Cebu vs New Zealand: Study Abroad Cost Comparison (2025)

Cebu in the Philippines and New Zealand are both popular destinations for studying English. Cebu is characterized by **mainly one-on-one lessons** and **low-priced packages that include living costs**, so its appeal is intensive, cost-effective study in a short time. New Zealand, on the other hand, offers **safety** and **rich natural surroundings**, and a major advantage is studying in a native-English environment.

In terms of cost, however, there is a large gap between the two countries. Based on the latest 2025 data, this article **thoroughly compares the study costs of Cebu (3D ACADEMY) and New Zealand** and explains the features of each and the recommended study styles.

At 3D ACADEMY in Cebu, you can study with peace of mind on a package price that includes **tuition, dorm fee, 3 meals a day, cleaning and laundry service**. However, the registration fee, visa-related costs, SSP (Special Study Permit), utilities and similar items are paid separately.

For 1 month (4 weeks)

• Lessons + dorm + meals package: JPY 259,400
• Registration fee: JPY 15,000
• SSP (Special Study Permit): PHP 12,040 (about JPY 29,000)
• Management fee: PHP 500 x 4 weeks = PHP 2,000 (about JPY 4,800)
• Textbooks and electricity: around JPY 5,000

**Total: around JPY 310,000**

For 3 months (12 weeks)

• Lessons + dorm + meals package: JPY 773,500
• Registration fee: JPY 15,000
• SSP: JPY 29,000
• ACR I-Card (required for 8 weeks or more): about JPY 9,700
• Visa extension (2nd): PHP 5,616 (about JPY 13,600)
• Management fee: PHP 6,000 (about JPY 14,500)
• Textbooks and electricity: about JPY 7,000

**Total: about JPY 860,000-870,000**

For 6 months (24 weeks)

• Lessons + dorm + meals package: JPY 1,542,100
• Registration fee: JPY 15,000
• SSP: JPY 29,000
• ACR I-Card: JPY 9,700
• Visa extensions (multiple): about PHP 18,000 in total (about JPY 43,000)
• Management fee: PHP 12,000 (about JPY 29,000)
• Textbooks and electricity: about JPY 15,000

**Total: about JPY 1,660,000-1,670,000**

**Note**: At 3D ACADEMY, **a promotional discount may apply to stays of 12 weeks or more**. To confirm actual costs, please be sure to check the latest fee table.

How to Cut Costs Further: Choose a Multi-Person Room

This estimate is based on an internal dorm single room, but **choosing a room for 2 to 6 people lets you reduce costs even further**. For example, on a 4-week course:

• Single room: JPY 259,400
• 2-person room: JPY 212,800 (about JPY 46,600 less)
• 4-person room: JPY 171,600 (about JPY 87,800 less)
• 6-person room: JPY 151,600 (about JPY 107,800 less)

The longer the stay, the larger the difference, and over six months you can **save hundreds of thousands of yen**. If you want to keep costs to a minimum while getting as much study time as possible, we recommend choosing a multi-person room.

New Zealand's big appeal is its rich nature, safety and calm study environment. Language schools are concentrated in the cities of Auckland and Christchurch, where you can study in a native-English environment. However, living costs are relatively high, so the total cost is higher than in Cebu.

Language school tuition (full-time course)

• 1 month (4 weeks): about JPY 180,000-220,000
• 3 months (12 weeks): about JPY 500,000-600,000
• 6 months (24 weeks): about JPY 950,000-1,100,000

Accommodation (homestay is the norm)

• 1 month (4 weeks): about JPY 120,000-150,000 (2 meals on weekdays + 3 meals on weekends included)
• 3 months (12 weeks): about JPY 350,000-450,000
• 6 months (24 weeks): about JPY 700,000-900,000

Other costs

• Registration fee: about JPY 15,000-20,000
• Textbooks: about JPY 10,000-20,000
• Airport transfer: around JPY 10,000
• Overseas insurance: about JPY 10,000-20,000 per month
• Airfare (round trip Japan - NZ): about JPY 120,000-180,000

Total cost guide

• **1 month: about JPY 350,000-400,000**
• **3 months: about JPY 900,000-1,100,000**
• **6 months: about JPY 1,800,000-2,000,000**

Compared with Cebu, **New Zealand generally costs about 1.3 to 1.5 times as much**.

