A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Eilat vs. Cebu for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Eilat or Cebu?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Eilat 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: Eilat or Cebu?

Eilat

Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.

Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.

Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.

Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best 2-Week Tours in Israel, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines.


Which place is cheaper, Cebu or Eilat?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $187, while the average daily cost in Cebu is $80. 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 Eilat and Cebu in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Eilat $105
    Cebu $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Eilat $210
    Cebu $50
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Cebu

Looking for a hotel in Eilat 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.

Hotels in Eilat


Hotels in Cebu


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: Eilat Hotel Prices and Cebu Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Eilat $15
    Cebu $26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:


  • Local Bus
    $4.20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat

Also for Eilat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer From Ramon airport Eilat to Eilat Hotels or Arava Border : $70

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): $28
  • Oslob Whale Shark Encounter & SUMILON with Transfers: $196
  • One-way Airport Transfer to Cebu City Hotels: $89

Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Cebu?

Prices for flights to both Cebu and Eilat 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Eilat $69
    Cebu $36

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Eilat $18
    Cebu $17

Tours and Activities in Eilat

For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Glass Bottom Boat Cruise in Eilat: $22
  • Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $55
  • Morning Jeep Tour of Eilat Mountains: $63
  • Summer Night Guided Tour with Picnic in the Mountains: $63
  • Eilat Mountains: Sunset Jeep Adventure to Mount Joash: $63
  • From Red Canyon Guided Tour: $78
  • From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $78
  • Red canyon jeep tour in Eilat: $85
  • Timna park Jeep tour adventure: $85
  • Timna Park Tour from Eilat: $150
  • Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
  • Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $215

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Eilat $30
    Cebu $14

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 Eilat and Cebu, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Cebu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Cebu is in Asia, 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat 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 Eilat Expensive? and Is Cebu Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Eilat or Cebu?

Cebu has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Eilat. When comparing the sizes of Eilat 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.


When is the best time to visit Eilat or Cebu?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Eilat or Cebu in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Cebu. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cebu throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Cebu. Eilat usually gets less rain in July than Cebu. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

The heat can be very extreme in Eilat. In the summer, Eilat is a little warmer than Cebu. Typically, the summer temperatures in Eilat in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Cebu averages at about 28°C (82°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Eilat 33°C (91°F) 
    Cebu 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Eilat or Cebu in the Autumn?

Both Cebu and Eilat are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Eilat throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cebu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Cebu. In October, Eilat usually receives less rain than Cebu. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In October, Eilat is generally around the same temperature as Cebu. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 26°C (79°F), and Cebu fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Eilat 26°C (79°F) 
    Cebu 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Eilat or Cebu in the Winter?

Both Cebu and Eilat during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Eilat because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round.

Eilat usually gets less rain in January than Cebu. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Eilat is much colder than Cebu in the winter. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Cebu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Eilat 14°C (57°F) 
    Cebu 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Eilat or Cebu in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Cebu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat year-round. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Eilat usually receives less rain than Cebu. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

In the spring, Eilat is cooler than Cebu. Typically, the spring temperatures in Eilat in April average around 24°C (75°F), and Cebu averages at about 29°C (84°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Eilat 24°C (75°F) 
    Cebu 29°C (84°F)

Typical Weather for Cebu and Eilat

Eilat Cebu
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 14°C (57°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 27°C (81°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Feb 16°C (61°F) 1 mm (0 in) 27°C (81°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Mar 19°C (66°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 28°C (82°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Apr 24°C (75°F) 0 mm (0 in) 29°C (84°F) 50 mm (2 in)
May 27°C (81°F) 0 mm (0 in) 30°C (86°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Jun 31°C (88°F) 0 mm (0 in) 29°C (84°F) 170 mm (6.7 in)
Jul 33°C (91°F) 0 mm (0 in) 28°C (82°F) 160 mm (6.3 in)
Aug 33°C (91°F) 0 mm (0 in) 28°C (82°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Sep 31°C (88°F) 0 mm (0 in) 29°C (84°F) 170 mm (6.7 in)
Oct 26°C (79°F) 1 mm (0 in) 28°C (82°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
Nov 20°C (68°F) 0 mm (0 in) 28°C (82°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Dec 15°C (59°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)