Which place is cheaper, Tokyo 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 Tokyo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cebu or Tokyo? 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 Tokyo?
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.
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines, The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan.
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Cebu Prices
Philippines PricesTokyo Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCebu $80Tokyo $190
The average daily cost (per person) in Cebu is $80, while the average daily cost in Tokyo is $190. 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 Tokyo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCebu $25Tokyo $79
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCebu $50Tokyo $158
Compare Hotels in Cebu and Tokyo
Looking for a hotel in Cebu or Tokyo? 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 and Tokyo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cebu $26Tokyo $18
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 Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Haneda Airport to Tokyo One Way Transfer : $14
- Private Airport Transfer Haneda Airport to or from Tokyo City: $20
- Disneyland or Disneysea Transfer to or from Tokyo English Driver: $20
- Haneda Airport Private Transfer to Tokyo/Yokohama/MountFuji/Osaka: $42
- Hotel Transfer to/from Disneyland or DisneySea: $42
- Haneda Airport: 1-Way Shared Shuttle Transfer: $54
- DECKS Tokyo Beach & Odaiba 1 Way Door to Door Shared Transfer: $56
- Private transfer from Central Tokyo to Disney Resort: $62
- Tokyo City: One-Way Private Transfer to/from Yokohama City: $63
- Airport Shuttle Arrival Transfer : from Haneda Airport to Tokyo City: $65
- Shared Departure Transfer : Central Tokyo Hotel to Haneda Airport: $66
- Shared Arrival Transfer : Haneda Airport to Central Tokyo City: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Cebu or Tokyo?
Prices for flights to both Tokyo 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 $36Tokyo $67
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
Typical Food Prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
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Late Night Noodles$5.41
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Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$5.41
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Meal at Airport$7.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tsukiji Food Tour Explore Markets and Temples in Tokyo: $18
- Hide's Table A Unique Dinner Gathering Every Wednesday Night: $21
- Tokyo : Vintage, Music & Food Tour in Shimokitazawa with a Local: $34
- Guided Tsukiji’s Local Food Tour : $34
- For First Time Visitor：Tsukiji Food Tour with Tokyo Travel Advice: $34
- Authentic Homestyle Japanese Cooking Class near Tokyo with Risa: $39
- Tokyo Bay Yakatabune Dinner/Day Cruise with Japan Show and Drinks: $44
- Weekend Japanese Cooking Demonstration with a Tokyo Mom, Toshiko: $49
- Japanese Sushi Cooking Class: $51
- Tokyo private hidden food tour: $55
- Mastering the Grill A Ninja Yakiniku A5 Wagyu Dinner in Nippori : $56
- Tokyo Retro Backstreet Tokyo Tour Option to Add Dinner: $56
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cebu $17Tokyo $71
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 Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- Tokyo 4‑Day Self‑Guided PDF Tour of Senso‑ji, Shibuya and more: $3.42
- Imperial Palace or Edo Castle Time Trip Learning Walking Tour: $3.42
- Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Guided Tour: $3.46
- Self-Guided Tour of Tokyo's Hidden Alleys: $3.57
- Cross Roppongi Karaoke Nightclub Ticket (For Foreign): $6.76
- Tokyo Asakusa & Senso-ji Tour with Audioguide: $8.34
- Tokyo Metro Subway Ticket: $8.85
- Horse Racing Tour with Local Fans in Tokyo: $10
- Shibuya drinking tour: $10
- Gyoda Oshi Castle Ninja Experience : $11
- Tokyo Subway Ticket : $11
- Water Bus Ticket Odaiba ↔ Asakusa: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCebu $14Tokyo $34
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Tokyo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
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Sake$4.06
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
- Low-cost local pub & bar crawling: $34
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $34
- 3 Hours Pub Crawl Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $35
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $38
- 3-Hour Tokyo Pub Crawl Weekly Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $46
- Private Shinjuku Nightlife Walking Tour & Golden-Gai Bar Crawl: $114
- Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and jump into historic town: $116
- Private Sake Tasting at 300 Years Old Sake Brewery in Tokyo : $132
- Sake Brewery and Spiritual Nature Tour in Okutama Tokyo: $142
- Cultural Sake Brewery Private Tour & Unlimited Tasting Near Tokyo: $172
- From Tokyo：Mt.fuji /Museum/Sake brewery/ 1DAY BUS TOUR: $201
- Private tour: Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and riverside walk.: $242
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cebu and Tokyo, we can see that Tokyo 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 Tokyo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tokyo 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 Tokyo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cebu or Tokyo?
Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cebu. When comparing the sizes of Cebu and Tokyo, 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 Tokyo?
Tokyo 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 Tokyo in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cebu as well as Tokyo. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Tokyo this time of year.
In July, Cebu is generally around the same temperature as Tokyo. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 28°C (82°F), and Tokyo fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
It's quite rainy in Tokyo. Cebu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Cebu usually gets more rain in July than Tokyo. Cebu gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCebu 28°C (82°F)Tokyo 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Tokyo in the Autumn?
Both Tokyo and Cebu are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cebu throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Tokyo for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Cebu is much warmer than Tokyo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cebu averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Tokyo fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Tokyo. It's quite rainy in Cebu. In October, Cebu usually receives less rain than Tokyo. Cebu gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 165 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCebu 28°C (82°F)Tokyo 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Tokyo in the Winter?
Both Tokyo 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. Furthermore, many visitors come to Tokyo in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Cebu is much warmer than Tokyo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cebu in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Tokyo averages at about 5°C (42°F).
Cebu usually gets more rain in January than Tokyo. Cebu gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCebu 27°C (81°F)Tokyo 5°C (42°F)
Should I visit Cebu or Tokyo in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cebu and Tokyo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Tokyo for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Cebu is generally much warmer than Tokyo. Daily temperatures in Cebu average around 29°C (84°F), and Tokyo fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
Tokyo receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Cebu usually receives less rain than Tokyo. Cebu gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCebu 29°C (84°F)Tokyo 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Tokyo and Cebu
| Cebu | Tokyo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 180 mm (7.1 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 46 mm (1.8 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.