Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bohol and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Bohol: $451 a month against $934 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bohol, Philippines
Cebu, Philippines
Bohol
🇵🇭 Philippines
$451
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bohol 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 Bohol and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $451 per month in Bohol vs $934 in Cebu, rent included.

  • Bohol $451
  • Cebu $934

A couple spends around $772 per month in Bohol vs $1,423 in Cebu, rent included.

  • Bohol $772
  • Cebu $1,423

A family of three spends $1,093 per month in Bohol vs $1,913 in Cebu, rent included.

  • Bohol $1,093
  • Cebu $1,913

Bohol is about 52% cheaper than Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bohol and Cebu are more affordable than the global median – Bohol 67% lower, Cebu 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bohol
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.68 ₱490
$3.79 ₱242
102.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.76 ₱1,965
$23.33 ₱1,491
31.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.05 ₱195
$3.94 ₱252
-22.59%
Cappuccino
$1.91 ₱122
$2.54 ₱163
-24.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.57 ₱100
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.47 ₱29.82
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.77 ₱113
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.22 ₱142
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bohol
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 ₱98.7
$1.90 ₱121
-18.95%
White Bread (500g)
$0.92 ₱58.7
$1.36 ₱87.1
-32.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.00 ₱64.0
$0.94 ₱59.8
6.38%
Eggs
$1.98 ₱127
$1.99 ₱127
-0.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.33 ₱468
$9.70 ₱620
-24.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.73 ₱303
$4.32 ₱276
9.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.30 ₱595
$7.51 ₱480
23.83%
Apples (1kg)
$1.38 ₱88.1
$3.31 ₱211
-58.31%
Banana (1kg)
$0.93 ₱59.2
$1.37 ₱87.5
-32.12%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.34 ₱149
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.87 ₱119
$1.49 ₱95.4
25.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 ₱116
$2.30 ₱147
-20.87%
Onion (1kg)
$4.56 ₱291
$1.87 ₱120
143.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.32 ₱149
$1.10 ₱70.3
110.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.63 ₱40.36
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.39 ₱217
$2.86 ₱183
18.53%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$6.08 ₱389
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.27 ₱81.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.72 ₱110
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bohol
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.22 ₱13.99
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$12.34 ₱788
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.74 ₱47.53
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.22 ₱14.08
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.28 ₱273
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 ₱84.1
$1.31 ₱83.7
0.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$20.8K ₱1.3M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$19.0K ₱1.2M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bohol
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$118 ₱7,565
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$15.76 ₱1,007
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.59 ₱1,380
$28.33 ₱1,810
-23.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bohol
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.16 ₱904
$32.94 ₱2,105
-57.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.49 ₱351
$6.49 ₱415
-15.41%
Cinema Ticket
$3.90 ₱249
$5.45 ₱348
-28.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bohol
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$276 ₱17.6K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$7,789 ₱497.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bohol
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$48.18 ₱3,078
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$24.47 ₱1,564
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$75.3 ₱4,810
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$58.0 ₱3,707
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bohol
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$188 ₱12.0K
$477 ₱30.5K
-60.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$158 ₱10.1K
$322 ₱20.6K
-50.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$314 ₱20.0K
$963 ₱61.5K
-67.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$281 ₱17.9K
$626 ₱40.0K
-55.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,551 ₱290.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$513 ₱32.7K
$3,028 ₱193.5K
-83.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bohol
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$333 ₱21.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
7.2
-

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

Last update for Bohol: October 25, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bohol
–
Cebu
$322
Groceries & Markets
Bohol
–
Cebu
$204
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bohol
–
Cebu
$163
Eating Out
Bohol
–
Cebu
$94
Clothing & Footwear
Bohol
–
Cebu
$93
Sport & Entertainment
Bohol
–
Cebu
$44
Getting Around
Bohol
–
Cebu
$15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $188 in Bohol versus $477 in Cebu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31 in Bohol versus $23 in Cebu. Groceries tell a different story – $156 in Bohol vs $204 in Cebu – so Bohol wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Bohol
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
05:18 5:18 AM
05:18 5:18 AM
Same time as Bohol
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,454
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 63.89 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.13 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bohol Cebu 57 km
From you
  • Bohol
  • 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
Bohol vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bohol cheaper than Cebu?
Yes – Cebu is pricier by about 107%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $676 per month in Bohol and $1,401 in Cebu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bohol, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $188 there versus $477 in Cebu.
How do food prices compare in Bohol and in Cebu?
Groceries cost about 31% more in Cebu, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Bohol or in Cebu?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $31 in Bohol and $23 in Cebu. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is it better to live in Bohol or in Cebu?
It depends on your priorities. Cebu has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $451 in Bohol to $934 in Cebu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Bohol or Cebu?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Bohol vs other spots: cost of living compared

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