Which place is cheaper, Dunedin 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 Dunedin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Dunedin? 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 Dunedin?
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.
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second largest city on the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the southeast coast and is largely Scottish in its heritage. It is part of the Otago region and has mild temperatures during the spring and summer, but extremely cold temperatures during the end of fall and winter. Dunedin is a university town; The University of Otago is the oldest in New Zealand, established in 1869. The students make up over a tenth of the entire city's population.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand.
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Cebu Prices
Philippines PricesDunedin Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $80Dunedin $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $80, while the average daily cost in Dunedin is $122. 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 Dunedin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Dunedin $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Dunedin $102
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Dunedin
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Dunedin? 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 Dunedin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cebu $26Dunedin $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Bohol Day Tour from Cebu (Shared) w/ RT Transfers & Ferry: $185
- Bohol Day Tour with Round-Trip Transfers from Cebu: $208
- Canyoneering Cebu in Kawasan falls + meals + Cebu transfer option: $53
- Cebu Airport Private Transfer to Cebu City Hotel: $18
- Cebu Airport Transfer to / from Anywhere in Cebu: $37
- Cebu Safari & Adventure Park: Wildlife Tour with Transfers: $104
- CEB Airport to City Centre|Hotels Private Transfer: $7.00
- One-way Airport Transfer to Cebu City Hotels: $91
- Oslob Whale Shark Encounter & SUMILON with Transfers: $201
- Private Car Transfer with Driver (Flexible Routes): $29
- Private One-Way Airport Transfer: $26
- Cordova Private Transfer from Cordova city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Dunedin?
Prices for flights to both Dunedin 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 $36Dunedin $49
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Dunedin $17
Tours and Activities in Cebu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cebu are as follows:
- Cebu City: Walking Tour: $22
- Cebu City: Guided Trekking Experience: $33
- 3-Hour Small Group Cebu City Tour: $38
- City Sightseeing Group Tour: $40
- BEST OF Guided Heritage City Joiners Tour: $45
- Scuba Diving Experience beach entry in Mactan: $45
- Heritage Tour and Uphill Tour: $46
- Cebu Highlands Tour (Taoist temple, Leah and sirao garden)PICK UP: $46
- Cebu City: Best of Cebu Full-Day Guided Sightseeing Tour: $49
- Thrill Seekers Paradise Kawasan Canyoning Adventure: $50
- Cebu Half Day City Tour (Private Tour): $52
- Best Seller Cebu City Group Tour: $54
Tours and Activities in Dunedin
Here are a few actual costs in Dunedin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Olveston Historic Home Guided Tour: $16
- Larnach Castle & Gardens Admission Ticket: $26
- Larnach Castle and Gardens Admission Ticket: $27
- Garden and City tour: $35
- Wildlife and Penguin Tour: $38
- Monarch - One Hour Wildlife Cruise: $39
- Heritage Dunedin City Walking Guided Tour: $39
- Wildlife and Penguin Tour: $39
- Otago Peninsula Wildlife Cruise with Monarch: $39
- Shore Excursion: V8 Trike, Peninsula and City Tour: $48
- Dunedin Nature & City Tour – Full Day Cruise Excursion: $56
- Iconic Shore Excursion: Dunedin City Highlights Tour: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Dunedin $14
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Dunedin
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dunedin:
- Speight's Brewery Tour & Guided Tasting: $27
- Speight's Brewery Guided Tour with Tasting: $28
- City Sights Tour, Distillery & Lunch all inclusive: $140
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cebu and Dunedin, we can see that Dunedin 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 Dunedin 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 Dunedin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dunedin 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 Dunedin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cebu or Dunedin?
Cebu has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Dunedin. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Dunedin, 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.
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.