Here we compare a 3D ACADEMY internal dorm 3-person room in Cebu with average language-study costs in New Zealand.

1 month (4 weeks)

• Cebu (3-person room): JPY 184,900 + local costs of about JPY 30,000-40,000 Total: about JPY 220,000-230,000
• New Zealand: about JPY 350,000-400,000 => **Cebu costs about half as much as New Zealand**

3 months (12 weeks)

• Cebu (3-person room): JPY 549,900 + local costs of about JPY 80,000-90,000 Total: about JPY 630,000-640,000
• New Zealand: about JPY 900,000-1,100,000 => **Cebu costs 70% or less of New Zealand**

6 months (24 weeks)

• Cebu (3-person room): JPY 1,094,900 + local costs of around JPY 200,000 Total: about JPY 1,290,000-1,300,000
• New Zealand: about JPY 1,800,000-2,000,000 => **Cebu costs about 65% of New Zealand**

Key points of the comparison

• **Cebu**: Mainly one-on-one lessons let you build English efficiently even in a short time. Living costs are bundled into the package, so the total is easy to understand.
• **New Zealand**: You study in a native-English environment while enjoying nature and culture. However, living costs are high and the total is larger than in Cebu.

In short, the big difference is that **with the same budget, you can study for a much longer period in Cebu**.

Considering the balance between cost and learning results, **studying in two countries (Cebu + New Zealand)** is an excellent option.

Sample plan

• **First half: Cebu, 2 months (8 weeks, 3-person room)** Including tuition, dorm fee and meals, **about JPY 510,000 + local costs of JPY 70,000-80,000** Total: about JPY 580,000-590,000
• **Second half: New Zealand, 2 months (8 weeks)** Tuition + homestay: **about JPY 700,000-800,000** Including airfare, insurance and so on: **about JPY 850,000-900,000 in total**

Total cost

• **Two-country program (4 months in total): about JPY 1,450,000-1,500,000**

Advantages

• **Build your foundation in Cebu** Thoroughly strengthen speaking and grammar through one-on-one lessons. You can raise your English level in a short time.
• **Put it into practice in New Zealand** By living and studying in a native-English environment, you can keep building the skills you developed in Cebu while actually using them.
• **Effective while keeping costs down** Studying only in New Zealand for 4 months requires about JPY 1,800,000-2,000,000, but with the two-country program of Cebu + New Zealand you can **save JPY 300,000-400,000 or more**.

This plan is ideal for those who want to improve their English in a short time while also enjoying life abroad.

Comparing study in Cebu and New Zealand shows that **Cebu is overwhelmingly cheaper and allows efficient English study**. New Zealand, on the other hand, is highly attractive for the chance to experience nature and culture in a native-English environment.

Especially recommended is the **two-country plan (Cebu + New Zealand)**. By first building your foundation in a short time in Cebu and then using English in practical settings in New Zealand, you can improve your English effectively while keeping costs down.

Cebu is for those who want to keep costs down and first focus intensively on the basics of English. New Zealand is for those who want to study long-term in a native-English environment and value a natural setting. For those who want the advantages of both, we recommend **studying in two countries**.

**The first step to success is choosing the study style that best fits your own goals and budget.**

Q1. What is the basis of this comparison? Cebu is based on the 3D ACADEMY ESL course in an **internal dorm 3-person room**, and New Zealand is based on typical prices for **general English full-time study (around 20 hours per week) + homestay** in major cities (Auckland, Christchurch, etc.). Costs vary by school and season.

