A Travel Price Comparison for Philippines Cebu vs. Boracay for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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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.

Which place is cheaper, Boracay or Cebu?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $64, 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cebu $25
    Boracay $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cebu $50
    Boracay $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.

Hotels in Cebu


Hotels in Boracay


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cebu $26
    Boracay $28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:

  • A private van transfer from Mactan Cebu Airport to Mactan Resorts or vice versa: $53
  • Badian Canyoneering with Lunch & Transfers from Cebu City: $145
  • Bohol Day Tour with Round-Trip Transfers from Cebu: $216
  • Cebu Airport Transfer within Mactan Island, Cebu or Mandaue City: $64
  • Cebu Airport to Out of Town Transfers: $95
  • Cebu City Tour with Round-trip Hotel Transfers: $49
  • Cebu Departure Transfer from Cebu city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $40
  • Cebu Departure Transfer from Lapu-Lapu city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $40
  • Cebu Departure Transfer from Mandaue city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $40
  • Cebu Private Transfer from Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB) to Lapu-Lapu city: $40
  • Cebu Private Transfer from Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB) to Mandaue city: $40
  • Cebu Private Transfer from Mactan Cebu International Airport (CEB) to Cebu city: $40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boracay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boracay:

  • Shared Transfer from/to MPH for Domestic Passports: $17
  • Caticlan: Shared Airport Transfer From/To Boracay: $17
  • Private Transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay: $55

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Cebu $21
    Boracay $14

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cebu

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cebu.

  • Cebu City Historical Street and Food Tour: $68
  • Cebu City Historical Street and Food Tour: $69
  • Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $98
  • Traditional Filipino Bamboo Cooking: $99
  • 5-Hour Evening Tour from Cebu with Dinner: $110
  • Traditional Filipino Bamboo Cooking Class: $110
  • Private Half Day Ultimate Food Tour in Cebu: $159
  • Cebu City Tour with Free Breakfast Lunch Dinner Tourguide & Driver: $699

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cebu $17
    Boracay $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
  • 3-Hour Small Group Cebu City Tour: $29
  • Moalboal Sardines Run Private Tour w/ GoPro/Action Camera Option: $30
  • Canyoneering Experience in Kawasan Falls with Lunch: $38
  • Cebu City Tour Shared-Joiners: $39
  • Cebu Highlands Tour(Cebu Taoist, Temple of Leah and Sirao Garden): $45
  • Cebu City Tour - Private: $45
  • Highlands Guided Tour w/ Hotel Pickup: $46
  • Land Tour | Bantayan Island - Sightseeing - Guided Tour: $46
  • Lapu-Lapu or Cebu City: Historical & Street Food Guided Tour: $48
  • Kawasan Canyoneering Adventure: $50
  • Private Half-Day Cebu Sightseeing with Casa Gorordo Museum: $55

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: $6.43
  • Boracay - Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience: $9.18
  • From Mainland Off-road ATV or Zipline Experience: $12
  • Flying Donut Water Tubing Experience: $15
  • Boracay Sunset Cruise: $16
  • Sunset Cruise with Water Activities: $17
  • Island and Beach-Hopping Boat Tour with Snorkeling: $22
  • Helmet Diving Experience with Photos and Videos: $22
  • All-Terrain Vehicle or Buggy Car Experience: $23
  • Scenic Sunset Cruise with Live Music: $32
  • From Newcoast ATV Tour with Local Guide: $33
  • Solo or Tandem Parasailing Experience: $46

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cebu $14
    Boracay $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Cebu

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cebu:

  • Cebu City Light's Pub Crawl: $99

How are these travel costs calculated?

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.

Which is Bigger, Cebu or Boracay?

Cebu is bigger, and its population is about 347.2 times larger than the population of Boracay. When comparing the population of Cebu vs. 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 and the activities 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.
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Cebu vs. Boracay Travel Comparison

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