Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie or Cebu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cebu or Zhangjiajie?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Zhangjiajie? 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 Zhangjiajie?
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.
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $65Zhangjiajie $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $65, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $65. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Zhangjiajie $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Zhangjiajie
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Zhangjiajie? 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 $26Zhangjiajie $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Bohol Day Tour with Round-Trip Transfers from Cebu: $208
- Mactan-Cebu Island Hopping Cruise with Lunch & Roundtrip Transfer: $196
- 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: $111
- Cebu Airport to Out of Town Transfers: $95
- Trusted Airport transfer to Mactan Resorts or Cebu Hotels: $80
- Transfer Cebu City - Bantayan Island: $70
- Cebu Airport Transfer within Mactan Island, Cebu or Mandaue City: $64
- Canyoneering Cebu in Kawasan falls + meals + Cebu transfer option: $53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $18
- Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $63
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie Train Station to Fenghuang hotel: $149
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Aizhai bridge area: $187
- Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Zhangjiajie?
Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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 $21Zhangjiajie $21
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: $74
- 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
- 5-Hour Evening Tour from Cebu with Dinner: $110
- Traditional Filipino Bamboo Cooking Class: $111
- Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $131
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Zhangjiajie $23
Tours and Activities in Cebu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cebu are as follows:
- Cebu City with Hillyland Joiners Tour: $66
- Cebu Steet food, historical and mountain tour: $110
- 3-Hour Small Group Cebu City Tour: $38
- Active Taal Volcano & Beach Swimming w/ Floating Cottage Tour: $160
- Balamban Uphill Adventure Tour in Cebu: $100
- Bantayan Island Hopping Joiner Tour: Virgin Island, Baigad Lagoon: $58
- Bohol Countryside Day Tour From Cebu City | Lunch at Loboc River Cruise: $145
- Bohol Countryside Day Tour w Lunch at Loboc River From Cebu: $148
- Bohol Countryside Private Tour From Cebu City: $219
- CEBU Caubian Island Hopping Tour: $185
- CEBU Island Hopping Tour to Nalusuan Island: $195
- Canyoneering Adventure in Alegria: $154
Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- Baofeng Lake Admission Ticket in Zhangjiajie (with Boat Ride): $37
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge Ticket: $57
- Tianmen Mountain day tour: $92
- Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain With the Skywalk: $121
- Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain: $126
- Full-Day Private Tour of Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) National Forest Park: $130
- 1 Days Zhangjiajie Natural Beauty Tour with Baofeng Lake: $132
- 1 Day Private Expedition Tour to Binlang Valley: $142
- 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour: $146
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge and Baofeng Lake Private Day Tour: $147
- Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountain Glass Bridge day tour: $150
- 1 Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain and Glass Skywalk Tour: $154
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Zhangjiajie $16
When comparing the travel costs between Cebu and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Cebu 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 Zhangjiajie Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cebu or Zhangjiajie?
Cebu has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Zhangjiajie, 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 Zhangjiajie?
Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cebu as well as Zhangjiajie. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Cebu is around the same temperature as Zhangjiajie. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cebu in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 29°C (85°F).
It's quite rainy in Zhangjiajie. Cebu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Cebu usually gets more rain in July than Zhangjiajie. Cebu gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCebu 28°C (82°F)Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Zhangjiajie in the Autumn?
Both Zhangjiajie 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 October, Cebu is generally much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 28°C (82°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
It's quite rainy in Cebu. In October, Cebu usually receives more rain than Zhangjiajie. Cebu gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCebu 28°C (82°F)Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Zhangjiajie in the Winter?
Both Zhangjiajie 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.
Cebu is much warmer than Zhangjiajie in the winter. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).
Cebu usually gets more rain in January than Zhangjiajie. Cebu gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCebu 27°C (81°F)Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Zhangjiajie in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cebu and Zhangjiajie. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round.
In the spring, Cebu is much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cebu in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 17°C (63°F).
Zhangjiajie receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Cebu usually receives less rain than Zhangjiajie. Cebu gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCebu 29°C (84°F)Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Zhangjiajie and Cebu
| Cebu | Zhangjiajie | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 179 mm (7 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 90 mm (3.6 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.