Which place is cheaper, Brisbane 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 Brisbane?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Brisbane? 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 Brisbane?
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.
Brisbane
Although Brisbane is often overlooked as a travel destination in Australia, it is the capital of the state of Queensland, and is the third largest city in Australia. It's a very young and vibrant city with an active nightlife and a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It's a modern and economically thriving city and, if you do have time to visit, it actually has a lot to offer travelers. It has some beautiful scenery, a wonderful warm climate all year long, and is actually one of the fastest growing cities in Australia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia.
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Cebu Prices
Philippines PricesBrisbane Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $80Brisbane $154
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $80, while the average daily cost in Brisbane is $154. 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 Brisbane in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Brisbane $81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Brisbane $162
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Brisbane
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Brisbane? 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 and Brisbane Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cebu $26Brisbane $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Bohol Day Tour with Round-Trip Transfers from Cebu: $208
- Oslob Whale Shark Encounter & SUMILON with Transfers: $196
- Mactan-Cebu Island Hopping Cruise with Lunch & Roundtrip Transfer: $196
- Bohol Day Tour from Cebu (Shared) w/ RT Transfers & Ferry: $185
- Oslob Private Van Transfer between Cebu, Mactan or Mandaue City: $175
- Danasan Eco Adventure Park Including Round-Trip Hotel Transfer: $161
- Kawasan Falls Canyoneering w/ Lunch & Transfers from Cebu City: $122
- Cebu Safari & Adventure Park: Wildlife Tour with Transfers: $102
- One-way Airport Transfer to Cebu City Hotels: $89
- Canyoneering Cebu in Kawasan falls + meals + Cebu transfer option: $53
- Cebu Airport Transfer to / from Anywhere in Cebu: $37
- Private Airport to Hotel Transfer in Cebu City: $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Brisbane:
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Airtrain to the City$9.81
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Go Card$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Brisbane
Also for Brisbane, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Brisbane International Cruise Terminal Transfers: $19
- Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Brisbane: $22
- BNE Airport to City | Gold Coast Private Transfer: $40
- Private Arrival Transfer: Brisbane Airport to Hotel: $54
- Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Gold Coast: $56
- Secrets St Lucia Airport Transfer: $58
- Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Sunshine Coast: $59
- Luxury Airport Transfer Gold Coast-Brisbane / Brisbane-Gold Coast: $60
- Brisbane to Brisbane Airport (BNE) - Departure Private Transfer: $84
- Brisbane hotels to Brisbane Airport (BNE) - Departure Private Transfer: $85
- Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Brisbane hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $85
- NOOSA: Private Transfer to/fro Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY): $96
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Brisbane?
Prices for flights to both Brisbane 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 $36Brisbane $54
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
Typical Food Prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Brisbane:
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Hamburger Lunch$5.23
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Cup of Coffee$1.96
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Chinese Food Lunch$8.18
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Ice cream$3.60
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Japanese Meal$14
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Smoothie$4.25
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Japanese Soup$7.52
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Coffee & Muffin$4.58
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Morning Mint Tea$2.29
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Veggie Burger & Chips$9.16
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Bread$1.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Gold Coast: Glow Worms, Sunset & Stargazing with BBQ dinner: $118
- Glow Worms, Sunset, Telescope Stargazing & Dinner: $133
- Vertigo Dinner – Dining on the Edge: $165
- Local Icons Food Tour: $354
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Brisbane $24
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Concert Tickets$13
Tours and Activities in Brisbane
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Brisbane.
- Escape to Coochiemudlo Island: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Convict Colonial Brisbane GPS App Walking Tour Mobile Game: $16
- Tour, Taste & Camel Encounter: $17
- True Crime Tour: $22
- Fortitude Valley Historical Crime Walking Tour: $22
- Winery Tour and Tasting: $23
- True Crime Walking Tour: $25
- Haunted CBD Ghost Tour: $25
- Haunted Brisbane CBD Ghost Tour: $26
- Moonlight State Fortitude Valley Crime Tour Crime Tours Australia: $26
- Adventure Theme Scavenger Hunt Experience in Brisbane: $27
- Boggo Road Gaol Ghost and Gallows Tour: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Brisbane $50
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Brisbane
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Brisbane:
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Evening at the Bar$9.81
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Sixpack of Beer$9.16
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Guiness Beer$5.56
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Sixpack of Beer$8.50
Sample the Local Flavors in Brisbane
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Brisbane:
- Island Pub Crawl with Lunch and High Speed Boat Tour in Brisbane : $101
- Afternoon Brisbane Half-Day Brewery Tour: $107
- Hop on Hop off Wine tasting tour to Tamborine Mountain: $111
- Island Pub Crawl with Lunch and High-Speed Boat: $116
- Hinterland Heritage Wine Tour : $134
- Gold Coast Full Day Brewery Tour: $140
- Tamborine Wine & Distillery Tour + 2 Course Lunch: $165
- One Hump Camel Farm and Wine Tour: $178
- Luxury Winery Tour with Gourmet Lunch & Distillery: $198
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cebu and Brisbane, we can see that Brisbane is more expensive. And not only is Cebu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cebu is in Asia and Brisbane is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Brisbane would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brisbane 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 Cebu Expensive? and Is Brisbane Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cebu or Brisbane?
Brisbane has a larger population, and is about 20% larger than the population of Cebu. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Brisbane, 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 Brisbane?
Brisbane 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 Brisbane in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cebu as well as Brisbane. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Brisbane for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Cebu is generally a little warmer than Brisbanein January. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 28°C (82°F), and Brisbane fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite rainy in Brisbane. Cebu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Cebu usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Brisbanein January. Cebu gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Brisbane receives 169 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCebu 28°C (82°F)Brisbane 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Brisbane in the Autumn?
Both Brisbane and Cebu are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cebu throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Brisbane in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene.
Cebu is a little warmer than Brisbane in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Brisbane fluctuates around 22°C (71°F)in April.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Brisbane. It's quite rainy in Cebu. In October, Cebu usually receives more rain than Brisbanein April. Cebu gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Brisbane receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilCebu 28°C (82°F)Brisbane 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Brisbane in the Winter?
Both Brisbane and Cebu during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cebu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, most visitors come to Brisbane for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Cebu is much warmer than Brisbane. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cebu in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Brisbane averages at about 15°C (59°F)in July.
Cebu usually gets more rain in January than Brisbanein July. Cebu gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Brisbane receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyCebu 27°C (81°F)Brisbane 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Brisbane in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cebu and Brisbane. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Brisbane because of the beaches and the activities around the city.
In April, Cebu is generally a little warmer than Brisbanein October. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 29°C (84°F), and Brisbane fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).
In April, Cebu usually receives less rain than Brisbanein October. Cebu gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Brisbane receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberCebu 29°C (84°F)Brisbane 21°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Brisbane and Cebu
| Cebu | Brisbane | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 127 mm (5 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.