Cost of Living

Cebu, Philippines

Live cost-of-living data for Cebu — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
18/ 10082% cheaper than New York
-13% rent since Jul 2026
$370/mo
Median Income
60/100
Safety
15%
Income Tax
tropical monsoon
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
42/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$365/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$200/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$750/month
Food & Groceries
38/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.7/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.3/kg
Transportation
22/100
Monthly Transit Pass$15/month
One-Way Ticket$0.24/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.24/km
Utilities
35/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$105/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$35/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$20/month
Healthcare
48/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$50/visit
Dentist Visit$65/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$10/course
Education
45/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$320/month
International Primary School (yearly)$7,500/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$250/course
Entertainment
38/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$8/ticket
Theater Ticket$25/ticket
Museum Entry$10/ticket
Clothing
42/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$45/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$28/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$65/pair
Personal Care
35/100
Haircut (Men)$12/cut
Haircut (Women)$25/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$3.2/bottle
Dining Out
32/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$4/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$24/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$3.3/meal
Childcare
42/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$480/month
Babysitter (per hour)$8/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$12/pack
Fitness & Sports
38/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$30/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$12/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$5/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

82 Mbps
Internet Speed
$180
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
high
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
68/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: IT Park, Lahug, Cebu Business Park

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cebu cheap to live in?

Cebu has a cost of living index of 18/100, where New York = 100. It is 82% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $640–$896 per month.

How much does rent cost in Cebu?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Cebu costs approximately $365/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $200/month.

Is Cebu good for digital nomads?

Cebu has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 82 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $180/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in Cebu?

The median net monthly salary in Cebu is approximately $370 USD. The income tax rate is around 15%.

How does Cebu compare to New York for cost of living?

Cebu (cost index 18) is 82% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,050/month by moving from New York to Cebu.

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