Which place is cheaper, Nikko or Cebu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cebu or Nikko?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Nikko? 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 Nikko?
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.
Nikko
Nikko is a small Japanese city located in the mountains north of Tokyo. It is well-known for the site of Toshogu, a famed Shinto shrine established in 1617, in memory of Tokugawa Ieyasu who was the founding ruler of the Edo Period. The town is situated just outside of Nikko National Park which offers scenic mountain landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, wild monkeys, and hiking trails.
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 Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $66Nikko $88
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $66, while the average daily cost in Nikko is $88. 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 Nikko in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Nikko $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Nikko $100
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Nikko
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Nikko? 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 and Nikko Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cebu $26Nikko -
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nikko
Also for Nikko, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kinugawa Osen to Tokyo Narita Airport Private Departure Transfer: $273
- Kinugawa Osen to Tokyo Haneda Airport Departure Private Transfer: $273
- Haneda Airport to/from Nikko City Private Transfer: $689
- Private Transfer to/from Narita Airport (NRT): $689
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Nikko?
Prices for flights to both Nikko 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 $22Nikko $33
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Nikko $23
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 Nikko
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Nikko.
- Nikko self-guided tour app with multi-language audioguide: $4.43
- Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura Theme Park Early-bird Ticket Tochigi: $59
- World Heritage Nikko 1-Day Walking Tour from Tokyo or Nikko: $65
- Visit the Unexplored Regions of Lake Chuzenji-Scenic Trekking and Rafting Tour: $85
- THE TOUR From NIKKO STATION (LOCAL GUIDE): $107
- Nikko Private Custom Tour with Local Guide: $156
- Private Walking Tour with Local Guide: $156
- Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide: $159
- Nikko Custom Half Day Tour: $175
- 【Tokyo】 Group Bus Tour: $192
- Nikko Custom Full Day Tour: $279
- Private Tour with Toshogu Shrine and Kegon Falls: $341
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Nikko $16
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cebu and Nikko, we can see that Nikko is more expensive. And not only is Cebu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Nikko would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nikko 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 Nikko Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cebu or Nikko?
Cebu has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Nikko. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Nikko, 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 Nikko?
Nikko 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 Nikko in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cebu as well as Nikko. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Nikko for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Cebu is a little warmer than Nikko in the summer. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Nikko fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite rainy in Nikko. Cebu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Cebu usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Nikko. Cebu gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCebu 28°C (82°F)Nikko 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Nikko in the Autumn?
Both Nikko 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, the autumn months attract visitors to Nikko because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Cebu is much warmer than Nikko. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cebu in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Nikko averages at about 16°C (61°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Nikko. It's quite rainy in Cebu. In October, Cebu usually receives more rain than Nikko. Cebu gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCebu 28°C (82°F)Nikko 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Nikko in the Winter?
Both Nikko 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. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Nikko this time of year.
It's quite cold in Nikko in the winter. In January, Cebu is generally much warmer than Nikko. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 27°C (81°F), and Nikko fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
Cebu usually gets more rain in January than Nikko. Cebu gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCebu 27°C (81°F)Nikko 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Nikko in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cebu and Nikko. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Nikko for the small town charm and the natural beauty.
Cebu is much warmer than Nikko in the spring. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Nikko fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
Nikko receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Cebu usually receives less rain than Nikko. Cebu gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 108 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCebu 29°C (84°F)Nikko 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Nikko and Cebu
| Cebu | Nikko | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 108 mm (4.2 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 32 mm (1.2 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.