing $80
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Beijing
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Beijing? 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: Cebu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cebu $26Beijing $7.83
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Bohol Day Tour from Cebu (Shared) w/ RT Transfers & Ferry: $185
- Bohol Day Tour with Round-Trip Transfers from Cebu: $208
- Canyoneering Cebu in Kawasan falls + meals + Cebu transfer option: $53
- Cebu Airport Private Transfer to Cebu City Hotel: $18
- Cebu Airport Transfer to / from Anywhere in Cebu: $37
- Cebu Safari & Adventure Park: Wildlife Tour with Transfers: $104
- CEB Airport to City Centre|Hotels Private Transfer: $7.00
- One-way Airport Transfer to Cebu City Hotels: $91
- Oslob Whale Shark Encounter & SUMILON with Transfers: $201
- Private Car Transfer with Driver (Flexible Routes): $29
- Private One-Way Airport Transfer: $26
- Cordova Private Transfer from Cordova city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
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Taxi$4.78
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Train from Airport for Two$7.01
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Taxi to Hotel$8.41
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2 Metro Passes$2.24
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Metro$0.56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
- Private Transfers for City, Suburbs & Airport/Train: $1.46
- Beijing Great Wall Badaling or Mutianyu with Transfer[Optional]: $12
- Private Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour w/ Optional Guide/Transfer: $15
- From Mutianyu Great Wall Transfer with Pick-Up: $19
- Beijing Private Railway Station Arrival/Departure Transfers: $20
- Beijing Daxing International Airport shuttle bus transfer service: $20
- Beijing Airport:Private One-Way Transfer from Beijing City Center: $20
- Beijing Mutianyu Great Wall Sightseeing Full-day Bus Transfer: $20
- Afternoon Bus Transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall + Entry Ticket: $20
- Mutianyu Great Wall Round-Trip Transfer with Driver & Ticket: $20
- Morning Bus Transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall + Entry Ticket: $20
- Beijing Airport Transfer: $21
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Beijing?
Prices for flights to both Beijing and Cebu 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 dayCebu $36Beijing $34
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: $46
- The Ultimate Cebu Food Tour: Local Tastes & Cultural Journey: $70
- Cebu City: Historical Street and Food Tour: $91
- Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $100
- Cebu Traditional Cuisine Cooking Class: $100
- Cebu Traditional Bamboo Cooking Class: $110
- 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
Typical Food Prices in Beijing
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
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Popcorn$0.84
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Hot Pot Dinner$7.01
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Dumpling Breakfast for Two$2.80
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Watermelon$1.96
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Peking Duck Dinner for 2$17
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Two Popsicles$0.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
- Online Cooking Class Kungpao Chicken: $20
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Orange Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $45
- Beijing Acrobatic Show Tickets w/ Optional Dinner or Transfer: $48
- Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $54
- China's Favourite Street Food Cooking Workshop: $55
- Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
- Private Local Food Tour in Beijing with a Local Guide: $59
- Beijing Walking Food Tour with a Local Friend: $60
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Center Beijing: $70
- Acrobatic Show with Peking Duck Dinner Private Tour: $72
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Beijing $24
Tours and Activities in Cebu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cebu are as follows:
- Cebu City: Walking Tour: $22
- Cebu City: Guided Trekking Experience: $33
- 3-Hour Small Group Cebu City Tour: $38
- City Sightseeing Group Tour: $40
- BEST OF Guided Heritage City Joiners Tour: $45
- Scuba Diving Experience beach entry in Mactan: $45
- Heritage Tour and Uphill Tour: $46
- Cebu Highlands Tour (Taoist temple, Leah and sirao garden)PICK UP: $46
- Cebu City: Best of Cebu Full-Day Guided Sightseeing Tour: $49
- Thrill Seekers Paradise Kawasan Canyoning Adventure: $50
- Cebu Half Day City Tour (Private Tour): $52
- Best Seller Cebu City Group Tour: $54
Typical Entertainment Prices in Beijing
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Summer Palace for Two$8.41
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Two Opera Tickets$60
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Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)$9.81
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Forbidden City (for 2)$17
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Forbidden City Tickets$17
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Audio Guides at Forbidden City$11
Tours and Activities in Beijing
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Capital Museum tour includes Ticket: $2.78
- Tian’anmenSquare or Forbidden City Online Ticket Booking: $2.92
- Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square Walking Tour: $3.07
- Beijing:Tiananmen Square tickets with guide(optional): $3.19
- Tiananmen Square Registration Service(Ticket): $3.79
- Tiananmen Square - Registration Ticket: $3.79
- Forbidden City Walking Guided Tour w/ Entry Tickets: $4.00
- Beijing Forbidden City,Tianmen Square Admission Tickets: $4.00
- Tiananmen Square Forbidden City and Jingshan Park Ticket or Tours: $4.00
- Forbidden City Group Morning Walking Tour: $4.09
- Tickets to all Beijing attractions (Forbidden City optional): $4.21
- Tianmen Square, Forbidden City & Royal Museum Tours: $4.38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Beijing $12
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
- Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing: $110
- Tipsy Travel: Beijing Local Food and Bar Crawl night in Hutong: $158
- 5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing: $178
- Beijing Brewery Bike Tour: $199
- Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour and Mutianyu Great Wall Visit: $238
When comparing the travel costs between Cebu and Beijing, we can see that Beijing is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cebu Expensive? and Is Beijing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cebu or Beijing?
Beijing has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Cebu. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Beijing, 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 Cebu or Beijing?
Beijing has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cebu experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Cebu or Beijing in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cebu and Beijing. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Beijing for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Cebu is generally around the same temperature as Beijing. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 28°C (82°F), and Beijing fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
Beijing receives a lot of rain in the summer. Cebu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Cebu usually receives less rain than Beijing. Cebu gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCebu 28°C (82°F)Beijing 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Beijing in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cebu as well as Beijing. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Beijing because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Cebu is much warmer than Beijing in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Beijing fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).
Cebu receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Cebu usually gets more rain in October than Beijing. Cebu gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCebu 28°C (82°F)Beijing 14°C (56°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Beijing in the Winter?
Both Beijing and Cebu are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cebu throughout the year. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Beijing this time of year.
It's quite cold in Beijing in the winter. In the winter, Cebu is much warmer than Beijing. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cebu in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Beijing averages at about -4°C (26°F).
In January, Cebu usually receives more rain than Beijing. Cebu gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCebu 27°C (81°F)Beijing -4°C (26°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Beijing in the Spring?
Both Beijing and Cebu during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cebu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Beijing for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Cebu is generally much warmer than Beijing. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 29°C (84°F), and Beijing fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
Cebu usually gets more rain in April than Beijing. Cebu gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCebu 29°C (84°F)Beijing 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Beijing and Cebu
| Cebu | Beijing | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | -1°C (29°F) | 2 mm (0.1 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.