Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brighton and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $2,889 in Brighton, rent and utilities included – about $23,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Brighton
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,889
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,889 in Brighton versus $934 in Cebu.

  • Brighton $2,889
  • Cebu $934

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,135 in Brighton versus $1,415 in Cebu.

  • Brighton $4,135
  • Cebu $1,415

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,380 in Brighton versus $1,896 in Cebu.

  • Brighton $5,380
  • Cebu $1,896

Living in Brighton is roughly 209% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Brighton is 116% above, Cebu is 30% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brighton
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.56 £19.31
$3.03 ₱190
743.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.3 £72.0
$23.48 ₱1,473
305.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.81 £7.41
$4.09 ₱256
139.85%
Cappuccino
$5.10 £3.85
$2.52 ₱158
102.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 £2.91
$1.54 ₱96.9
150.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 £2.47
$0.49 ₱30.98
567.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.61 £6.50
$1.79 ₱112
381.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.99 £6.79
$2.26 ₱142
297.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brighton
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 £1.47
$1.95 ₱122
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.02 £1.53
$1.43 ₱89.7
41.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 £1.61
$1.02 ₱63.8
108.82%
Eggs
$4.43 £3.35
$2.06 ₱129
115.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.71 £8.85
$9.81 ₱615
19.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.37 £7.08
$4.61 ₱289
103.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.98 £11.32
$7.70 ₱483
94.55%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 £2.19
$3.31 ₱207
-12.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 £1.50
$1.45 ₱90.9
36.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.87 £2.17
$2.36 ₱148
21.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.75 £2.84
$1.54 ₱96.4
143.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 £1.65
$2.36 ₱148
-7.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 £1.36
$1.99 ₱125
-9.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 £0.90
$1.15 ₱72.1
3.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 £1.27
$0.67 ₱42.15
150.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.01 £17.39
$3.00 ₱188
667.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 £8.20
$6.35 ₱398
71.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 £2.21
$1.31 ₱81.9
122.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 £2.45
$1.73 ₱108
87.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Brighton
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.01 £3.03
$0.25 ₱15.78
1504.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$132 £99.6
$12.65 ₱793
941.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.99 £3.77
$0.74 ₱46.32
574.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.72 £2.05
$0.21 ₱13.11
1195.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.98 £29.46
$4.33 ₱271
800.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.05 £1.55
$1.33 ₱83.5
54.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6K £29.1K
$21.8K ₱1.4M
77.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.8K £30.9K
$19.4K ₱1.2M
110.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brighton
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$287 £217
$121 ₱7,563
137.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.77 £12.67
$14.45 ₱907
16.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.44 £33.58
$28.29 ₱1,774
57.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brighton
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 £37.52
$32.68 ₱2,050
51.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.16 £20.52
$6.39 ₱401
325.04%
Cinema Ticket
$17.28 £13.06
$5.46 ₱342
216.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brighton
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,057 £1,554
$273 ₱17.1K
652.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.8K £23.3K
$8,156 ₱511.5K
277.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brighton
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.7 £69.3
$49.57 ₱3,109
85.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.81 £33.86
$24.87 ₱1,560
80.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 £78.7
$76.6 ₱4,804
36.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.8 £68.7
$59.3 ₱3,717
53.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brighton
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,846 £1,395
$506 ₱31.7K
265.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,468 £1,109
$309 ₱19.4K
374.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,791 £2,109
$1,052 ₱66.0K
165.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,257 £1,706
$619 ₱38.8K
264.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,443 £6,380
$2,915 ₱182.9K
189.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,228 £4,706
$1,867 ₱117.1K
233.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brighton
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,423 £2,587
$341 ₱21.4K
903.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.12
7.2
-28.89%

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

Last update for Brighton: October 5, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Brighton
$1.5K
Cebu
$309 78.9% $1.2K
Eating Out
Brighton
$385
Cebu
$88 77% $296
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brighton
$348
Cebu
$163 53% $184
Groceries & Markets
Brighton
$327
Cebu
$210 35.7% $117
Getting Around
Brighton
$166
Cebu
$15 90.7% $151
Clothing & Footwear
Brighton
$149
Cebu
$95 36.6% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Brighton
$84
Cebu
$44 48.2% $41

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,846 in Brighton and $506 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brighton pays 904% 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: $95.0 in Brighton vs $23.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $327 vs $210 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇧 Brighton
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
05:02 5:02 AM
12:02 12:02 PM
7 h ahead of Brighton
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
256,000
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to GBP – British Pound Converter

British Pound exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.756 GBP (1 GBP = 1.32 USD). 1 EUR = 0.848 GBP (1 GBP = 1.18 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.35 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Brighton Cebu 11,350 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Brighton
  • 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
Brighton vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Brighton and in Cebu?
Brighton and Cebu differ by about 209% in total monthly costs ($2,889 vs $934 including rent). Cebu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Brighton or Cebu?
Average pay runs 904% higher in Brighton, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Brighton and in Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,846 in Brighton versus $506 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Brighton and Cebu?
Childcare runs $2,057 in Brighton versus $273 in Cebu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Brighton. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $934 in Cebu versus $2,889 in Brighton, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Brighton. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Brighton and Cebu?
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.
Is Brighton or Cebu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Brighton 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.
Where should expats move: Brighton or Cebu?
Expats usually find Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 209% less than in Brighton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Brighton vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?