Which place is cheaper, Tauranga or Cebu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cebu or Tauranga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Tauranga? 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 Tauranga?
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.
Tauranga
Tauranga is a city on the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the western side of the Bay of Plenty, which is on the east coast of the island. Its population of 130,000 makes it the fifth largest city in the country. Tauranga is a Maori word translated roughly to 'a sheltered anchorage'. This makes sense as the town is located near a very large harbor and protected by Matakana Island. Mount Maunganui is at the headland of the town and regarded as a suburb of Tauranga. The beach at Mt Maunganui is a surfing hot spot. The climate is mostly warm and dry because of the town's sheltered position.
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 New Zealand, and The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $65Tauranga $110
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $65, while the average daily cost in Tauranga 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 Tauranga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Tauranga $79
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Tauranga $158
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Tauranga
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Tauranga? 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 Tauranga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cebu $26Tauranga $7.23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- CEB Private Airport Transfer to Cebu City Hotel: $23
- Mactan-Cebu International Airport Private Transfer: $24
- One-way Airport Transfer to Hotel: $25
- Private One-Way Airport Transfer: $26
- Hotel Private Transfer Airport to Cebu, Mandaue, LapuLapu: $26
- Private Arrival Transfer: Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Hotel: $27
- Private Car Transfer with Driver (Flexible Routes): $29
- Mactan Cebu Airport Transfer to City Hotels: $35
- Cebu Departure Transfer from Mandaue city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $41
- Cebu Departure Transfer from Lapu-Lapu city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $41
- Canyoneering Cebu in Kawasan falls + meals + Cebu transfer option: $53
- Cebu Airport Transfer within Mactan Island, Cebu or Mandaue City: $64
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Tauranga?
Prices for flights to both Tauranga 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 $21Tauranga $23
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 $17Tauranga $11
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
Tours and Activities in Tauranga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tauranga are as follows:
- Tauranga Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Mount Maunganui Harbour Sightseeing Cruise: $25
- Tauranga Harbour Scenic One Hour Historical Boat Cruise : $25
- Waimarino Adventure Park Supreme Pass Entry Ticket: $30
- Waimarino Adventure Park: $31
- 2hr Tauranga City Scenic History Tour: $35
- 2-Hour Tauranga & Mount Maunganui City & Scenic Local Tour: $49
- Tauranga Harbour Cruise: $59
- 4hr Shore Excursion - History and Tasting Tour FREE Kiwifruit Tasting: $59
- 4hr Tauranga Scenic History and Tasting Tour FREE Kiwifruit Tasting: $59
- Tauranga Shore Excursion: Small-Group Bay of Plenty and Tauranga Tour: $61
- New Zealand Tauranga Tour with Transportation and Snacks: $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Tauranga $11
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 Tauranga, we can see that Tauranga 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 Tauranga 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 Tauranga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tauranga 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 Tauranga Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cebu or Tauranga?
Cebu has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Tauranga. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Tauranga, 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.