Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashford and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $2,427 in Ashford, rent and utilities included – about $18,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ashford
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,427
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ashford and in Cebu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ashford and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,427 in Ashford versus $918 in Cebu.

  • Ashford $2,427
  • Cebu $918

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,351 in Ashford versus $1,409 in Cebu.

  • Ashford $3,351
  • Cebu $1,409

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,276 in Ashford versus $1,900 in Cebu.

  • Ashford $4,276
  • Cebu $1,900

Living in Ashford is roughly 164% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ashford is 80% above, Cebu is 32% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashford
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.96 £15.73
$3.09 ₱194
578.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9 £60.0
$24.22 ₱1,525
230.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.49 £7.87
$3.92 ₱247
167.60%
Cappuccino
$5.74 £4.30
$2.51 ₱158
128.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 £2.05
$1.59 ₱100
72.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 £1.37
$0.53 ₱33.43
243.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.89 £2.92
$1.78 ₱112
118.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.09 £5.32
$2.17 ₱137
226.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashford
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 £1.11
$1.92 ₱121
-22.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.32 £0.99
$1.36 ₱85.4
-2.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 £1.26
$1.01 ₱63.5
67.33%
Eggs
$3.00 £2.25
$2.03 ₱128
47.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.22 £3.92
$9.86 ₱621
-47.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.91 £5.18
$4.39 ₱277
57.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.39 £10.79
$7.60 ₱479
89.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 £2.46
$3.30 ₱208
-0.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 £1.08
$1.39 ₱87.8
3.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.67 £2.01
$2.33 ₱147
14.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.17 £2.38
$1.50 ₱94.3
111.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.67 £1.25
$2.36 ₱149
-29.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.46 £1.09
$1.90 ₱119
-23.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 £1.08
$1.19 ₱74.9
21.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 £1.07
$0.63 ₱39.71
125.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.83 £14.13
$3.00 ₱189
527.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.24 £6.93
$6.03 ₱379
53.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.67 £2.00
$1.23 ₱77.7
117.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 £2.73
$1.75 ₱110
107.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashford
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.89 £2.92
$0.25 ₱15.86
1456.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$146 £110
$12.64 ₱796
1057.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.11 £4.58
$0.77 ₱48.62
693.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.68 £1.26
$0.23 ₱14.53
630.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.44 £16.08
$4.46 ₱281
380.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.07 £1.55
$1.31 ₱82.8
58.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K £26.2K
$21.2K ₱1.3M
64.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.1K £30.9K
$19.1K ₱1.2M
114.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashford
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$244 £183
$120 ₱7,569
102.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.30 £18.23
$14.00 ₱882
73.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.52 £28.90
$27.54 ₱1,734
39.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashford
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.3 £45.99
$32.33 ₱2,035
89.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.74 £14.06
$6.65 ₱419
181.80%
Cinema Ticket
$21.45 £16.10
$5.65 ₱356
279.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashford
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,076 £808
$275 ₱17.3K
290.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.8K £14.9K
$7,918 ₱498.5K
150.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashford
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 £52.1
$49.33 ₱3,106
40.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.50 £23.63
$25.24 ₱1,589
24.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.7 £57.6
$77.0 ₱4,846
-0.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 £75.1
$57.2 ₱3,601
75.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashford
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 £836
$500 ₱31.5K
123.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,133 £850
$309 ₱19.4K
266.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 £1,282
$1,078 ₱67.9K
58.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,425 £1,069
$615 ₱38.7K
131.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,328 £4,748
$2,886 ₱181.7K
119.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,671 £3,504
$1,917 ₱120.7K
143.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashford
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,452 £1,840
$346 ₱21.8K
608.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.91
7.2
-31.81%

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

Last update for Ashford: October 10, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ashford
$1.1K
Cebu
$309 72.7% $824
Eating Out
Ashford
$320
Cebu
$88 72.4% $232
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashford
$307
Cebu
$162 47.2% $145
Groceries & Markets
Ashford
$262
Cebu
$206 21.3% $56
Getting Around
Ashford
$176
Cebu
$16 91.2% $161
Clothing & Footwear
Ashford
$125
Cebu
$94 24.9% $31
Sport & Entertainment
Ashford
$104
Cebu
$44 58.1% $61

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,115 in Ashford and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ashford pays 609% 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: $80.0 in Ashford vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $262 vs $206 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇧 Ashford
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
03:47 3:47 AM
10:47 10:47 AM
7 h ahead of Ashford
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
58,936
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to GBP – British Pound Converter

British Pound exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ashford Cebu 11,270 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ashford
  • Cebu

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
Ashford vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Ashford?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and transport. The 164% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ashford or Cebu?
Average pay runs 609% higher in Ashford, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Ashford and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,115 in Ashford versus $500 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Ashford or in Cebu?
Dining out is cheaper in Cebu – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $80.0 in Ashford. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Ashford and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $2,427 per month in Ashford versus $918 in Cebu – a 164% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ashford or in Cebu?
At $918 in Cebu versus $2,427 in Ashford, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Ashford. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ashford or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ashford, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ashford or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Ashford and Cebu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 164% less than in Ashford. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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