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

Should you visit Cebu or Cromwell?

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

Should I visit Cebu or Cromwell? 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 Cromwell?

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.

Cromwell

Cromwell is a town in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated between two of the main highways on the South Island and is close to Queenstown and Wanaka. Luckily, the town is surrounded by Lake Dunstan, which is good for those who love being near water as Cromwell is the furthest point from the sea in the entire country.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Cromwell 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 Cromwell is $81. 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 Cromwell in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cebu $25
    Cromwell $39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cebu $50
    Cromwell $78
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Cromwell

Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Cromwell? 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 Cromwell


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 Cromwell Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cebu $26
    Cromwell $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:

  • Bohol Day Tour with Round-Trip Transfers from Cebu: $190
  • Oslob Private Van Transfer between Cebu, Mactan or Mandaue City: $175
  • Danasan Eco Adventure Park Including Round-Trip Hotel Transfer: $161
  • Oslob Car Hire and Transfers: $150
  • Kawasan Falls Canyoneering w/ Lunch & Transfers from Cebu City: $122
  • Malapascua: Advance Divers Shark Dive & Optional Transfer: $108
  • Cebu Whale Shark Snorkeling & Tumalog Falls w/ Meals and Transfer: $95
  • Transfer Cebu City - Bantayan Island: $70
  • Cebu Airport Transfer within Mactan Island, Cebu or Mandaue City: $64
  • Private Canyoneering in Kawasan falls + meals + Cebu transfer opt: $53
  • 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

Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Cromwell?

Prices for flights to both Cromwell 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
    Cromwell $26

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: $67
  • Cebu City Historical Street and Food Tour: $69
  • Panoramic View of Cebu and Dinner with Night View: $89
  • Traditional Filipino Bamboo Cooking Class: $108
  • Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $131

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cebu $17
    Cromwell $16

Tours and Activities in Cebu

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

  • Cebu Steet food, historical and mountain tour: $110
  • 3-Hour Small Group Cebu City Tour: $38
  • A snorkelling tour to Cebu’s Hilutungan: $130
  • Badian Cebu Canyoneering Experience: $84
  • Balamban Uphill Adventure Tour in Cebu: $80
  • Beach Adventure: $85
  • Bohol Countryside Day Tour From Cebu City | Lunch at Loboc River Cruise: $145
  • Bohol Countryside Day Tour from Cebu City or Mactan - Best Seller: $155
  • Bohol Countryside Joiners Tour From Cebu City: $144
  • Bohol Countryside Private Tour From Cebu City: $213
  • Canyoneering Experience in Kawasan Falls with Lunch: $55
  • Cebu City All Day Tour; An Unforgettable Experience of Cebu.: $60

Tours and Activities in Cromwell

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cromwell.

  • Queenstown: Mount Cook Premium Guided Day Tour: $148
  • Ultimate Lake Dunstan Trail Experience Bike & Boat Return: $172

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cebu $14
    Cromwell $9.14

Sample the Local Flavors in Cebu

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cebu:

  • Cebu City Light's Pub Crawl: $99

Sample the Local Flavors in Cromwell

Also in Cromwell, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Wines and Views: Private Wine Tour of Otago from Queenstow: $1,488


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