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: $860 in Alexandria versus $663 in Nueva Ecija.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,419 in Alexandria versus $1,064 in Nueva Ecija.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,978 in Alexandria versus $1,465 in Nueva Ecija.

Living in Alexandria is roughly 30% more expensive than Nueva Ecija, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Alexandria 36% lower, Nueva Ecija 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.00 RON 40.68

$4.40 ₱271

104.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.89 RON 153

$35.35 ₱2,180

-4.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 RON 30.94

$3.41 ₱210

100.59%

Cappuccino

$1.87 RON 8.44

$1.33 ₱82.1

40.60%

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

$1.94 RON 8.78

$0.76 ₱46.99

155.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 RON 7.41

$0.34 ₱20.68

382.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 RON 10.15

$0.85 ₱52.3

163.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 RON 12.83

$2.32 ₱143

22.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 RON 6.06

$2.98 ₱184

-55.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 RON 5.73

$1.05 ₱64.7

20.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 RON 6.37

$0.92 ₱56.9

53.26%

Eggs

$1.40 RON 6.31

$1.72 ₱106

-18.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.34 RON 24.15

$7.83 ₱483

-31.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 RON 20.26

$3.82 ₱236

17.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.59 RON 38.82

$6.37 ₱393

34.85%

Apples (1kg)

$0.89 RON 4.03

$4.16 ₱256

-78.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 RON 6.80

$0.83 ₱51.0

81.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 RON 5.31

$1.92 ₱119

-38.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 RON 5.07

$1.77 ₱109

-36.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 RON 2.18

$1.67 ₱103

-71.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 RON 3.21

$2.18 ₱135

-67.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 RON 2.01

$2.37 ₱146

-81.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 RON 3.26

$0.51 ₱31.71

41.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.65 RON 25.53

$2.53 ₱156

123.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.62 RON 25.41

$4.38 ₱270

28.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 RON 3.24

$1.34 ₱82.4

-46.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 RON 4.10

$2.44 ₱150

-62.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 RON 3.27

$0.32 ₱19.87

125.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.07 RON 104

$6.10 ₱376

278.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 RON 2.13

$0.77 ₱47.32

-38.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 RON 1.97

$0.22 ₱13.47

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 RON 23.50

$1.12 ₱69.1

364.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 RON 7.16

$0.95 ₱58.7

66.32%

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

$18.1K RON 81.7K

$17.5K ₱1.1M

3.26%

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

$23.9K RON 107.9K

$23.5K ₱1.4M

1.58%

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

$115 RON 521

$88.9 ₱5,480

29.58%

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

$6.98 RON 31.55

$32.35 ₱1,995

-78.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.86 RON 31.01

$20.29 ₱1,251

-66.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.58 RON 174

$33.41 ₱2,060

15.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.09 RON 41.07

$4.31 ₱266

110.90%

Cinema Ticket

$4.66 RON 21.05

$5.10 ₱314

-8.63%

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

$436 RON 1,971

$153 ₱9,451

184.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,987 RON 31.6K

$4,346 ₱268.0K

60.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.6 RON 306

$45.11 ₱2,781

49.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.95 RON 158

$33.85 ₱2,088

3.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 RON 313

$67.5 ₱4,163

2.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.5 RON 310

$114 ₱7,053

-40.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 RON 1,576

$128 ₱7,890

172.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$232 RON 1,047

$76.1 ₱4,692

204.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 RON 3,624

$195 ₱12.0K

311.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$571 RON 2,580

$140 ₱8,637

307.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,357 RON 6,135

$2,421 ₱149.3K

-43.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$843 RON 3,811

$962 ₱59.3K

-12.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,332 RON 6,021

$195 ₱12.0K

582.58%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Nueva Ecija: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Alexandria and $128 in Nueva Ecija. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alexandria pays 583% 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 $155 vs $200 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 30% 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.

Alexandria pays 583% more on average, 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: $349 in Alexandria versus $128 in Nueva Ecija. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $860 per month in Alexandria versus $663 in Nueva Ecija – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Nueva Ecija runs roughly 278% 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 30% less than in Alexandria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.