Which place is cheaper, Dalian or Cebu?
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 Cebu or Dalian?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Dalian? 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 Dalian?
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.
Dalian
Dalian, China is a very large peninsula city located in the southernmost part of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The area has a wealth of history, with roots in Russian and Japanese rule, resulting in unique architecture and many universities that attract foreign students and teachers. Dalian is also known for their beautiful green spaces and relaxing beaches which juxtapose a lot of the more industrial cities found throughout other areas of northern China.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.
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Cebu Prices
Philippines PricesDalian Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $80Dalian $124
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $80, while the average daily cost in Dalian is $124. 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 Dalian in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Dalian $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Dalian $110
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Dalian
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Dalian? 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 $26Dalian $41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Bohol Day Tour with Round-Trip Transfers from Cebu: $208
- Oslob Whale Shark Encounter & SUMILON with Transfers: $196
- Mactan-Cebu Island Hopping Cruise with Lunch & Roundtrip Transfer: $196
- Bohol Day Tour from Cebu (Shared) w/ RT Transfers & Ferry: $185
- Oslob Private Van Transfer between Cebu, Mactan or Mandaue City: $175
- Danasan Eco Adventure Park Including Round-Trip Hotel Transfer: $161
- Kawasan Falls Canyoneering w/ Lunch & Transfers from Cebu City: $122
- Cebu Safari & Adventure Park: Wildlife Tour with Transfers: $102
- One-way Airport Transfer to Cebu City Hotels: $89
- Canyoneering Cebu in Kawasan falls + meals + Cebu transfer option: $53
- Cebu Airport Transfer to / from Anywhere in Cebu: $37
- Private Airport to Hotel Transfer in Cebu City: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dalian
Also for Dalian, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer: $27
- Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Dalian?
Prices for flights to both Dalian 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 $36Dalian $48
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
- The Ultimate Cebu Food Tour: Local Tastes & Cultural Journey: $70
- 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
- Cebu Traditional Cuisine Cooking Class: $110
- 5-Hour Evening Tour from Cebu with Dinner: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Dalian $4.86
Tours and Activities in Cebu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cebu are as follows:
- BEST OF Cebu City Heritage with Uphill Tour | Joiners: $64
- Cebu Steet food, historical and mountain tour: $110
- 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 Guided Heritage City Joiners Tour: $44
- Badian Canyoneering Adventure and Kawasan Waterfalls Private Tour: $149
- Badian Cebu Canyoneering Experience: $146
- Badian Cebu Canyoneering Experience: $103
- Balamban Uphill Adventure Tour in Cebu: $100
- Best Seller Cebu City Group Tour: $53
- Bohol Countryside Day Tour From Cebu City | Lunch at Loboc River Cruise: $145
Tours and Activities in Dalian
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dalian.
- Seaside and Skyline A Scenic Walking Tour of Dalian: $150
- Waves & Wharfs: Dalian's Chill Soul 1-Day Tour: $215
- Dalian City Private Day Tour in Your Way: $250
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Dalian $6.41
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 Cebu and Dalian, we can see that Dalian 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 Dalian would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dalian 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 Dalian Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cebu or Dalian?
Dalian has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cebu. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Dalian, 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 Dalian?
Dalian 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 Dalian in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cebu as well as Dalian. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Cebu is generally a little warmer than Dalian. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 28°C (82°F), and Dalian fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
It's quite rainy in Dalian. Cebu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Cebu usually gets less rain in July than Dalian. Cebu gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 202 mm (8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCebu 28°C (82°F)Dalian 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Dalian in the Autumn?
Both Dalian and Cebu are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cebu throughout the year.
Cebu is much warmer than Dalian in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Dalian fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
It's quite rainy in Cebu. In October, Cebu usually receives more rain than Dalian. Cebu gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCebu 28°C (82°F)Dalian 15°C (58°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Dalian in the Winter?
Both Dalian 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.
Dalian can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Cebu is much warmer than Dalian. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cebu in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Dalian averages at about -4°C (25°F).
Cebu usually gets more rain in January than Dalian. Cebu gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCebu 27°C (81°F)Dalian -4°C (25°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Dalian in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cebu and Dalian. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round.
In April, Cebu is generally much warmer than Dalian. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 29°C (84°F), and Dalian fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In April, Cebu usually receives more rain than Dalian. Cebu gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCebu 29°C (84°F)Dalian 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Dalian and Cebu
| Cebu | Dalian | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | -4°C (25°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 202 mm (8 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 6 mm (0.2 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.