A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cebu vs. Coffs Harbour for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cebu or Coffs Harbour?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Cebu or Coffs Harbour? 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 Coffs Harbour?

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.

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is in New South Wales between Brisbane and Sydney. Historically, Coffs Harbour has been a popular vacation destination among families, particularly Australian families. Most visitors today are families that are carrying on a longstanding tradition and bringing their children to the holiday destination of their childhood. You'll also find backpackers who spend up to a week here, dividing the trip between Sydney and Brisbane. The area has a well established tourist infrastructure that is not as trendy as that in Byron Bay, but it remains a wonderful community to visit if you're not looking for the party atmosphere.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Coffs Harbour or Cebu?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $65, while the average daily cost in Coffs Harbour is $143. 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 Coffs Harbour in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cebu $25
    Coffs Harbour $66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cebu $50
    Coffs Harbour $132
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Coffs Harbour

Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Coffs Harbour? 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 Coffs Harbour


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 Coffs Harbour Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cebu $26
    Coffs Harbour $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:

  • Trusted Airport transfer to Mactan Resorts or Cebu Hotels: $80
  • Transfer Cebu City - Bantayan Island: $70
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Hotel: $27
  • Oslob Private Van Transfer between Cebu, Mactan or Mandaue City: $175
  • Oslob Car Hire and Transfers: $150
  • Malapascua: Advance Divers Shark Dive & Optional Transfer: $110
  • Mactan-Cebu Island Hopping Cruise with Lunch & Roundtrip Transfer: $196
  • Mactan Cebu Airport Transfer to City Hotels: $35
  • Kawasan Falls Canyoneering w/ Lunch & Transfers from Cebu City: $122
  • Hotel Private Transfer Airport to Cebu, Mandaue, LapuLapu: $26
  • Danasan Eco Adventure Park Including Round-Trip Hotel Transfer: $161
  • Private One-Way Airport Transfer: $26

Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Coffs Harbour?

Prices for flights to both Coffs Harbour 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
    Coffs Harbour $54

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: $73
  • 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
  • Traditional Filipino Bamboo Cooking Class: $110
  • Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $131

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cebu $17
    Coffs Harbour $44

Tours and Activities in Cebu

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cebu are as follows:

  • Cebu City with Hillyland Joiners Tour: $66
  • Cebu Steet food, historical and mountain tour: $110
  • 3-Hour Small Group Cebu City Tour: $38
  • A Half-day Guided Pilgrimage Tour in Cebu CIty: $70
  • Active Taal Volcano & Beach Swimming w/ Floating Cottage Tour: $160
  • Balamban Uphill Adventure Tour in Cebu: $100
  • Bohol Countryside Day Tour From Cebu City | Lunch at Loboc River Cruise: $145
  • Bohol Countryside Day Tour w Lunch at Loboc River From Cebu: $147
  • Bohol Countryside Private Tour From Cebu City: $217
  • CEBU Caubian Island Hopping Tour: $185
  • CEBU Island Hopping Tour to Nalusuan Island: $195
  • Canyoneering Adventure in Alegria: $154

Typical Entertainment Prices in Coffs Harbour

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Coffs Harbour's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Surfing Museum (for 2)
    $7.53

Tours and Activities in Coffs Harbour

For Coffs Harbour, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Sunset Kayak Eco Tour with Marine Scientist: $42
  • Daytime Kayak Eco Tour of New South Wales: $42
  • Coffs Harbour Whale Watch Experience: $66
  • Sunset Experience: $82
  • Coastal Adventure: $132
  • Rainforest & Waterfall Experience: $132

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cebu $14
    Coffs Harbour $8.80

Sample the Local Flavors in Cebu

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cebu:

  • Private Guided Street Food and Nightlife Pub Crawl Tour in Cebu: $200


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cebu and Coffs Harbour, we can see that Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cebu or Coffs Harbour?

Cebu has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Coffs Harbour. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Coffs Harbour, 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 Coffs Harbour?

Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour in the Summer?

Both Coffs Harbour and Cebu during the summer 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 Coffs Harbour for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Cebu is a little warmer than Coffs Harbour in the summer. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 23°C (74°F)in January.

Coffs Harbour gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Cebu. Cebu usually gets less rain in July than Coffs Harbourin January. Cebu gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 187 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Cebu 28°C (82°F) 
    Coffs Harbour 23°C (74°F)

Should I visit Cebu or Coffs Harbour in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cebu and Coffs Harbour. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Coffs Harbour because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Cebu is a little warmer than Coffs Harbour. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cebu in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Coffs Harbour averages at about 20°C (67°F)in April.

Coffs Harbour receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Cebu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Cebu usually receives less rain than Coffs Harbourin April. Cebu gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 215 mm (8.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Cebu 28°C (82°F) 
    Coffs Harbour 20°C (67°F)

Should I visit Cebu or Coffs Harbour in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Cebu as well as Coffs Harbour. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Coffs Harbour this time of year.

In January, Cebu is generally much warmer than Coffs Harbourin July. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 27°C (81°F), and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Cebu usually gets more rain in January than Coffs Harbourin July. Cebu gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Cebu 27°C (81°F) 
    Coffs Harbour 13°C (55°F)

Should I visit Cebu or Coffs Harbour in the Spring?

Both Coffs Harbour and Cebu are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cebu throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Coffs Harbour for the beaches and the natural beauty.

Cebu is much warmer than Coffs Harbour in the spring. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 19°C (66°F)in October.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Coffs Harbour. In April, Cebu usually receives less rain than Coffs Harbourin October. Cebu gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Cebu 29°C (84°F) 
    Coffs Harbour 19°C (66°F)

Typical Weather for Coffs Harbour and Cebu

Cebu Coffs Harbour
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (81°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 23°C (74°F) 187 mm (7.4 in)
Feb 27°C (81°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 23°C (73°F) 195 mm (7.7 in)
Mar 28°C (82°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 22°C (72°F) 241 mm (9.5 in)
Apr 29°C (84°F) 50 mm (2 in) 20°C (67°F) 215 mm (8.5 in)
May 30°C (86°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) 17°C (62°F) 177 mm (7 in)
Jun 29°C (84°F) 170 mm (6.7 in) 14°C (58°F) 125 mm (4.9 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 160 mm (6.3 in) 13°C (55°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 140 mm (5.5 in) 14°C (57°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Sep 29°C (84°F) 170 mm (6.7 in) 16°C (62°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 19°C (66°F) 103 mm (4.1 in)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 140 mm (5.5 in) 20°C (69°F) 136 mm (5.4 in)
Dec 27°C (81°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 22°C (72°F) 143 mm (5.6 in)