Which place is cheaper, Pingyao or Cebu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cebu or Pingyao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Pingyao? 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 Pingyao?
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.
Pingyao
Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $66Pingyao $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $66, while the average daily cost in Pingyao is $55. 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 Pingyao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Pingyao $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Pingyao $46
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Pingyao
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Pingyao? 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 $26Pingyao $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Cebu Seaport - Mactan Hotel (Any Hotel) - One Way Transfer: $22
- CEB Private Airport Transfer to Cebu City Hotel: $23
- Mactan-Cebu International Airport Private Transfer: $24
- Hotel Private Transfer Airport to Cebu, Mandaue, LapuLapu: $26
- Private One-Way Airport Transfer: $26
- Private Arrival Transfer: Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Hotel: $27
- Mactan Cebu Airport Transfer to City Hotels: $35
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Mactan-Cebu International Airport: $35
- Cordova Private Transfer from Cordova city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $42
- Cebu Departure Transfer from Lapu-Lapu city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $42
- Cebu Airport Transfer within Mactan Island, Cebu or Mandaue City: $64
- Cebu Airport to Out of Town Transfers: $95
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:
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Taxi to Train Station$1.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pingyao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pingyao:
- Private Transfer Servcie to Mianshan (Mian Mountain) from Pingyao: $60
- Privater Transfer from Datong to Pingyao with driver: $115
- Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Wutaishan from Pingyao: $190
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Pingyao?
Prices for flights to both Pingyao 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 $22Pingyao $20
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 Pingyao
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for 2)$5.07
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Mango Juice$0.70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Pingyao $19
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: $28
- Cebu City Tour: Temple of Leah and many more: $37
- 3-Hour Small Group Cebu City Tour: $38
- Cebu City Tour : $38
- Cebu Group Tour: Best Cebu City Tour: $45
- Guided Heritage City Tour: $45
- Cebu Highlands Tour(Cebu Taoist, Temple of Leah and Sirao Garden): $46
- Cebu City and Uphill Tour: $46
- Highlands Guided Tour w/ Hotel Pickup: $46
- Heritage Tour and Uphill Tour: $46
- Taoist Temple, Temple of Leah, and Tops Cebu Tour: $46
Typical Entertainment Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:
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All Day Bike Rental (for 2)$2.82
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Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)$7.04
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Bike Parking Fee (for 2)$0.56
Tours and Activities in Pingyao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:
- 2-Hour Guided Private Bike Tour to see the Hidden Pingyao & Tea Break: $60
- Half-Day Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Ancient City: $65
- Pingyao Food Walking Tour : $67
- 1-Day Pingyao Ancient Town Sightseeing Walking Tour: $113
- Private Tour: Wang's Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple From Pingyao: $122
- 3-Hour Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Highlights: $125
- Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $129
- Pingyao Day Tour: Wang Family Mansion and Zhangbi Ancient Castle: $132
- All Inclusive Pingyao Private Tour to Qiao Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $142
- Private Day Tour: Pingyao Highlights of Old Town and City Wall: $154
- Private Old Town Highlights Day Tour: $160
- Private Day Tour in Pingyao Including Zhenguo and Shuanglin Temple: $164
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Pingyao $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cebu and Pingyao, we can see that Cebu is more expensive. And not only is Pingyao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pingyao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pingyao 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 Pingyao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cebu Expensive? and Is Pingyao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cebu or Pingyao?
Cebu has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Pingyao, 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.