Living or staying in IT Park, Lahug, Banilad or Mactan without a car? These are your options, and an honest look at when your own scooter is worth it.
Jeepneys
The cheapest way around, with fixed routes shown by codes on the front. Great once you know the routes, slow and confusing for the first weeks.
Grab and taxis
Comfortable and air-conditioned, but Cebu traffic makes short rides slow, and Grab adds surge pricing at peak hours.
Motorcycle taxis: Angkas, JoyRide, Move It
App-booked rides on the back of a motorbike. Fast through traffic; typical city trips cost roughly PHP 60-150 depending on distance and time. Check the fare in the app before you book.
Your own scooter
A monthly Honda Click 125 costs PHP 10,000 in low season. Add fuel, about PHP 400-550 a tank and roughly a tank a week for city riding, and you are near PHP 12,000 a month, or about PHP 400 a day.
When renting pays off
- Two or three short trips a day: motorcycle taxis are usually cheaper.
- Four or more trips a day, or weekend rides out of the city: a scooter costs about the same as four moto-taxi rides and adds day trips to Moalboal, Busay or Mactan.
- Rush hour every day: a scooter is the only option that does not wait for a driver.
You need a motorcycle license to ride yourself, see what tourists need. Monthly details: monthly scooter rental.