For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,834 in Almada, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Almada and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,834 per month in Almada vs $918 in Cebu, rent included.
Almada $1,834
Cebu $918
A couple spends around $2,675 per month in Almada vs $1,409 in Cebu, rent included.
Almada $2,675
Cebu $1,409
A family of three spends $3,517 per month in Almada vs $1,900 in Cebu, rent included.
Almada $3,517
Cebu $1,900
😐
Almada costs about 100% more than Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Almada sits 36% above the global median, while Cebu is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Almada
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.72€14.88
$3.09₱194
441.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.5€50.3
$24.22₱1,525
133.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.32€10.07
$3.92₱247
188.78%
Cappuccino
$2.47€2.20
$2.51₱158
-1.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.37
$1.59₱100
-3.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.05
$0.53₱33.43
122.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.32€2.96
$1.78₱112
86.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31€2.94
$2.17₱137
52.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almada
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03€0.92
$1.92₱121
-46.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22€1.08
$1.36₱85.4
-10.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51€1.34
$1.01₱63.5
49.50%
Eggs
$3.81€3.39
$2.03₱128
87.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.09€10.75
$9.86₱621
22.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.71€6.86
$4.39₱277
75.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.27€13.58
$7.60₱479
100.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24€1.99
$3.30₱208
-32.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30€1.15
$1.39₱87.8
-6.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.65
$2.33₱147
-20.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.53€2.25
$1.50₱94.3
68.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86€1.66
$2.36₱149
-21.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.72€1.53
$1.90₱119
-9.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.67€1.48
$1.19₱74.9
40.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76€0.68
$0.63₱39.71
20.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.27€5.57
$3.00₱189
109.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.46€4.85
$6.03₱379
-9.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34€1.19
$1.23₱77.7
8.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17€1.93
$1.75₱110
24.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Almada
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.12€1.88
$0.25₱15.86
748.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.21€39.32
$12.64₱796
249.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.97€3.53
$0.77₱48.62
415.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.73
$0.23₱14.53
256.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.49€14.67
$4.46₱281
269.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.85
$1.31₱82.8
58.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K€29.6K
$21.2K₱1.3M
56.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.2K€34.0K
$19.1K₱1.2M
99.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almada
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110€97.9
$120₱7,569
-8.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.05€16.94
$14.00₱882
36.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.08€28.53
$27.54₱1,734
16.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almada
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.54€32.50
$32.33₱2,035
13.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.87€13.23
$6.65₱419
123.61%
Cinema Ticket
$8.71€7.74
$5.65₱356
54.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almada
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$603€536
$275₱17.3K
119.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K€10.1K
$7,918₱498.5K
42.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almada
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€92.5
$49.33₱3,106
110.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.91€39.94
$25.24₱1,589
77.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5€75.2
$77.0₱4,846
9.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105€93.2
$57.2₱3,601
83.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almada
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,144€1,017
$500₱31.5K
128.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$924€822
$309₱19.4K
199.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,730€1,539
$1,078₱67.9K
60.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,401€1,246
$615₱38.7K
127.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,160€4,590
$2,886₱181.7K
78.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,232€2,875
$1,917₱120.7K
68.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almada
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,313€1,168
$346₱21.8K
279.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.54
7.2
-50.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Almada: October 12, 2026
Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Almada
$924 50.4%
Cebu
$309 33.6% ↓ 66.6%$615
🛒Groceries & Markets
Almada
$250 13.6%
Cebu
$206 22.4% ↓ 17.7%$44
🍽Eating Out
Almada
$231 12.6%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↓ 61.9%$143
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almada
$161 8.8%
Cebu
$162 17.6% ↑ 0.4%$0.6
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Almada
$152 8.3%
Cebu
$94 10.2% ↓ 38.3%$58
🚌Getting Around
Almada
$61 3.3%
Cebu
$16 1.7% ↓ 74.4%$45
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Almada
$54 2.9%
Cebu
$44 4.8% ↓ 19.1%$10
🏠Accommodation & Living
Almada
$1.4K 39.9%
Cebu
$615 32.4% ↓ 56.1%$786
🛒Groceries & Markets
Almada
$593 16.9%
Cebu
$483 25.4% ↓ 18.6%$111
🍽Eating Out
Almada
$755 21.5%
Cebu
$292 15.4% ↓ 61.3%$463
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almada
$180 5.1%
Cebu
$176 9.3% ↓ 2.4%$4.4
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Almada
$338 9.6%
Cebu
$209 11% ↓ 38.3%$129
🚌Getting Around
Almada
$126 3.6%
Cebu
$32 1.7% ↓ 74.8%$94
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Almada
$123 3.5%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↓ 23.5%$29
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,144 in Almada versus $500 in Cebu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 279% higher in Almada, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Almada versus $24.00 in Cebu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $206 – making Cebu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Almada vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Almada and in Cebu compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,834 in Almada, $918 in Cebu – roughly 100% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Almada compared to Cebu?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,751 per month in Almada and $1,377 in Cebu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Almada and Cebu?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cebu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Almada and $24.00 in Cebu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Almada or Cebu?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,834 in Almada and $918 in Cebu. That's a gap of about 100%.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cebu, where all-in costs run around $918, than in Almada at $1,834. In Cebu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almada it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Almada and Cebu?
It depends on your priorities. Cebu has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $918 in Cebu to $1,834 in Almada. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Almada or Cebu safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Almada and Cebu?
If budget matters most, go with Cebu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almada makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.