Which place is cheaper, Cebu or Koh Lipe?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Lipe 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 Koh Lipe and Cebu can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Koh Lipe or Cebu?
Koh Lipe
Ko Lipe used to be one of Thailand's most gorgeous hidden treasures. While it's still breathtaking, it's certainly not hidden anymore. With a small community of approximately 700 chow lair, or sea gypsies, this region is doing its best to maintain the beauty of its culture and beaches despite the influx of tourism. The rapid development has seen additions of concrete cafes and travel agencies. There are still rich, cultural gems to find in Ko Lipe - you just have to be willing to wander.
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 Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Lipe $85Cebu $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lipe is $85, while the average daily cost in Cebu 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 Koh Lipe and Cebu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Lipe $44Cebu $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Lipe $88Cebu $50
Compare Hotels in Koh Lipe and Cebu
Looking for a hotel in Koh Lipe 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: Koh Lipe Hotel Prices and Cebu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Lipe $18Cebu $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lipe
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lipe:
- Private Transfer Pak Bara Pier to Hatyai Airport by Van: $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Bohol Day Tour with Round-Trip Transfers from Cebu: $190
- Cebu Airport Transfer within Mactan Island, Cebu or Mandaue City: $64
- Cebu Departure Transfer from Lapu-Lapu city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $40
- 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
- Cebu Private Transfer from Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB) to Mandaue city: $40
- Cebu Private Transfer from Mactan Cebu International Airport (CEB) to Cebu city: $40
- Cebu Seaport - Mactan Hotel (Any Hotel) - One Way Transfer: $22
- Cebu Whale Shark Snorkeling & Tumalog Falls w/ Meals and Transfer: $95
- Private One-Way Airport Transfer: $25
- Danasan Eco Adventure Park Including Round-Trip Hotel Transfer: $161
- Hotel Private Transfer Airport to Cebu, Mandaue, LapuLapu: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lipe or Cebu?
Prices for flights to both Cebu and Koh Lipe 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 dayKoh Lipe $26Cebu $21
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Lipe $23Cebu $17
Tours and Activities in Koh Lipe
Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lipe for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Hours Tour Sunset Cruise Around Lipe: $15
- Experience the Koh Lipe Backyard including 5 Mysterious Islands: $21
- Full-Day Koh Lipe 7 Islands Snorkeling Experience with Lunch: $24
- Experience the Koh Lipe Frontier in the Eastern Adang Archipelago: $25
- Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) 1 day Experience: $111
Tours and Activities in Cebu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cebu are as follows:
- Moalboal Sardines Run Private Tour: $20
- Cebu City Tour: Temple of Leah and many more: $36
- 3-Hour Small Group Cebu City Tour: $38
- Cebu City: Cebu Heritage & Uphill Tour on Two Wheels: $40
- Cebu City Tour (Joiners Tour): $41
- Guided Heritage City Tour: $44
- Highlands Guided Tour w/ Hotel Pickup: $45
- Cebu Highlands Tour(Cebu Taoist, Temple of Leah and Sirao Garden): $46
- Land Tour | Bantayan Island - Sightseeing - Guided Tour: $46
- Cebu Half Day City Tour (Private Tour): $52
- Canyoneering Experience in Kawasan Falls with Lunch: $55
- Cebu City with Sirao Garden Half Day Tour: $57
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Lipe $8.18Cebu $14
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 Koh Lipe and Cebu, we can see that Koh Lipe is more expensive. And not only is Cebu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Koh Lipe would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Lipe 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 Koh Lipe Expensive? and Is Cebu Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Lipe or Cebu?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Cebu in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Lipe and Cebu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Lipe year-round. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Cebu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Lipe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Cebu. Koh Lipe gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Koh Lipe is around the same temperature as Cebu in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Lipe averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Cebu fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Lipe 27°C (81°F)Cebu 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Cebu in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Lipe as well as Cebu. Koh Lipe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cebu throughout the year.
Also, December to April in Koh Lipe is the dry season. May to October in Koh Lipe is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Cebu. Koh Lipe receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in October than Cebu. Koh Lipe gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Koh Lipe is around the same temperature as Cebu. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Lipe in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Cebu averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Lipe 27°C (81°F)Cebu 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Cebu in the Winter?
Both Cebu and Koh Lipe are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Lipe throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cebu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Koh Lipe usually receives less rain than Cebu. Koh Lipe gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Koh Lipe is generally around the same temperature as Cebu. Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 27°C (80°F), and Cebu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Lipe 27°C (80°F)Cebu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Cebu in the Spring?
Both Cebu and Koh Lipe during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Lipe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round.
December to April is the dry season in Koh Lipe. May to October is the rainy season in Koh Lipe. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Lipe. Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in April than Cebu. Koh Lipe gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Koh Lipe is around the same temperature as Cebu in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Lipe averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Cebu fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Lipe 29°C (85°F)Cebu 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Cebu and Koh Lipe
| Koh Lipe | Cebu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 355 mm (14 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 116 mm (4.6 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.