💰 This page covers the street-level details of spending money in Cebu: the airport transfer, jeepneys and Grab, ATM fees and caps, Oslob, Kawasan and Moalboal, island hopping, and which banks to use. For Philippines-wide ATM tips, DCC warnings, tipping norms, and exchange rate advice:
Read the Philippines Money Guide →🎧 Order Pesos Before You Fly
Land with pesos for the jeepneys, tricycles and south coast fees. Insured delivery, 2–5 days.
Order PHP → CEI Currency ExchangeDo You Need Cash in Cebu?
Yes, more than in Manila. Cebu City's malls, the resorts on Mactan, dive shops and Grab take cards, and GCash QR codes are everywhere for locals. But the jeepney, the tricycle, the carinderia lunch, the entrance fees on the south coast, the boatman at the beach and every tip are paid in pesos. Carry PHP 2,000 to 4,000 a day in small notes, and more for a day trip to Oslob, Kawasan or Moalboal. The Philippines money guide covers the national ATM rules.
Where You Will Need Cash
Jeepneys and tricycles. Carinderias and street lechon. Entrance fees at Oslob, Kawasan and the falls. Boatmen and island-hopping extras. Tips for guides and drivers. Sari-sari stores in the provinces.
Where Cards Work Fine
SM, Ayala and the other malls. Resorts on Mactan and the larger hotels. Dive shops, often with a 3 to 4 percent surcharge. Grab. Airlines and ferries booked online.
From Mactan Airport Into the City
Mactan-Cebu International Airport is on Mactan Island, linked to Cebu City by three bridges, including the new Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway. The beach resorts are on Mactan itself, 15 to 30 minutes away.
Taxis. Yellow metered airport taxis cost roughly PHP 350 to 700 to central Cebu City, depending on traffic and the route; the white city taxis are cheaper per kilometre if you find one. Insist on the meter.
Grab and the bus. Grab rides cost roughly PHP 250 to 500 to the city and are paid by card in the app. MyBus runs from the airport to SM City Cebu for about PHP 40, in cash or with its stored-value card.
Airport machines. BDO, BPI and other banks have machines in arrivals. Take what you need for a few days; the fee is the same everywhere.
Jeepneys, Tricycles and Grab
Jeepneys. Cebu's jeepneys run fixed routes marked by codes such as 04L or 17B on the side. Since 19 March 2026 the minimum fare is PHP 14 for the first 4 kilometres, plus PHP 2 per kilometre after. Pass your coins forward to the driver, say where you are going, and the change comes back down the line. Carry coins and PHP 20 notes.
Tricycles and habal-habal. Motorbike sidecars and motorbike taxis cover the last kilometre in towns and the provinces. Fares are negotiated or posted; agree first, in cash.
Grab and taxis. In Cebu City and Mactan, Grab is the comfortable option and takes cards. Traffic between the city and Mactan can be heavy at rush hour.
The South Coast: Oslob, Kawasan and Moalboal
Oslob. At Tan-awan in Oslob, three to four hours south of the city, whale sharks are fed by local boatmen each morning, and visitors snorkel beside them. The fee for foreign visitors is about PHP 1,000 under the rates set in 2025, including the short boat ride; Filipinos pay less. Pay in cash on site; snorkel, fins and camera rentals cost extra. The feeding is controversial with marine biologists, and many travellers now skip it.
Kawasan Falls and canyoneering. The turquoise falls near Badian charge an entrance fee of about PHP 200. The popular canyoneering trip, jumping and sliding down the river to the falls, costs roughly PHP 1,500 to 2,500 per person with an operator, including the guide, helmet, life vest and the motorbike ride to the start. Licensed operators take cards or bank transfer; tip your guide in cash.
Moalboal. The west-coast town is known for the sardine run just off Panagsama Beach, which you can snorkel from shore for free, and the turtles at Pescador Island, reached by boat. Dive shops take cards; the boatmen and the small restaurants want cash. Machines in Moalboal town are few and run dry at weekends.
Getting south. Ceres buses from the South Bus Terminal cost a few hundred pesos in cash and take three to four hours. A private car and driver for the day costs roughly PHP 4,000 to 6,000, more for a two-stop Oslob and Kawasan trip.
Island Hopping From Mactan
The trip. Boats leave the Mactan resorts and the jetties near Maribago for the islands and reefs of the Olango group: Hilutungan, Nalusuan, Caohagan and others. Most visitors book a tour through their hotel or an operator, with lunch and snorkel gear included.
What to check. Ask what is included before paying: the marine sanctuary fees at each island and the entrance fees to the private islands are often charged on top, in cash, a few hundred pesos per person per stop. A private boat for a small group usually costs less per head than a hotel package. Tip the crew in cash.
