Which place is cheaper, Kunming or Cebu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cebu or Kunming?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Kunming? 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 Kunming?
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.
Kunming
Kunming, located in southern China, is the modern capital city of the Yunnan province. It is a transportation hub for visitors entering the region, and good transfer point to just about everywhere else in the province by train or bus. Within the city itself there are many things to see and do with a full range of parks and zoos, museums, temples, theatres, and scenic areas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $66Kunming $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $66, while the average daily cost in Kunming is $69. 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 Kunming in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Kunming $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Kunming $66
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Kunming
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Kunming? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cebu $26Kunming $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Bohol Day Tour with Round-Trip Transfers from Cebu: $208
- 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: $112
- Cebu Airport to Out of Town Transfers: $95
- Trusted Airport transfer to Mactan Resorts or Cebu Hotels: $80
- Cebu Airport Transfer within Mactan Island, Cebu or Mandaue City: $64
- Canyoneering Cebu in Kawasan falls + meals + Cebu transfer option: $53
- Cebu Departure Transfer from Mandaue city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $42
- Cebu Private Transfer from Mactan Cebu International Airport (CEB) to Cebu city: $42
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Kunming:
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Taxi Ride$1.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming
Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One way Kunming airport to hotel private transfer: $41
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pickup: $83
- Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
- Private Transfer from Kunming hotel to Guizhou Xingyi hotel: $240
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Kunming?
Prices for flights to both Kunming 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 $22Kunming $23
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
- The Original Cebu Historical Street and Food Tour: $74
- The Original Cebu City Historical Street and Food Tour: $75
- Street Food Tour and Historical Sites Adventure: $77
- Panoramic View of Cebu and Dinner with Night View: $97
- Traditional Filipino Bamboo Cooking Class: $112
- Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $131
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming
For Kunming, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Kunming evening food tour with locals: $66
- Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $78
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Kunming $19
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 snorkelling tour to Cebu’s Hilutungan: $130
- Active Taal Volcano & Beach Swimming w/ Floating Cottage Tour: $160
- Balamban Uphill Adventure Tour in Cebu: $100
- Bantayan Island Hopping Joiner Tour: Virgin Island, Baigad Lagoon: $58
- 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 Day Tour w Lunch at Loboc River From Cebu: $148
- Bohol Countryside Private Tour From Cebu City: $219
- CEBU Caubian Island Hopping Tour: $185
Tours and Activities in Kunming
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.
- One day tour to eastern coast region of Daichi Lake: $69
- One day Kunming leisure city tour: $70
- Half Day Kunming History Tour: $80
- Half-Day History Tour in Kunming: $82
- Private Night Tour to Enjoy Dynamic Yunnan Show: $86
- Half Day Flower Tour in Kunming: $91
- Morning Market Tour - Eat like a local: $93
- Stone Forest Day Tour: $106
- 1-Day Self-Guided Stone Forest Geological Park Tour from Kunming: $106
- 1-Day Civil Culture Tour in Kunming: $112
- Private Kunming Illuminated Night Tour: Dianchi Lake,1903 Park and Fountain Show: $118
- 1-Day Kunming Scenery Tour: $122
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Kunming $18
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 Kunming, we can see that Kunming 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 Kunming Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cebu or Kunming?
Kunming has a larger population, and is about 28% larger than the population of Cebu. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Kunming, 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.