Which place is cheaper, Boracay or Cebu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cebu or Boracay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Boracay? 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 Boracay?
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.
Boracay
A small island in the Philippines known for its resorts and beaches, Boracay is a little escape. Each beach has its own unique character, each with new treasures waiting to be discovered.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Philippines, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Budget Tours to Philippines, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $65Boracay $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $65, while the average daily cost in Boracay is $56. 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 Boracay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Boracay $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Boracay $46
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Boracay
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Boracay? 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 $26Boracay $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Bohol Day Tour with Round-Trip Transfers from Cebu: $208
- CEB Private Airport Transfer to Cebu City Hotel: $23
- Canyoneering Cebu in Kawasan falls + meals + Cebu transfer option: $53
- Cebu Airport Transfer within Mactan Island, Cebu or Mandaue City: $64
- Cebu Airport to Out of Town Transfers: $95
- Cebu Departure Transfer from Lapu-Lapu city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $42
- Mactan-Cebu International Airport Private Transfer: $24
- One-way Airport Transfer to Hotel: $25
- 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): $42
- Danasan Eco Adventure Park Including Round-Trip Hotel Transfer: $161
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boracay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boracay:
- Shared Transfer from/to MPH for Domestic Passports: $21
- Caticlan Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $27
- Airport Transfer to Boracay or vice versa: $30
- Departure: Ferry boat Transfer Boracay to Caticlan Airport: $31
- Boracay Adventures Transfer Services Via Caticlan: $35
- Caticlan: Ferry Boat Airport Transfer To Boracay: $35
- Private Transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay: $45
- Caticlan: Speedboat Airport Transfer to Boracay: $51
- Caticlan: Shared Airport Transfer From/To Boracay: $56
- Boracay Transfer round trip with Island Hopping: $71
- Speedboat Caticlan to Boracay Transfer (Oneway): $84
- PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSFER TO BORACAY: $108
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Boracay?
Prices for flights to both Boracay 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 $21Boracay $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cebu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cebu.
- Cebu city: Walking Historical and Street Food Tour: $33
- Private Half Day Ultimate Food Tour in Cebu: $66
- Street Food Tour and Historical Sites Adventure: $73
- The Original Cebu Historical Street and Food Tour: $74
- The Original Cebu City Historical Street and Food Tour: $75
- Panoramic View of Cebu and Dinner with Night View: $97
- Traditional Filipino Bamboo Cooking: $99
- 5-Hour Evening Tour from Cebu with Dinner: $110
- Traditional Filipino Bamboo Cooking Class: $111
- Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $131
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Boracay $15
Tours and Activities in Cebu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cebu are as follows:
- Day Adventure Pass Ticket (All Day Unlimited Rides): $16
- Cebu City Wonder Tour: $28
- Cebu City Tour: Temple of Leah and many more: $37
- 3-Hour Small Group Cebu City Tour: $38
- Guided Heritage City Tour: $45
- Cebu Highlands Tour(Cebu Taoist, Temple of Leah and Sirao Garden): $46
- Cebu City and Uphill Tour: $46
- Heritage Tour and Uphill Tour: $46
- Highlands Guided Tour w/ Hotel Pickup: $46
- Cebu City: Cebu Heritage & Uphill Tour on Two Wheels: $52
- Cebu Half Day City Tour (Private Tour): $53
- Kawasan Falls Canyoneering Tour from Moalboal: $54
Tours and Activities in Boracay
Here are a few actual costs in Boracay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Crystal Kayak Photo-op Experience: $6.50
- Boracay - Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience: $9.28
- Flying Donut Water Tubing Experience: $15
- Boracay Sunset Cruise: $16
- Boracay UFO Adventure: $17
- Sunset Cruise with Water Activities: $17
- Island and Beach-Hopping Boat Tour with Snorkeling: $20
- Boracay E-trike Land Tour: $20
- Boracay Island Rhythm Sunset Cruise: $21
- Stand-up Paddleboard Experience: $22
- Helmet Diving Experience with Photos and Videos: $23
- All-Terrain Vehicle or Buggy Car Experience: $23
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Boracay $16
When comparing the travel costs between Cebu and Boracay, we can see that Cebu 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 Boracay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cebu or Boracay?
Cebu has a larger population, and is about 350 times larger than the population of Boracay. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Boracay, 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.
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.