Q2. Can I change room type at 3D ACADEMY? How much is the difference? Yes. The more people in the room, the lower the weekly rate (example: 4 weeks). Single room: JPY 259,400. 2-person room: JPY 212,800. 3-person room: JPY 184,900 (the basis of this comparison). 4-person room: JPY 171,600. 6-person room: JPY 151,600. The longer the stay, the larger the difference, and you can greatly reduce the total.

Q3. What is and is not included in the Cebu fee? **Included:** tuition, dorm fee, 3 meals a day, laundry, cleaning, Wi-Fi. **Not included:** registration fee (JPY 15,000), airfare, overseas insurance, local payments (see below).

Q4. What exactly are the local payments in Cebu? SSP (Special Study Permit): **PHP 12,040**. ACR I-Card (**8 weeks or more**): about **PHP 4,000**. Visa extension fees: e.g. 2nd extension PHP 5,616 (up to 12 weeks), then added according to the number of weeks you stay. Management fee: **PHP 500/week**. Textbooks: roughly **PHP 1,000 per 4 weeks**. Electricity: actual meter usage (varies with consumption). Deposit: **PHP 1,500-2,500** for 1-3 weeks / **PHP 3,000** for 4-19 weeks / **PHP 7,500** for 20 weeks or more (refunded if the room is left in its original condition). Airport pick-up: **USD 30** (flat rate).

Q5. What is the total for 4 weeks in Cebu? (3-person room) Tuition and dorm (JPY 184,900) + registration fee (JPY 15,000) + local payments (SSP, management fee, textbooks, electricity, etc.: **about JPY 30,000-40,000**) gives a guide of **about JPY 220,000-230,000** (excluding airfare).

Q6. What is the total for 4 weeks in New Zealand? Tuition (about JPY 180,000-220,000) + homestay (about JPY 120,000-150,000) + miscellaneous costs (registration fee, textbooks, transfers, etc.) gives a guide of **about JPY 350,000-400,000** (excluding airfare).

Q7. What are typical airfares? Japan - Cebu: **about JPY 60,000-100,000**. Japan - New Zealand: **about JPY 120,000-180,000**. Prices vary with season, departure airport and fuel surcharges.

Q8. What happens to the fees for 12 weeks or more? 3D ACADEMY may apply a **promotion for stays of 12 weeks or more**. The amounts shown are guides, so **please be sure to contact us for exact fees**.

Q9. What is the total for a two-country program (8 weeks in Cebu + 8 weeks in NZ)? Cebu (3-person room, 8 weeks): **about JPY 510,000** + local costs **about JPY 70,000-80,000** => **about JPY 580,000-590,000**. New Zealand (8 weeks): tuition + accommodation **about JPY 700,000-800,000**, or **about JPY 850,000-900,000** including travel, insurance and so on. **Total: about JPY 1,450,000-1,500,000** (varies with season and exchange rates). In many cases this is cheaper than 4 months in NZ alone.

Q10. How do the learning styles differ? Cebu: **mainly one-on-one** (you speak a lot, strong for shoring up weak points). New Zealand: **mainly group classes** (native-English environment, multinational interaction).

Q11. Any tips for saving even more? Cebu: choose a **4- to 6-person room** / save on electricity / aim for the low season. NZ: cook for yourself / consider shared housing in the suburbs / choose a school with long-stay discounts. Airfare: book early, be flexible with days and routes, and use sales.

Q12. Will the total change with exchange rates or fee revisions? Yes. It varies with exchange rates, school fee revisions, fuel surcharges and so on. We recommend **requesting a fresh estimate** and checking the latest information.

Q13. How do I apply or get a consultation? First, tell us your desired period, room type and departure time. We will check the **latest fees (including whether the 12-week-or-more promotion applies)** and send you an individual estimate. Phone hours: **weekdays 9:00-18:00**.

Q14. Notes The amounts on this page are guides. Room availability, school rules and visa requirements change, so **please be sure to check the latest information**.