Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria and Nueva Ecija Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria and Nueva Ecija

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $836 in Alexandria versus $656 in Nueva Ecija.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,380 in Alexandria versus $1,080 in Nueva Ecija.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,924 in Alexandria versus $1,504 in Nueva Ecija.

Living in Alexandria is roughly 28% more expensive than in Nueva Ecija, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Alexandria 37% lower, Nueva Ecija 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.29 RON 42.62

$4.32 ₱266

115.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.04 RON 156

$34.99 ₱2,154

-2.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.11 RON 32.60

$3.27 ₱202

117.43%

Cappuccino

$1.88 RON 8.64

$1.39 ₱85.8

35.25%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 RON 9.11

$0.75 ₱46.40

165.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 RON 7.54

$0.34 ₱20.78

382.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 RON 10.81

$0.86 ₱52.8

174.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 RON 12.52

$2.28 ₱140

19.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 RON 6.50

$2.96 ₱182

-52.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 RON 5.76

$1.04 ₱64.0

21.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 RON 6.18

$1.00 ₱61.4

35.00%

Eggs

$1.36 RON 6.26

$1.70 ₱105

-20.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.22 RON 23.92

$8.13 ₱500

-35.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 RON 21.32

$3.75 ₱231

24.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 RON 41.14

$6.22 ₱383

44.21%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 RON 4.31

$4.18 ₱257

-77.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 RON 6.95

$0.78 ₱47.83

94.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 RON 5.43

$1.88 ₱116

-37.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 RON 5.17

$1.86 ₱114

-39.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.44 RON 2.04

$1.65 ₱102

-73.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 RON 3.06

$2.20 ₱135

-69.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 RON 2.02

$2.39 ₱147

-81.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 RON 3.32

$0.51 ₱31.42

41.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.50 RON 25.22

$2.44 ₱150

125.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.41 RON 24.83

$4.38 ₱270

23.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 RON 3.06

$1.38 ₱85.0

-51.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 RON 4.34

$2.44 ₱150

-61.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 RON 3.27

$0.30 ₱18.28

136.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.48 RON 108

$6.18 ₱380

279.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 RON 2.20

$0.84 ₱51.6

-42.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 RON 2.00

$0.22 ₱13.52

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.99 RON 22.87

$1.18 ₱72.6

322.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 RON 7.31

$0.95 ₱58.8

67.37%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.1K RON 82.9K

$18.0K ₱1.1M

0.43%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.0K RON 110.3K

$23.4K ₱1.4M

2.72%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$118 RON 540

$87.8 ₱5,406

34.08%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$7.11 RON 32.59

$32.30 ₱1,989

-77.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.89 RON 31.59

$20.32 ₱1,251

-66.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.29 RON 176

$34.02 ₱2,094

12.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.04 RON 41.44

$4.44 ₱274

103.60%

Cinema Ticket

$4.74 RON 21.74

$5.08 ₱313

-6.69%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$431 RON 1,978

$151 ₱9,291

185.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,025 RON 32.2K

$4,361 ₱268.5K

61.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 RON 319

$46.26 ₱2,848

50.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.98 RON 160

$34.16 ₱2,103

2.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.4 RON 314

$67.7 ₱4,168

1.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 RON 318

$116 ₱7,145

-40.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$342 RON 1,569

$126 ₱7,754

171.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$231 RON 1,058

$74.5 ₱4,584

209.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 RON 3,659

$197 ₱12.1K

305.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$571 RON 2,617

$141 ₱8,671

305.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,329 RON 6,093

$2,433 ₱149.8K

-45.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$811 RON 3,722

$1,072 ₱66.0K

-24.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$861 RON 3,951

$197 ₱12.1K

336.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

6.17

5.35%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alexandria: July 13, 2026

Last update for Nueva Ecija: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $342 in Alexandria and $126 in Nueva Ecija. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alexandria pays 337% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $34.00 in Alexandria vs $35.00 in Nueva Ecija for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $157 vs $201 per month, with Alexandria cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Alexandria vs Nueva Ecija: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nueva Ecija wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Alexandria. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nueva Ecija the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 337% higher in Alexandria, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $342 in Alexandria versus $126 in Nueva Ecija. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $836 per month in Alexandria versus $656 in Nueva Ecija – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Nueva Ecija runs roughly 280% less than in Alexandria. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Nueva Ecija gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Nueva Ecija gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Alexandria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.