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

Should you visit Cebu or Nelson?

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

Should I visit Cebu or Nelson? 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 Nelson?

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.

Nelson

Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines, The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Nelson 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 Nelson is $101. 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 Nelson in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cebu $25
    Nelson $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cebu $50
    Nelson $86
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Nelson

Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Nelson? 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 Nelson


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 Nelson Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cebu $26
    Nelson $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:

  • CEB Private Airport Transfer to Cebu City Hotel: $23
  • Mactan-Cebu International Airport Private Transfer: $24
  • One-way Airport Transfer to Hotel: $25
  • Hotel Private Transfer Airport to Cebu, Mandaue, LapuLapu: $25
  • Private One-Way Airport Transfer: $25
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Hotel: $27
  • Private Car Transfer with Driver (Flexible Routes): $29
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Mactan-Cebu International Airport: $35
  • Mactan Cebu Airport Transfer to City Hotels: $35
  • Cordova Private Transfer from Cordova city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $41
  • Canyoneering Cebu in Kawasan falls + meals + Cebu transfer option: $53
  • Cebu Airport Transfer within Mactan Island, Cebu or Mandaue City: $64

Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Nelson?

Prices for flights to both Nelson 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
    Nelson $29

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: $72
  • 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: $109
  • 5-Hour Evening Tour from Cebu with Dinner: $110
  • Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $131

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cebu $17
    Nelson $25

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: $27
  • Cebu City Tour: Temple of Leah and many more: $36
  • Guided Heritage City Tour: $44
  • Highlands Guided Tour w/ Hotel Pickup: $45
  • Heritage Tour and Uphill Tour: $45
  • Cebu City and Uphill Tour: $45
  • 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): $52
  • Best Seller Cebu City Group Tour: $54
  • Kawasan Falls Canyoneering Tour from Moalboal: $54

Tours and Activities in Nelson

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

  • Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $30
  • Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $58
  • Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire Experience: $67
  • SKYWIRE Experience: $69
  • Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure: $73
  • Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure: $74
  • Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $78
  • Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $78
  • Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $81
  • Guided Quad Biking Tour Through Forest and Farmland: $82
  • Spooners Tunnel to Nelson One Day Cycle Self Guided Tour: $84
  • Cruise, Walk, and Sail in Abel Tasman National Park: $128

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cebu $14
    Nelson $14

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: $250

Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:

  • Self-guided E-bike cycle tour with private wine tasting : $100


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cebu and Nelson, we can see that Nelson 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 Nelson 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 Nelson would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nelson 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 Nelson Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cebu or Nelson?

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