Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Cebu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cebu or Whitsundays?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Whitsundays? 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 Whitsundays?
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.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $65Whitsundays $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $65, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $132. 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 Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Whitsundays $69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Whitsundays? 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 $26Whitsundays $55
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 Whitsundays
Also for Whitsundays, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $124
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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 $21Whitsundays $30
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 Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $98
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Whitsundays $25
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
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- From Daydream Is.: Whitsundays & Whitehaven Half-Day Cruise: $91
- Whitsundays Camira Sailing Adventure from Daydream Island: $150
- Daydream Island: Great Barrier Reef Adventure Cruise: $195
- Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,941
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Whitsundays $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Cebu
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cebu:
- Cebu City Light's Pub Crawl: $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cebu and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Cebu or Whitsundays?
Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cebu as well as Whitsundays. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Cebu is around the same temperature as Whitsundays in the summer. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
It's quite rainy in Whitsundays. Cebu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Cebu usually gets less rain in July than Whitsundaysin January. Cebu gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCebu 28°C (82°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
Both Whitsundays and Cebu are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cebu throughout the year.
In the autumn, Cebu is a little warmer than Whitsundays. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cebu in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 23°C (73°F)in April.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. It's quite rainy in Cebu. In October, Cebu usually receives around the same amount of rain as Whitsundaysin April. Cebu gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilCebu 28°C (82°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Whitsundays in the Winter?
Both Whitsundays 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.
In January, Cebu is generally much warmer than Whitsundaysin July. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 27°C (81°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).
Cebu usually gets more rain in January than Whitsundaysin July. Cebu gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyCebu 27°C (81°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Whitsundays in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cebu and Whitsundays. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round.
Cebu is a little warmer than Whitsundays in the spring. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in October.
In April, Cebu usually receives around the same amount of rain as Whitsundaysin October. Cebu gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberCebu 29°C (84°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Cebu
| Cebu | Whitsundays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 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.