Which place is cheaper, Sado or Cebu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Cebu or Sado?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Sado? 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 Sado?
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.
Sado
Sado Island, Japan is located just off the coast of Niigata and is an old gold mining town that has since developed into a quiet summer holiday destination. The island is home to two mountain ranges, O-Sado in the north and Ko-sado in the south, with the popular Kuninaka plain in between the mountain ranges. With the remoteness of the island, it has become a popular destination for tourists to experience old Japan and get away from the busy mainland.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.
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Cebu Prices
Philippines PricesSado Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $80Sado $82
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $80, while the average daily cost in Sado is $82. 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 Sado in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Sado $31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Sado $62
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Sado
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Sado? 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 Sado Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cebu $26Sado $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- CEB Airport to City Centre|Hotels Private Transfer: $7.00
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cebu APT-HTL (CEB): $18
- Cebu Airport Private Transfer to Cebu City Hotel: $18
- Private One-Way Airport Transfer: $26
- Cordova Private Transfer from Cordova city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $28
- Private Car Transfer with Driver (Flexible Routes): $29
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cebu HTL-APT (CEB): $31
- Private Airport to Hotel Transfer in Cebu City: $35
- Cebu Airport Transfer to / from Anywhere in Cebu: $37
- Canyoneering Cebu in Kawasan falls + meals + Cebu transfer option: $53
- One-way Airport Transfer to Cebu City Hotels: $91
- Cebu Safari & Adventure Park: Wildlife Tour with Transfers: $104
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Sado?
Prices for flights to both Sado 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 $36Sado $42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cebu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cebu.
- Carbon Market Food Tour & Bars with Jeepney Ride: $16
- Highlands Guided Tour with STREET FOOD TOUR OPTION: $46
- The Ultimate Cebu Food Tour: Local Tastes & Cultural Journey: $70
- Cebu City: Historical Street and Food Tour: $91
- Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $100
- Cebu Traditional Cuisine Cooking Class: $100
- Cebu Traditional Bamboo Cooking Class: $110
- Cebu Traditional Bamboo Cooking: $110
- Cebu Vegetarian Cooking Class: $110
- Cebu Traditional Cuisine Cooking Class: $110
- 5-Hour Evening Tour from Cebu with Dinner: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Sado $8.74
Tours and Activities in Cebu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cebu are as follows:
- Cebu City: Walking Tour: $22
- Cebu City: Guided Trekking Experience: $33
- 3-Hour Small Group Cebu City Tour: $38
- City Sightseeing Group Tour: $40
- BEST OF Guided Heritage City Joiners Tour: $45
- Scuba Diving Experience beach entry in Mactan: $45
- Heritage Tour and Uphill Tour: $46
- Cebu Highlands Tour (Taoist temple, Leah and sirao garden)PICK UP: $46
- Cebu City: Best of Cebu Full-Day Guided Sightseeing Tour: $49
- Thrill Seekers Paradise Kawasan Canyoning Adventure: $50
- Cebu Half Day City Tour (Private Tour): $52
- Best Seller Cebu City Group Tour: $54
Tours and Activities in Sado
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sado are as follows:
- Sado Island Highlights: 3-Hour Bike Tour: $84
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Sado $69
Sample the Local Flavors in Cebu
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cebu:
- Makati Pub Crawl with Optional City Tour: $18
- Cebu City Light's Pub Crawl: $110
When comparing the travel costs between Cebu and Sado, we can see that Sado 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 Sado Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Cebu or Sado?
Sado 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 Sado in the Summer?
Both Sado and Cebu are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cebu throughout the year. Also, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Sado this time of year.
Cebu is a little warmer than Sado in the summer. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Sado fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. It's quite rainy in Cebu. In July, Cebu usually receives around the same amount of rain as Sado. Cebu gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCebu 28°C (82°F)Sado 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Sado in the Autumn?
Both Sado and Cebu during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cebu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Sado for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Cebu is much warmer than Sado. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cebu in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Sado averages at about 16°C (60°F).
Sado gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Cebu. Cebu usually gets more rain in October than Sado. Cebu gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCebu 28°C (82°F)Sado 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Sado in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Cebu and Sado. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Sado in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Sado can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Cebu is generally much warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 27°C (81°F), and Sado fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
Sado receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Cebu usually receives less rain than Sado. Cebu gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCebu 27°C (81°F)Sado 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Sado in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Cebu as well as Sado. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Cebu is much warmer than Sado in the spring. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Sado fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).
It's quite rainy in Sado. Cebu usually gets less rain in April than Sado. Cebu gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCebu 29°C (84°F)Sado 10°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Sado and Cebu
| Cebu | Sado | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 159 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 162 mm (6.4 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.