Which place is cheaper, Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Surfers Paradise? 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 Surfers Paradise?
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.
Surfers Paradise
A tourist mecca, Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular travel destinations along Australia's famed Gold Coast. The beach stretches for miles and there is an endless supply of almost constant parties. You'll find high rise apartments lined up along the shore and plenty of shopping areas, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Travelers from around the world visit the area, and it's a right of passage for Australia's teens to vacation in or near Surfers Paradise. For many travelers, Surfers Paradise comes across as little more than a mass marketed, over commercialized, party destination, but for others it is a vacation dream. Prices are highly inflated so you have to keep your whits about you to avoid being ripped off. Surfers Paradise is a destination of extremes and it conjures up extreme emotions in many travelers, be it positive or negative.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines, The Best Luxury Tours to Australia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Australia.
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Cebu Prices
Philippines PricesSurfers Paradise Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $80Surfers Paradise $124
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $80, while the average daily cost in Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Surfers Paradise $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Surfers Paradise $134
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Surfers Paradise
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Surfers Paradise? 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 $26Surfers Paradise $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cebu HTL-APT (CEB): $31
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cebu APT-HTL (CEB): $18
- Private Airport to Hotel Transfer in Cebu City: $35
- Oslob Private Van Transfer between Cebu, Mactan or Mandaue City: $175
- Mactan-Cebu Island Hopping Cruise with Lunch & Roundtrip Transfer: $196
- Kawasan Falls Canyoneering w/ Lunch & Transfers from Cebu City: $122
- Danasan Eco Adventure Park Including Round-Trip Hotel Transfer: $161
- Cordova Private Transfer from Cordova city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $28
- Private One-Way Airport Transfer: $26
- Private Car Transfer with Driver (Flexible Routes): $29
- Oslob Whale Shark Encounter & SUMILON with Transfers: $201
- One-way Airport Transfer to Cebu City Hotels: $91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surfers Paradise
Also for Surfers Paradise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Gold Coast Theme Parks: Shared Hotel Transfers: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Surfers Paradise?
Prices for flights to both Surfers Paradise 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 $36Surfers Paradise $45
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: $46
- The Ultimate Cebu Food Tour: Local Tastes & Cultural Journey: $70
- Cebu City: Historical Street and Food Tour: $91
- Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $100
- Cebu Traditional Cuisine Cooking Class: $100
- Cebu Traditional Bamboo Cooking Class: $110
- 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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $85
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Surfers Paradise $24
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: $62
- BEST OF Guided Heritage City Joiners Tour: $45
- Badian Canyoneering Adventure and Kawasan Waterfalls Private Tour: $149
- Badian Cebu Canyoneering Experience: $103
- Badian Cebu Canyoneering Experience: $146
- Balamban Uphill Adventure Tour in Cebu: $100
- Best Seller Cebu City Group Tour: $54
- Bohol Countryside Day Tour From Cebu City | Lunch at Loboc River Cruise: $145
Typical Entertainment Prices in Surfers Paradise
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Surfers Paradise's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Surf Lesson$79
Tours and Activities in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing Midday River Cruise: $19
- Gold Coast Afternoon River Cruise: $21
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing City Lights Cruise: $26
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing River Cruises: $26
- HOTA: Gold Coast Home of the Arts Cruise & Dine Experience Pass: $27
- Gold Coast Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Cruise 1 Day Pass: $30
- Guided Gold Coast Amphibious Bus Tour: $36
- Gold Coast Quack'rDuck Amphibious Tour from Surfers Paradise: $37
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing Sunset River Cruise: $37
- Gold Coast: 360-Degree High-Speed Jet Boat Adventure: $39
- Tropical Fruit World Farm Full Tour : $45
- Surfers Paradise Sunset Kayak Tour: $53
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Surfers Paradise $11
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 Surfers Paradise, we can see that Surfers Paradise is more expensive. And not only is Cebu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cebu is in Asia and Surfers Paradise is in Pacific, 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 Surfers Paradise would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cebu or Surfers Paradise?
Cebu has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Surfers Paradise. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Surfers Paradise, 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 Surfers Paradise?
Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise in the Summer?
Both Surfers Paradise and Cebu during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cebu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Surfers Paradise in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Cebu is generally a little warmer than Surfers Paradisein January. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 28°C (82°F), and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Surfers Paradise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Cebu. Cebu usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Surfers Paradisein January. Cebu gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCebu 28°C (82°F)Surfers Paradise 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Surfers Paradise in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cebu and Surfers Paradise. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round. Also, most visitors come to Surfers Paradise for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.
Cebu is a little warmer than Surfers Paradise in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 22°C (71°F)in April.
Surfers Paradise receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Cebu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Cebu usually receives more rain than Surfers Paradisein April. Cebu gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilCebu 28°C (82°F)Surfers Paradise 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Surfers Paradise in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Cebu as well as Surfers Paradise. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Surfers Paradise because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Cebu is much warmer than Surfers Paradise. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cebu in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Surfers Paradise averages at about 15°C (59°F)in July.
Cebu usually gets more rain in January than Surfers Paradisein July. Cebu gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyCebu 27°C (81°F)Surfers Paradise 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Surfers Paradise in the Spring?
Both Surfers Paradise and Cebu are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cebu throughout the year. Also, the beaches are the main draw to Surfers Paradise this time of year.
In April, Cebu is generally a little warmer than Surfers Paradisein October. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 29°C (84°F), and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Surfers Paradise. In April, Cebu usually receives less rain than Surfers Paradisein October. Cebu gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberCebu 29°C (84°F)Surfers Paradise 21°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Surfers Paradise and Cebu
| Cebu | Surfers Paradise | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 103 mm (4 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 129 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.