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

Should you visit Cebu or Jinghong?

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

Should I visit Cebu or Jinghong? 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 Jinghong?

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.

Jinghong

Located in the southernmost part of the Yunnan Province, Jinghong is a city that attracts visitors each year with its rich culture and folklore, Buddhist temples, and tropical rainforest scenery of palms and mango trees amongst others. It is also an area popular with backpackers as well as a waypoint for travelers passing between China and Laos.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.


Which place is cheaper, Jinghong 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 Jinghong is $64. 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 Jinghong in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cebu $25
    Jinghong $21
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cebu $50
    Jinghong $42
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Jinghong

Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Jinghong? 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 Jinghong


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.

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:

  • Bohol Day Tour with Round-Trip Transfers from Cebu: $208
  • CEB Private Airport Transfer to Cebu City Hotel: $23
  • Canyoneering Cebu in Kawasan falls + meals + Cebu transfer option: $53
  • Cebu Airport Transfer within Mactan Island, Cebu or Mandaue City: $64
  • Cebu Airport to Out of Town Transfers: $95
  • Cebu Departure Transfer from Lapu-Lapu city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $41
  • Cebu Departure Transfer from Mandaue city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $41
  • Mactan-Cebu International Airport Private Transfer: $24
  • One-way Airport Transfer to Hotel: $25
  • Private Car Transfer with Driver (Flexible Routes): $29
  • Private One-Way Airport Transfer: $26
  • Danasan Eco Adventure Park Including Round-Trip Hotel Transfer: $161

Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Jinghong?

Prices for flights to both Jinghong 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
    Jinghong $28

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
    Jinghong $9.42

Tours and Activities in Cebu

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

  • Day Adventure Pass Ticket (All Day Unlimited Rides): $16
  • Cebu City Wonder Tour: $28
  • Cebu City Tour: Temple of Leah and many more: $37
  • 3-Hour Small Group Cebu City Tour: $38
  • Guided Heritage City Tour: $45
  • Heritage Tour and Uphill Tour: $46
  • Cebu City and Uphill Tour: $46
  • Highlands Guided Tour w/ Hotel Pickup: $46
  • Cebu Highlands Tour(Cebu Taoist, Temple of Leah and Sirao Garden): $46
  • Cebu City: Cebu Heritage & Uphill Tour on Two Wheels: $51
  • Cebu Half Day City Tour (Private Tour): $53
  • Canyoneering Experience in Kawasan Falls with Lunch: $55

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cebu $14
    Jinghong $5.47

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 Jinghong, we can see that Cebu 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 Jinghong Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cebu or Jinghong?

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