Which place is cheaper, Lijiang or Cebu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cebu or Lijiang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Lijiang? 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 Lijiang?
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.
Lijiang
Lijiang is a city in Southwestern China with a history of rule under the Mu family during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It played a key role along the Ancient Southern Silk Road, which started from Burma, crossed Lijiang, Shangri-La County, Tibet, journeyed through Iran, the Fertile Crescent, and ultimately to the Mediterranean Sea. The area was once a center for trade, politics, culture, and education, which is still evident in the rich culture seen today. Lijiang has also been the home of centuries to the Naxi people who still inhabit the area.
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 $66Lijiang $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $66, while the average daily cost in Lijiang is $42. 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 Lijiang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Lijiang $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Lijiang $32
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Lijiang
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Lijiang? 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 $26Lijiang $5.69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Mactan-Cebu International Airport: $35
- Private Day Tour in Bohol from Cebu with Roundtrip Transfers: $190
- 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: $111
- 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
- Cordova Private Transfer from Cordova city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $42
- Private One-Way Airport Transfer: $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lijiang
Also for Lijiang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lijiang Sanyi International Airport Chauffeur Service,Lijiang Airport Transfer: $57
- Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Shangri-la(Diqing) hotel: $149
- Private Transfer from Lijiang to Shangri-La and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $159
- Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Dali and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang and Stops at Shaxi: $165
- Private Transfer from Lijiang to Dali and Stops at Shaxi: $165
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Lijiang?
Prices for flights to both Lijiang 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 $22Lijiang $17
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 City Historical Street and Food Tour: $69
- The Original Cebu Historical Street and Food Tour: $74
- Street Food Tour and Historical Sites Adventure: $77
- Panoramic View of Cebu and Dinner with Night View: $97
- 5-Hour Evening Tour from Cebu with Dinner: $110
- Traditional Filipino Bamboo Cooking Class: $111
- Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $131
Typical Food Prices in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$4.22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit: $59
- Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Lijiang $20
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
- Active Taal Volcano & Beach Swimming w/ Floating Cottage Tour: $160
- Balamban Uphill Adventure Tour in Cebu: $80
- 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: $218
- CEBU Caubian Island Hopping Tour: $185
- Canyoneering Adventure in Alegria: $154
Tours and Activities in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Via Ferrata with Zipline Experience in Lijiang: $42
- Private Half-Day Tour: Old Town of Lijiang and Black Dragon Pond Park: $98
- Biking tour&guide visit Lijiang baisha village market park: $160
- One day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Tour in From Lijiang: $160
- 1 Day Private Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang or Dali: $165
- 1 Day Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour from Lijiang or Shangri-La: $170
- Lijiang Sanyi airport (LJG) Pick up and Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour : $186
- Private Jade Dragon Snow Mountains and Naxi Village Tour: $187
- 2 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour by public coach: $189
- Private Day Tour Tiger Leaping Gorge and Black Dragon Pond from Lijiang: $207
- Flexible Lijiang City Highlights Private Day Tour with Lunch: $208
- Private Full Day Lijiang Naxi Culture Tour: $209
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Lijiang $8.02
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cebu and Lijiang, we can see that Cebu is more expensive. And not only is Lijiang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lijiang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lijiang 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 Cebu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cebu than you might in Lijiang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cebu Expensive? and Is Lijiang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cebu or Lijiang?
Lijiang has a larger population, and is about 42% larger than the population of Cebu. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Lijiang, 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.