Which place is cheaper, Dewa Sanzan or Cebu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 Luxury Tours to Japan, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $65Dewa Sanzan $70
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $65, while the average daily cost in Dewa Sanzan is $70. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Dewa Sanzan $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Dewa Sanzan $60
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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cebu $26Dewa Sanzan $24
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 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
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Food Meals for one dayCebu $21Dewa Sanzan $26
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Dewa Sanzan $9.95
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
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: $249
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Dewa Sanzan $7.84
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 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.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCebu 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.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCebu 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.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCebu 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.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCebu 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) |
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.