Which place is cheaper, Mashiko or Cebu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cebu or Mashiko?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Mashiko? 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 Mashiko?
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.
Mashiko
Mashiko is a town in Japan famous for its pottery, called "Mashiko yaki." Large noborigama kilns were first brought to the area in 1853 by immigrant potters from a neighboring community in the Ibaraki prefecture. It is also home to the site of Saimyoji temple, one of the oldest temples in Tochigi prefecture, as well as the shrine of the Utsunomiya han.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $65Mashiko $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $65, while the average daily cost in Mashiko 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 Mashiko in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Mashiko $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Mashiko $66
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Mashiko
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Mashiko? 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 $26Mashiko $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Bohol Day Tour with Round-Trip Transfers from Cebu: $190
- 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: $108
- Cebu Whale Shark Snorkeling & Tumalog Falls w/ Meals and Transfer: $95
- Transfer Cebu City - Bantayan Island: $70
- Cebu Airport Transfer within Mactan Island, Cebu or Mandaue City: $64
- Private Canyoneering in Kawasan falls + meals + Cebu transfer opt: $53
- Cebu Departure Transfer from Mandaue city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $40
- Cebu Private Transfer from Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB) to Lapu-Lapu city: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Mashiko?
Prices for flights to both Mashiko 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 $21Mashiko $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cebu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cebu.
- Cebu City: Historical Street and Food Tour: $67
- Cebu City Historical Street and Food Tour: $69
- Panoramic View of Cebu and Dinner with Night View: $89
- Traditional Filipino Bamboo Cooking Class: $108
- Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $131
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Mashiko $8.85
Tours and Activities in Cebu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cebu are as follows:
- Cebu Steet food, historical and mountain tour: $110
- 3-Hour Small Group Cebu City Tour: $38
- A snorkelling tour to Cebu’s Hilutungan: $130
- Badian Cebu Canyoneering Experience: $84
- Balamban Uphill Adventure Tour in Cebu: $80
- Beach Adventure: $85
- 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 Joiners Tour From Cebu City: $144
- Bohol Countryside Private Tour From Cebu City: $213
- Canyoneering Experience in Kawasan Falls with Lunch: $55
- Cebu City All Day Tour; An Unforgettable Experience of Cebu.: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Mashiko $5.13
Sample the Local Flavors in Cebu
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cebu:
- Cebu City Light's Pub Crawl: $99
When comparing the travel costs between Cebu and Mashiko, 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 Mashiko Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cebu or Mashiko?
Cebu has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Mashiko. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Mashiko, 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.
When is the best time to visit Cebu or Mashiko?
Mashiko 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 Mashiko in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cebu as well as Mashiko. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Mashiko in the summer for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Cebu is generally a little warmer than Mashiko. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 28°C (82°F), and Mashiko fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
It's quite rainy in Mashiko. Cebu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Cebu usually gets more rain in July than Mashiko. Cebu gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Mashiko receives 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCebu 28°C (82°F)Mashiko 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Mashiko in the Autumn?
Both Mashiko and Cebu are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cebu throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Mashiko for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere during these months.
Cebu is much warmer than Mashiko in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Mashiko fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Mashiko. It's quite rainy in Cebu. In October, Cebu usually receives around the same amount of rain as Mashiko. Cebu gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Mashiko receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCebu 28°C (82°F)Mashiko 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Mashiko in the Winter?
Both Mashiko and Cebu during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cebu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Mashiko because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Mashiko can be very cold. In the winter, Cebu is much warmer than Mashiko. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cebu in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Mashiko averages at about 3°C (38°F).
Cebu usually gets more rain in January than Mashiko. Cebu gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Mashiko receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCebu 27°C (81°F)Mashiko 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Mashiko in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cebu and Mashiko. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round. Also, the small town charm are the main draw to Mashiko this time of year.
In April, Cebu is generally much warmer than Mashiko. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 29°C (84°F), and Mashiko fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
Mashiko receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Cebu usually receives less rain than Mashiko. Cebu gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Mashiko receives 118 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCebu 29°C (84°F)Mashiko 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Mashiko and Cebu
| Cebu | Mashiko | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 175 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 40 mm (1.6 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.