Which place is cheaper, Taupo or Cebu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cebu or Taupo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Taupo? 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 Taupo?
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.
Taupo
Taupo is a town located in the center of the North Island, situated on the shores of Lake Taupo, which is New Zealand's largest lake. It is also the caldera of the Taupo Volcano. It has a population of 23,700 people and is visited by many people interested in fishing, boating, and other water activities. There are many hiking and biking trails that take you around the water as well.
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 G Adventures Tours to New Zealand, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $65Taupo $118
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $65, while the average daily cost in Taupo is $118. 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 Taupo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Taupo $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Taupo $132
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Taupo
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Taupo? 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 Taupo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cebu $26Taupo $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Bohol Day Tour with Round-Trip Transfers from Cebu: $208
- CEB Private Airport Transfer to Cebu City Hotel: $23
- Canyoneering Cebu in Kawasan falls + meals + Cebu transfer option: $53
- Cebu Airport Transfer within Mactan Island, Cebu or Mandaue City: $64
- Cebu Airport to Out of Town Transfers: $95
- Cebu Departure Transfer from Lapu-Lapu city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $41
- Cebu Departure Transfer from Mandaue city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $41
- Mactan-Cebu International Airport Private Transfer: $24
- One-way Airport Transfer to Hotel: $25
- Private Car Transfer with Driver (Flexible Routes): $29
- Private One-Way Airport Transfer: $26
- Danasan Eco Adventure Park Including Round-Trip Hotel Transfer: $161
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taupo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Taupo:
- From Shuttle Transfer for Tongariro Alpine Crossing: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Taupo?
Prices for flights to both Taupo 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 $21Taupo $25
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: $73
- 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: $110
- Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $131
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Taupo $37
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
- Guided Heritage City Tour: $45
- Heritage Tour and Uphill Tour: $46
- Cebu City and Uphill Tour: $46
- Highlands Guided Tour w/ Hotel Pickup: $46
- 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): $53
- Canyoneering Experience in Kawasan Falls with Lunch: $55
Typical Entertainment Prices in Taupo
Here are a few typical costs in Taupo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Bungy Jumping$162
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Jet Boating$60
Tours and Activities in Taupo
Here are a few actual costs in Taupo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Taupo Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Marvelous Circus: $23
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Candy Cottage: $23
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - Cabin in the Woods: $23
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Hunting Lodge: $23
- Maori Rock Carvings Scenic Cruise: $28
- Orakei Korako Geothermal Park and Cave Entry Ticket: $30
- Lake Maori Rock Carvings 8.30 AM 1.5-Hour Cruise: $30
- Self-Guided Geothermal Tour in Orakei Korako: $31
- Maori Rock Carvings - Taupo Sailing Adventures - Sail Fearless: $31
- TaupÅ: Lake Taupo Maori Rock Carving 2.5-Hour Sailing Cruise: $34
- Lake 1.5-Hour Maori Rock Carvings 5:00 PM Cruise: $36
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Taupo $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: $200
Typical Alcohol Prices in Taupo
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Taupo from other travelers:
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Wine$5.39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cebu and Taupo, we can see that Taupo 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 Taupo 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 Taupo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taupo 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 Taupo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cebu or Taupo?
Cebu has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Taupo. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Taupo, 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.