Which place is cheaper, Noosa Heads or Cebu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cebu or Noosa Heads?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Noosa Heads? 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 Noosa Heads?
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.
Noosa Heads
A town and suburb located on Queensland, Australia's Sunshine Coast, Noosa is best known as a destination of pleasant weather, beautiful beachside scenery, shopping, dining, and outdoor adventure. Some of the top attractions of the area include Noosa National Park and Sunshine Beach.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, and The Best Contiki Tours to Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $65Noosa Heads $110
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $65, while the average daily cost in Noosa Heads is $110. 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 Noosa Heads in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Noosa Heads $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Noosa Heads $116
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Noosa Heads
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Noosa Heads? 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 Noosa Heads Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cebu $26Noosa Heads $17
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Noosa Heads
Also for Noosa Heads, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sunshine Coast Airport Departure Transfer from Hotels: $18
- Sunshine Coast and Noosa Eumundi Markets Bus Transfer: $32
- Eumundi Markets Bus Transfer from Noosa, Noosaville & Mooloolaba: $32
- Brisbane Airport Departure shuttle Transfer from Sunshine Coast Hotels/addresses: $55
- Australia Zoo Transfer from Noosa, Coolum, Marcoola & Twin Waters: $79
- Private Morning Transfer From Noosa to Rainbow Beach: $89
- Private Transfers from Sunshine Coast Airport to Noosa (4pax): $99
- Private Transfer from Noosa to Sunshine Coast Airport up to 3 pax: $102
- Private Transfers from Sunshine Coast Airport to Noosa (6pax): $116
- Private Transfers from Sunshine Coast Airport to Noosa (8pax): $129
- Private Transfer from Sunshine Coast Airport to Hotels 11 pax: $218
- Premium Airport/ Cruise Terminal Transfers: $234
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Noosa Heads?
Prices for flights to both Noosa Heads 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 $21Noosa Heads $33
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Noosa Heads
For Noosa Heads, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Classes on Witta Maleny Sunshine Coast: $119
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Noosa Heads $40
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Noosa Heads
For Noosa Heads, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Surf Lesson$42
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Sea Kayak Tour (for 2)$84
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Sunset Cruise (for 2)$13
Tours and Activities in Noosa Heads
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Noosa Heads.
- 2 Hours Sunset Experience on Noosa River: $21
- The Original 1-Hour Mooloolaba Canal Cruise: $23
- Maleny Botanic Gardens Bird Aviary Experience Ticket: $28
- Sunset Cruise Mooloolaba: $30
- River Cruise on Historical Vessel: $32
- Aquaduck Sunshine Coast - 1hr Mooloolaba Amphibious Tour: $33
- 1 Hour Self Guided Water Bike Tour of the Noosa River: $33
- Seafood Lunch Cruise: $43
- River to River, Land and Sea E-bike Tour in Brisbane: $46
- Bushtucker Cruise: $50
- Sunset Tour with Live Music: $50
- Noosa Oceanrider - Adventure Tour: $52
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Noosa Heads $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Cebu
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cebu:
- Cebu City Light's Pub Crawl: $99
Sample the Local Flavors in Noosa Heads
Also in Noosa Heads, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Eumundi Market and Distillery Experience Market Days Wednesday & Saturday: $92
- Sunshine Coast Brewery Tour with Lunch: $162
- Hinterland Cheese & Wine Tasting Tour - with 2 course lunch included: $165
- Sunshine Coast & Noosa Scenic Food & Wine Tour Inc. Lunch: $182
- Noosa Hinterland Tour with Gourmet Lunch, Wine Tasting & Everglades Lake: $191
- Noosa Hinterland Drinks Tour- visit 2 distilleries, a winery and a brewery : $195
- Noosa Hinterland Drinks Private Tour with Gin, Beer, Mead & Wine Tastings: $277
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cebu and Noosa Heads, we can see that Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cebu or Noosa Heads?
Cebu has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Noosa Heads. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Noosa Heads, 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 Noosa Heads?
Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cebu as well as Noosa Heads. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Noosa Heads for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Cebu is a little warmer than Noosa Heads. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cebu in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Noosa Heads averages at about 20°C (67°F)in January.
It's quite rainy in Noosa Heads. Cebu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Cebu usually gets more rain in July than Noosa Headsin January. Cebu gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCebu 28°C (82°F)Noosa Heads 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Noosa Heads in the Autumn?
Both Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Cebu is generally much warmer than Noosa Headsin April. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 28°C (82°F), and Noosa Heads fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
It's quite rainy in Cebu. In October, Cebu usually receives more rain than Noosa Headsin April. Cebu gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilCebu 28°C (82°F)Noosa Heads 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Noosa Heads in the Winter?
Both Noosa Heads 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 museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Noosa Heads this time of year.
Cebu is much warmer than Noosa Heads in the winter. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Noosa Heads fluctuates around 7°C (44°F)in July.
Cebu usually gets more rain in January than Noosa Headsin July. Cebu gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 57 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyCebu 27°C (81°F)Noosa Heads 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Noosa Heads in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cebu and Noosa Heads. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round. Also, many travelers come to Noosa Heads for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Cebu is much warmer than Noosa Heads. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cebu in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Noosa Heads averages at about 14°C (57°F)in October.
In April, Cebu usually receives less rain than Noosa Headsin October. Cebu gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberCebu 29°C (84°F)Noosa Heads 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Noosa Heads and Cebu
| Cebu | Noosa Heads | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 117 mm (4.6 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.