Which place is cheaper, Wollongong or Cebu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cebu or Wollongong?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Wollongong? 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 Wollongong?
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.
Wollongong
Wollongong is south of Sydney in New South Wales. It is also the third largest city in the state. Wollongong has a unique geography in that it is only six kilometers wide at its widest point and is forty kilometers long. It is squeezed in between the mountains and the ocean and in the process of growth, has swallowed several coastal towns between Dapto and Port Kembla. Wollongong is home to the University of Wollongong and has a diverse population that includes people of Serbian, Croatian, Italian, and Turkish descent among other nationalities. The influence of these cultures is obvious in the city's restaurant and entertainment options. Throughout the city you'll find some wonderful beaches with few crowds and some decent surfing opportunities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $65Wollongong $121
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $65, while the average daily cost in Wollongong is $121. 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 Wollongong in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Wollongong $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Wollongong $130
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Wollongong
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Wollongong? 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 Wollongong Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cebu $26Wollongong $39
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Wollongong?
Prices for flights to both Wollongong 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 $21Wollongong $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
Typical Food Prices in Wollongong
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Wollongong:
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Lunch$7.79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Wollongong $22
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Wollongong $18
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 Wollongong, we can see that Wollongong 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 Wollongong 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 Wollongong would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wollongong 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 Wollongong Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cebu or Wollongong?
Cebu has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Wollongong. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Wollongong, 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.
When is the best time to visit Cebu or Wollongong?
Wollongong 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 Wollongong in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cebu as well as Wollongong. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Wollongong this time of year.
In July, Cebu is generally a little warmer than Wollongongin January. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 28°C (82°F), and Wollongong fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).
Cebu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Cebu usually gets more rain in July than Wollongongin January. Cebu gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Wollongong receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCebu 28°C (82°F)Wollongong 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Wollongong in the Autumn?
Both Wollongong and Cebu are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cebu throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Wollongong for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene.
Cebu is much warmer than Wollongong in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Wollongong fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in Cebu. In October, Cebu usually receives more rain than Wollongongin April. Cebu gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Wollongong receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilCebu 28°C (82°F)Wollongong 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Wollongong in the Winter?
Both Wollongong 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. Furthermore, many visitors come to Wollongong in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Cebu is much warmer than Wollongong. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cebu in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Wollongong averages at about 10°C (50°F)in July.
Cebu usually gets more rain in January than Wollongongin July. Cebu gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Wollongong receives 47 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyCebu 27°C (81°F)Wollongong 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Wollongong in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cebu and Wollongong. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Wollongong for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.
In April, Cebu is generally much warmer than Wollongongin October. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 29°C (84°F), and Wollongong fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
In April, Cebu usually receives less rain than Wollongongin October. Cebu gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Wollongong receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberCebu 29°C (84°F)Wollongong 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Wollongong and Cebu
| Cebu | Wollongong | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 47 mm (1.8 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 54 mm (2.1 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.