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

Should you visit Cebu or Dewa Sanzan?

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

Should I visit Cebu or Dewa Sanzan? 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 Dewa Sanzan?

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.

Dewa Sanzan

Dewa Sanzan, Japan is a picturesque city in the Tohoku region which consists solely of the three sacred mountains: Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan, and Mount Yudono. The mountains are considered holy to the Japanese Shinto religion and are a popular pilgrimage site, especially since many ascetic pilgrims live in the mountains and are occasionally spotted throughout the various hiking trails.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines, The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Dewa Sanzan or Cebu?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $80, while the average daily cost in Dewa Sanzan is $86. 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 Dewa Sanzan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cebu $25
    Dewa Sanzan $29
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cebu $50
    Dewa Sanzan $58
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Dewa Sanzan

Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Dewa Sanzan? 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 Dewa Sanzan


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 Dewa Sanzan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cebu $26
    Dewa Sanzan $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:

  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cebu HTL-APT (CEB): $31
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cebu APT-HTL (CEB): $18
  • Private Airport to Hotel Transfer in Cebu City: $35
  • Oslob Private Van Transfer between Cebu, Mactan or Mandaue City: $175
  • Mactan-Cebu Island Hopping Cruise with Lunch & Roundtrip Transfer: $196
  • Kawasan Falls Canyoneering w/ Lunch & Transfers from Cebu City: $122
  • Danasan Eco Adventure Park Including Round-Trip Hotel Transfer: $161
  • Cordova Private Transfer from Cordova city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $28
  • Private One-Way Airport Transfer: $26
  • Private Car Transfer with Driver (Flexible Routes): $29
  • Oslob Whale Shark Encounter & SUMILON with Transfers: $201
  • One-way Airport Transfer to Cebu City Hotels: $91

Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Dewa Sanzan?

Prices for flights to both Dewa Sanzan 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 $36
    Dewa Sanzan $43

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: $46
  • The Ultimate Cebu Food Tour: Local Tastes & Cultural Journey: $70
  • Cebu City: Historical Street and Food Tour: $91
  • Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $100
  • Cebu Traditional Cuisine Cooking Class: $100
  • Cebu Traditional Bamboo Cooking Class: $110
  • 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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cebu $17
    Dewa Sanzan $9.56

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: $62
  • BEST OF Guided Heritage City Joiners Tour: $45
  • Badian Canyoneering Adventure and Kawasan Waterfalls Private Tour: $149
  • Badian Cebu Canyoneering Experience: $103
  • Badian Cebu Canyoneering Experience: $146
  • Balamban Uphill Adventure Tour in Cebu: $100
  • Best Seller Cebu City Group Tour: $54
  • Bohol Countryside Day Tour From Cebu City | Lunch at Loboc River Cruise: $145

Tours and Activities in Dewa Sanzan

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

  • Mount Haguro E-Bike Sightseeing Tour in Yamagata, Japan: $202
  • Tsuruoka & Dewa-Sanzan Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide: $248

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cebu $14
    Dewa Sanzan $7.53

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


When comparing the travel costs between Cebu and Dewa Sanzan, we can see that Dewa Sanzan 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 Dewa Sanzan Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Cebu or Dewa Sanzan?

Dewa Sanzan 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 Dewa Sanzan in the Summer?

Both Dewa Sanzan 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, many travelers come to Dewa Sanzan for the hiking.

In the summer, Cebu is a little warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cebu in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Dewa Sanzan averages at about 23°C (74°F).

Dewa Sanzan 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 Dewa Sanzan. Cebu gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 191 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Cebu 28°C (82°F) 
    Dewa Sanzan 23°C (74°F)

Should I visit Cebu or Dewa Sanzan in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cebu and Dewa Sanzan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Dewa Sanzan in the autumn for the hiking trails.

In October, Cebu is generally much warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 28°C (82°F), and Dewa Sanzan fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Dewa Sanzan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Cebu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Cebu usually receives around the same amount of rain as Dewa Sanzan. Cebu gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 152 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Cebu 28°C (82°F) 
    Dewa Sanzan 13°C (56°F)

Should I visit Cebu or Dewa Sanzan in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Cebu as well as Dewa Sanzan. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Dewa Sanzan for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Dewa Sanzan can be very cold during winter. Cebu is much warmer than Dewa Sanzan in the winter. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Dewa Sanzan fluctuates around -1°C (30°F).

It's quite rainy in Dewa Sanzan. Cebu usually gets less rain in January than Dewa Sanzan. Cebu gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Cebu 27°C (81°F) 
    Dewa Sanzan -1°C (30°F)

Should I visit Cebu or Dewa Sanzan in the Spring?

Both Dewa Sanzan and Cebu are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cebu throughout the year.

In the spring, Cebu is much warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cebu in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Dewa Sanzan averages at about 9°C (47°F).

In April, Cebu usually receives less rain than Dewa Sanzan. Cebu gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Cebu 29°C (84°F) 
    Dewa Sanzan 9°C (47°F)

Typical Weather for Dewa Sanzan and Cebu

Cebu Dewa Sanzan
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (81°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) -1°C (30°F) 206 mm (8.1 in)
Feb 27°C (81°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) -1°C (30°F) 151 mm (6 in)
Mar 28°C (82°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 2°C (35°F) 116 mm (4.6 in)
Apr 29°C (84°F) 50 mm (2 in) 9°C (47°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
May 30°C (86°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) 15°C (59°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Jun 29°C (84°F) 170 mm (6.7 in) 20°C (67°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 160 mm (6.3 in) 23°C (74°F) 191 mm (7.5 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 140 mm (5.5 in) 25°C (77°F) 174 mm (6.8 in)
Sep 29°C (84°F) 170 mm (6.7 in) 20°C (68°F) 154 mm (6.1 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 13°C (56°F) 152 mm (6 in)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 140 mm (5.5 in) 7°C (44°F) 207 mm (8.1 in)
Dec 27°C (81°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 2°C (35°F) 231 mm (9.1 in)