Which place is cheaper, Cebu or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dubai or Cebu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dubai and Cebu can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or Cebu?
Dubai
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $248Cebu $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $248, while the average daily cost in Cebu is $66. 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 Dubai and Cebu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Cebu $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Cebu $50
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Cebu
Looking for a hotel in Dubai or Cebu? 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: Dubai Hotel Prices and Cebu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Cebu $26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
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Taxi Ride$12
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Airport Taxi$12
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Sea Taxi$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Departure Transfer from Dubai Hotels to Dubai Airport: $14
- Global Village Entry Ticket with Hotel Transfer: $14
- Shared Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Aquaventure/Lost Chamber: $18
- Sharing Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Dubai Mall (Burj Khalifa, VR Parks, DAUZ): $18
- Global Village Dubai Tickets with Transfers Option: $18
- Dubai Airport to DXB and Abu Dhabi Private Transfer: $18
- Dubai Frame Admission Ticket with Transfer Option: $20
- Dubai Frame Ticket with Optional Private Transfer: $20
- Private 1-Way Transfer to/from Dubai Airport (DXB): $20
- Dubai Airport Private one way Arrival or Departure Transfer: $22
- Dubai Airport Shuttle - One Way Departure Transfer: $22
- Airport Transfer: $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Bohol Day Tour with Round-Trip Transfers from Cebu: $190
- Private Day Tour in Bohol from Cebu with Roundtrip Transfers: $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: $111
- Cebu Airport to Out of Town Transfers: $95
- Cebu Airport Transfer within Mactan Island, Cebu or Mandaue City: $64
- Cordova Private Transfer from Cordova city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $42
- Cebu Departure Transfer from Lapu-Lapu city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $42
- Mactan Cebu Airport Transfer to City Hotels: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Cebu?
Prices for flights to both Cebu and Dubai 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 dayDubai $56Cebu $22
Typical Food Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
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French bread$0.95
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Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice$10
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Lemon Mint Tea$4.36
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Coffee & Cake$6.53
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Smoothie$5.45
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Shawarma$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Old Town, Creek, Museums, Souks, & Street Food Tour: $8.71
- Al-Seef Premium Dinner Cruise: $13
- Dubai Dhow Cruise Dinner in Deira Creek: $15
- Dubai Romantic Dhow Creek Dinner Cruise With Live Shows and International Buffet: $15
- Romantic Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner: $15
- 2-Hour Evening Dhow Cruise and Dinner: $15
- Dhow Cruise with Dinner at Dubai Al Seef: $15
- Dhow Boat Dinner Cruise in Dubai: $16
- Scenic Dhow Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Live Shows: $16
- Deira Creek: Dhow Cruise Dinner: $16
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner in Dubai Creek: $17
- Catamaran Cruise with Dinner at Al Jaddaf Waterfront Dubai: $17
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
- The Original Cebu City Historical Street and Food Tour: $69
- The Original Cebu Historical Street and Food Tour: $74
- Street Food Tour and Historical Sites Adventure: $77
- Panoramic View of Cebu and Dinner with Night View: $97
- 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.Dubai $19Cebu $17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Visit to the Dubai Museum$0.82
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
- Dubai Guided Old Town Tour, Abra Boat, Gold & Spice Souk: $4.63
- Dubai Fountain Boardwalk Entry Ticket: $5.45
- A Self-Guided Tour of Dubai’s Origins in Deira: $5.99
- Burj Khalifa, Dubai Hidden Gems - Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.68
- Al Fahidi Guided Walking Tour with Street Food: $7.00
- Old Town, Souk, Street Food, Museums Tour & Abra Ride: $7.00
- Old Dubai & Souks Guided Tour with Tastings & Cruise: $7.90
- Old Dubai with Museums, Abra Cruise, & Souks Tastings: $8.17
- Dubai in a nutshell a Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $8.19
- Dubai Fountain Walk Bridge Ticket: $9.49
- Old Guided Tour with Boat Ride, Souks and Museums: $9.80
- Discover Old Dubai Walking Tour With Food Tasting : $10
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: $80
- 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 from Cebu City or Mactan - Best Seller: $155
- Bohol Countryside Day Tour w Lunch at Loboc River From Cebu: $148
- Bohol Countryside Private Tour From Cebu City: $218
- CEBU Caubian Island Hopping Tour: $185
- Canyoneering Adventure in Alegria: $154
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Cebu $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
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A Couple Drinks$25
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubai
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubai:
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tours: $66
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour: $69
- Pub Crawl Private, Birthdays & Corporate Events: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Cebu, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Cebu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Cebu is in Asia, 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 Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai 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 Dubai Expensive? and Is Cebu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubai or Cebu?
Dubai has a larger population, and is about 42% larger than the population of Cebu. When comparing the sizes of Dubai and Cebu, 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 Dubai or Cebu?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Dubai or Cebu in the Summer?
Both Cebu and Dubai during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dubai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round.
June to August is the dry season in Dubai. Cebu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Dubai usually gets less rain in July than Cebu. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The heat can be very extreme in Dubai. In the summer, Dubai is a little warmer than Cebu. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dubai in July average around 35°C (95°F), and Cebu averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDubai 35°C (95°F)Cebu 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Cebu in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Dubai and Cebu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dubai year-round. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Cebu receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Dubai usually receives less rain than Cebu. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In October, Dubai is generally around the same temperature as Cebu. Daily temperatures in Dubai average around 29°C (84°F), and Cebu fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDubai 29°C (84°F)Cebu 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Cebu in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Dubai as well as Cebu. Dubai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cebu throughout the year.
January to March in Dubai is the rainy season. Dubai usually gets less rain in January than Cebu. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Dubai is cooler than Cebu in the winter. The daily temperature in Dubai averages around 19°C (66°F) in January, and Cebu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDubai 19°C (66°F)Cebu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Cebu in the Spring?
Both Cebu and Dubai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dubai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cebu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Dubai is June to August. In April, Dubai usually receives less rain than Cebu. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In the spring, Dubai is cooler than Cebu. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dubai in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Cebu averages at about 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDubai 26°C (79°F)Cebu 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Cebu and Dubai
| Dubai | Cebu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 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.