Which place is cheaper, Cebu or Lhasa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Lhasa or Cebu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa or Cebu? 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: Lhasa or Cebu?
Lhasa
Lhasa is the famed capital of Tibet, and is one of the most fascinating cities in the world to visit. It's name means "Land of the Gods" and the city dates back more than 1,300 years. It's elevation is 3,650 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest cities in the world. It sits on the northern slopes of the Himalayan Mountains by the Lhasa River and is the second largest city on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining.
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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines.
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Lhasa Prices
China PricesCebu Prices
Philippines Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $96Cebu $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $96, while the average daily cost in Cebu is $74. 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 Lhasa and Cebu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $42Cebu $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $84Cebu $46
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Cebu
Looking for a hotel in Lhasa 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: Cebu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lhasa $2.75Cebu $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa
Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- [Airport Transfer] Lhasa Kunga Airport ⇔ Lhasa City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! : $89
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
- Lhasa Kongga Airport private Transfer: $260
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Trusted Airport transfer to Mactan Resorts or Cebu Hotels: $80
- Sumilon Bluewater Resort Day Use w lunch and transfer from Cebu: $200
- Shared Joiners Transfer to Maya Port for Malapascua Island: $47
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Mactan-Cebu International Airport: $35
- Private Airport to Hotel Transfer in Cebu City: $35
- Private Airport to Hagnaya Going to Bantayan Island Transfer: $122
- Private Airport Transfer: Cebu Airport (CEB) → Cebu City Hotels: $33
- Oslob Private Van Transfer between Cebu, Mactan or Mandaue City: $175
- Moalboal Sardines Run Private Tour w/ Transfers Option: $22
- Mactan-Cebu Island Hopping Cruise with Lunch & Roundtrip Transfer: $204
- Mactan Airport - Cebu City Sepoart (Transfer): $20
- Kawasan Falls Canyoneering w/ Lunch & Transfers from Cebu City: $137
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Cebu?
Prices for flights to both Cebu and Lhasa 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 dayLhasa $48Cebu $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cebu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cebu.
- Carbon Market Food Tour & Bars with Jeepney Ride: $16
- Highlands Guided Tour with STREET FOOD TOUR OPTION: $45
- Cebu City: Historical Street and Food Tour: $89
- Cebu Traditional Cuisine Cooking Class: $98
- Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $100
- Cebu Traditional Bamboo Cooking Class: $107
- Cebu Traditional Bamboo Cooking: $110
- Cebu Vegetarian Cooking Class: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $18Cebu $15
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 5-Day Private Tour with Potala Palace & Yamdrok Lake: $1,299
- 17-Day Tibet Tour with Everest Base Camp: $3,759
- 17 Days Kailash Mansarovar Tour & Guge Kingdom Exploration: $13,185
Tours and Activities in Cebu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cebu are as follows:
- 3-Hour Small Group Cebu City Tour: $38
- Aqua Sports Adventure Package with 3 Water Activities: $129
- BEST OF Cebu City Heritage with Uphill Tour: $61
- BEST OF Cebu City Heritage with Uphill Tour | Joiners: $64
- BEST OF Guided Heritage City Joiners Tour: $44
- Badian Cebu Canyoneering Experience: $128
- Balamban Uphill Adventure Tour in Cebu: $100
- Beginner Scuba Diving in Moalboal | Safe & Easy Experience: $65
- Best Seller Cebu City Group Tour: $53
- Bohol Countryside Day Tour w Lunch at Loboc River From Cebu: $142
- Bohol Countryside Private Tour From Cebu City | Private Tour: $187
- Bohol Countryside Tour From Cebu | Lunch at Loboc River Cruise: $175
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $7.39Cebu $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Cebu
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cebu:
- Makati Pub Crawl with Optional City Tour: $18
- Cebu City Light's Pub Crawl: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Cebu, we can see that Lhasa 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 Lhasa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lhasa 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 Lhasa Expensive? and Is Cebu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Cebu?
Cebu has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Lhasa. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa 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.
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.