ATMs in Cebu
Look for these logos. The big Philippine banks all have machines in Cebu's malls and on Mactan.
BDO
BPI
MetrobankATM Locations
BDO, BPI and Metrobank machines at SM City Cebu, SM Seaside, Ayala Center, IT Park and Mactan airport, and along the main roads in Lapu-Lapu. In the south, Oslob, Badian and Moalboal have only a few machines. BDO allows larger withdrawals at its own machines than most. There is no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner in the Philippines.
⚠ The PHP 250 Fee, Every Time
Most Philippine banks charge foreign cards about ₱250 per withdrawal, and many machines cap each withdrawal at ₱10,000 to 20,000. Withdraw the maximum each time to pay the fee fewer times, and decline any offer to convert the withdrawal into dollars. A card that refunds ATM fees pays for itself here; see our guide to withdrawal limits.
Tipping in Cebu
Tipping is appreciated, not required. Many restaurants add a 10 percent service charge; if not, leave 5 to 10 percent. Round up for Grab and taxi drivers, and tip canyoneering guides, boat crews and dive guides PHP 100 to 300 each for a good day.
Prices in Cebu
Cebu is cheap to eat and get around, and its activities are priced for visitors.
| Item | Price (PHP) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Jeepney, first 4 km | ₱14 | $0.24 |
| Carinderia meal with rice | ₱80–150 | $1.40–2.60 |
| Lechon by the quarter-kilo | ₱200–300 | $3.40–5.20 |
| San Miguel beer in a restaurant | ₱80–150 | $1.40–2.60 |
| Grab, airport to Cebu City | ₱250–500 | $4.30–8.60 |
| Oslob whale sharks, foreigners | ₱1,000 | $17 |
| Kawasan canyoneering package | ₱1,500–2,500 | $26–43 |
| Ceres bus to Oslob or Moalboal | ₱200–250 | $3.40–4.30 |
| ATM fee, foreign card | ₱250 | $4.30 |
| Fun dive in Moalboal | ₱1,800–2,500 | $31–43 |
USD estimates use approximately ₱58 = $1. Rates fluctuate.
Cebu Quick Reference
| Destination | Cards? | Cash Needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeepneys | ❌ Cash | ₱14 minimum | Coins and small notes |
| Grab | ✅ Card in app | ₱250–500 from the airport | Traffic at rush hour |
| Oslob and Kawasan | ❌ Cash fees | ₱200–1,000 | Operators take cards |
| Malls and resorts | ✅ Yes | Service charge 10% | SM, Ayala, Mactan |
| Dive shops | ✅ Yes | 3–4% surcharge common | Moalboal, Mactan |
| ATMs | BDO, BPI, Metrobank | ₱250 per withdrawal | Withdraw the maximum |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash in Cebu?
Yes. Malls, hotels, resorts, dive shops and Grab take cards, but jeepneys, tricycles, carinderias, the south coast's entrance fees, boatmen and tips are cash. Carry PHP 2,000 to 4,000 a day, more on a south coast trip.
How much is the ATM fee in Cebu?
Most Philippine banks charge foreign cards about PHP 250 per withdrawal, on top of your own bank's fees. Many machines cap a withdrawal at PHP 10,000 to 20,000; BDO allows more at its own machines. Withdraw the maximum each time.
How much is a taxi from Cebu airport to Cebu City?
A yellow metered airport taxi costs roughly PHP 350 to 700 to central Cebu City, depending on traffic and whether you take the Cebu-Cordova bridge. Grab is usually PHP 250 to 500. MyBus runs to SM City Cebu for about PHP 40.
How much does it cost to see the whale sharks in Oslob?
About PHP 1,000 for foreign visitors, including the short boat ride, under the fees set in 2025; Filipino visitors pay less. Snorkel and camera rental cost extra. The fee is paid in cash at the site. Many visitors now skip Oslob because the sharks are fed to keep them there.
How much is canyoneering at Kawasan Falls?
The falls charge a small entrance fee of about PHP 200. Canyoneering packages starting in Alegria or Badian cost roughly PHP 1,500 to 2,500 per person, including the guide, helmet, life vest and the motorbike ride to the start. Pay operators by card where possible, guides' tips in cash.
How much is a jeepney ride in Cebu?
PHP 14 for the first 4 kilometres since March 2026, plus PHP 2 for each kilometre after that. Pass coins forward to the driver; small notes are fine, large ones are not.
Pay Smart in Cebu
The Wise card converts at the real mid-market rate, pays Grab, hotels and dive shops without a markup, and withdraws pesos at BDO or BPI machines.
Get the Wise Card →Hero photo: the Cebu City skyline and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, by Patrickroque01, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.