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: $902 in Alexandria versus $534 in Nueva Ecija.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,401 in Alexandria versus $925 in Nueva Ecija.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Alexandria versus $1,316 in Nueva Ecija.

Living in Alexandria is roughly 69% more expensive than in Nueva Ecija, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Alexandria 34% lower, Nueva Ecija 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.89 RON 40.78

$3.86 ₱242

130.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.83 RON 146

$16.65 ₱1,044

91.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.90 RON 36.24

$2.71 ₱170

191.51%

Cappuccino

$1.74 RON 7.97

$1.39 ₱87.2

25.18%

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

$1.91 RON 8.78

$0.60 ₱37.33

218.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 RON 7.19

$0.31 ₱19.23

406.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 RON 10.28

$0.95 ₱59.5

135.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 RON 12.17

$1.62 ₱101

63.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 RON 6.92

$1.65 ₱104

-8.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 RON 3.92

$0.89 ₱56.0

-4.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 RON 5.41

$0.89 ₱55.8

32.58%

Eggs

$2.19 RON 10.05

$1.59 ₱99.7

37.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.31 RON 24.38

$5.11 ₱321

3.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.55 RON 20.88

$3.42 ₱214

33.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.08 RON 37.07

$5.58 ₱350

44.80%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 RON 4.29

$2.24 ₱141

-58.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 RON 5.49

$0.70 ₱43.73

71.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 RON 4.63

$1.67 ₱105

-39.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 RON 4.73

$1.03 ₱64.4

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 RON 3.18

$1.71 ₱107

-59.65%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 RON 2.95

$1.72 ₱108

-62.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 RON 3.42

$0.63 ₱39.49

19.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 RON 4.15

$0.43 ₱26.93

111.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.51 RON 25.27

$2.19 ₱138

151.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.37 RON 24.64

$4.38 ₱275

22.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 RON 4.40

$0.96 ₱60.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 RON 5.10

$1.97 ₱124

-43.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 RON 3.12

$0.27 ₱16.71

151.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.97 RON 202

$5.46 ₱343

705.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 RON 2.08

$0.75 ₱46.80

-40.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 RON 2.08

$0.15 ₱9.49

200.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.66 RON 25.97

$1.02 ₱63.9

454.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.72 RON 7.90

$0.90 ₱56.7

91.11%

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

$16.9K RON 77.5K

$15.6K ₱979.9K

8.16%

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

$24.3K RON 111.4K

$19.2K ₱1.2M

26.73%

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

$120 RON 549

$80.8 ₱5,068

48.03%

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

$5.56 RON 25.52

$17.67 ₱1,108

-68.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.20 RON 37.64

$18.40 ₱1,154

-55.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.4 RON 282

$35.83 ₱2,247

71.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.11 RON 120

$5.03 ₱315

419.09%

Cinema Ticket

$6.54 RON 29.99

$4.56 ₱286

43.42%

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

$323 RON 1,483

$135 ₱8,452

139.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,000 RON 32.1K

$10.5K ₱658.0K

-33.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 RON 254

$29.31 ₱1,838

88.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.39 RON 107

$19.44 ₱1,220

20.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.4 RON 304

$70.2 ₱4,403

-5.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.1 RON 299

$56.2 ₱3,522

15.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 RON 1,484

$114 ₱7,122

184.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$253 RON 1,160

$67.0 ₱4,199

277.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$597 RON 2,740

$177 ₱11.1K

237.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$443 RON 2,032

$355 ₱22.3K

24.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,315 RON 6,032

$2,604 ₱163.4K

-49.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 RON 3,802

$1,121 ₱70.3K

-26.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$886 RON 4,064

$188 ₱11.8K

370.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.73

6.75

-0.30%

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

Last update for Alexandria: September 12, 2026

Last update for Nueva Ecija: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $323 in Alexandria and $114 in Nueva Ecija. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alexandria pays 371% 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: $32.00 in Alexandria vs $17.00 in Nueva Ecija for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $156 vs $145 per month, with Nueva Ecija 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 69% 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 371% 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: $323 in Alexandria versus $114 in Nueva Ecija. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $902 per month in Alexandria versus $534 in Nueva Ecija – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Nueva Ecija runs roughly 705% 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 69% less than in Alexandria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.